Meaningful Mitigation: Informing a Product-Level Policy Framework for Environmental Performance Standards for the United States Fashion Industry

Abstract

This thesis examines the potential to create product-level environmental impact standards for products sold in the United States market. Rather than researching and proposing an entirely new policy framework, this thesis draws on existing product-level environmental measurement frameworks and standards policy across major fashion markets, particularly across the European Union to observe related linkages and policy harmonization with existing environmental policy infrastructure in the United States. Using an independent survey of fashion companies selling products in the U.S. market, comparative policy analysis of domestic and international policy focused on regulating the environmental impact of the fashion industry, and qualitative interviews, this thesis employs a mixed method approach to contribute to an ongoing discussion on how domestic policy can breakthrough domestic political opposition to meaningfully mitigate the industry’s disproportionate environmental impact by regulating products sold within federal jurisdiction.