Ralph Lauren's Earth Polo is an example of a brand's efforts to reduce plastic waste, minimise water and energy usage. The solutions involve using recycled materials, such as plastic bottles, that reduce reliance on non-renewable resources and offer recyclability.

The fashion industry is one of the largest polluters in the world, heavily reliant on water, energy, and non-renewable resources like petroleum-based polyester. Conventional fabric production, such as polyester, often leads to habitat destruction and greenhouse gases, because of fossil fuel extraction. This impacts planetary boundaries such as biosphere integrity (ecosystems and wildlife) and climate change (through fossil fuel-induced greenhouse gases). Traditional clothing production also generates massive waste, both during manufacturing and at the end of the product's life cycle, as garments often end up in landfills.

The Earth Polo by Ralph Lauren is a sustainable take on their iconic polo shirt, made from recycled plastic bottles. Each shirt is crafted using an innovative fabric made from an average of 12 plastic bottles. The production of the Earth Polo consumes less water and energy compared to traditional cotton polo shirts. Additionally, it helps to mitigate the demand for virgin polyester, which is derived from non-renewable resources like petroleum. 

Ralph Lauren's efforts are part of a growing movement toward reducing fashion's environmental impact, highlighting the potential of innovative materials and circular production models to drive meaningful change.

Photo by Lena Kudryavtseva on Unsplash