WIPO GREEN Unveils Sustainable Fashion Technologies Report

September 23, 2025

A new publication titled “Stitching Sustainability into Style” spotlights the environmental impacts of the fashion industry and the green technologies reshaping its future.

The global fashion industry is worth US$1.7 trillion and provides jobs to over 300 million people. Yet it is also responsible for an estimated 2% of global carbon emissions and 20% of industrial water pollution.

From the harmful chemicals used in clothing to high energy consumption and the mountains of textile waste of fast fashion, the price tag of fashion extends beyond purchase, as does the cost on our environment.

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Shaping the future of fashion with green technologies

This publication explores technologies that the industry could adopt to help green their manufacturing processes. It showcases technologies across the supply chain – from raw material production to the end of a garment’s life.

“Innovation is needed not only for green production but also to transform business models towards circularity. Intellectual property is a key enabler in this transition — it provides the incentives that drive investment in sustainable solutions and creates pathways for their wider diffusion”, say Edward Kwakwa, Assistant Director General, Global Challenges and Partnerships Sector, WIPO.

Adoption of a circular fashion model

Central to the publication is a call to rethink the industry’s “take, make, dispose” approach and replace it with a circular fashion model that keeps resources in use longer, reduces waste, and minimizes environmental harm.

Intellectual property (IP), the publication notes, can play an important role in increasing the adoption of green fashion technologies and encouraging investment in innovation. Yet the interplay between IP and circular fashion is subject of further discussion.

Promoting and facilitating access to sustainable fashion technologies

Still, hurdles remain. Many promising solutions are expensive, difficult to scale, or face resistance in a market driven by trends and speed.

The publication underlines the importance of supporting small and medium-sized fashion enterprises (SMEs), partnering with clothing suppliers, and combatting potential “green-washing” in fashion.

Legislative measures, such as new European Union rules on supply chain transparency, alongside behavioral consumer choice changes like slow fashion adoption to embrace sustainability and environmental consciousness are also seen as crucial to accelerating progress.

Key findings of the Sustainable Fashion Technologies Report

Technology innovations such as lab-grown cotton, bio-based polyester, and waste-to-fiber recycling are showing promise in addressing the environmental challenges in the fast fashion supply chain.

Many promising innovations are not commercially viable or face difficulties in scaling. High implementation costs, lack of infrastructure, and a sector-wide lack of response largely driven by fashion and market trends are key barriers to the widespread adoption of sustainable technologies.

Growing interest in sustainability and efficient production methods from brands, retailers, and investors signal an opportunity toward scaling innovative solutions.

Broader adoption is dependent on supporting SMEs, integrating traditional knowledge, and nature-based solutions into modern practices.
Regulatory and market incentives are needed. Voluntary initiatives have yielded only limited progress. Recent legislation in parts of the world shows that fashion companies can be encouraged to adopt sustainable practices.

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