Revealing Fashion’s True Footprint: Glimpact’s Global Impact Score Uncovers Apparel’s Hidden Environmental Costs

About This Project

Summary

Glimpact launched Global Impact Score (GIS), North America’s first free, online tool to measure the environmental impact of fashion products, and used it in a groundbreaking study of apparel items from leading brands including Patagonia, Reformation, and H&M. Using the Product Environmental Footprint (PEF) method adopted by the EU, the study revealed raw materials and manufacturing drive over 90% of apparel impact, highlighting the need for a systemic vision of fashion’s true environmental cost.

Goals & Objectives

Glimpact aimed to provide a scientific, transparent tool for fashion brands and consumers to measure product impact, challenge superficial ESG efforts, and identify actionable levers, like material sourcing and manufacturing, to reduce the systemic environmental footprint of apparel.

Results & Impact

GIS revealed that carbon emissions represent less than 25% of a product's total environmental footprint. Similarly, it wa uncovered that product impact comes mainly from raw materials and manufacturing (>90%). These results help shift the fashion industry’s focus to the true environmental stakes.