Sustainability
M/FW is committed to making the event as sustainable as possible and each year we build on ways to reduce its footprint whether that be through carbon neutrality, offering designers with strong ethical foundations an opportunity to join our runways, or opening up dialogue on sustainability with talks and workshops featured throughout the program.
The event continues to be certified carbon neutral by the federal government’s Climate Active program. All carbon emissions produced from the event are reduced where possible and tracked – from our attendee’s travel and event catering to construction materials at runways and the flowers we use to decorate spaces. Any emissions that remain are offset and $1 from every ticket sale of M/FW produced events will go towards this. This year we are investing in a variety of offset projects to reduce carbon emissions and protect wildlife and biodiversity. M/FWs 2024 carbon offsets support hydro power and landfill gas recovery projects. We have also invested in a land conservation project at Mount Sandy in South Australia which protects the habitat for iconic native wildlife, such as the short-beaked echidna, purple-gaped honeyeater and elegant parrot. The project is managed by local Ngarrindjeri elders while native plants for revegetation are be supplied by the local nursery at Raukkan Aboriginal Community.
SUSTAINABILITY-FOCUSED PROGRAMMING
To achieve our sustainable goals M/FW champions designers whose process and production have strong sustainable, ethical ethos and partners with like minded organisations to deliver a robust sustainable program.
- M/FW collaborates with the local fashion community to showcase sustainability-themed Independent Events such as upcycling and sustainable fashion workshops; circular fashion talks; responsible entrepreneurship and intrapreneurship; and exhibitions touching on themes of textile waste and local supply chains.
- A must visit is the RE: Fashion Market presented by Spring Place. Supported by Collarts and Revamp Market the 4 day program offers talks, workshops and a public pre-loved clothing market.
- M/FW is teaming up with Davroe Australia as the event’s official hair partner, a proud Australian brand that offers natural, vegan and cruelty-free haircare products for all hair types.
- Check out the Volvo Electric Runway featuring not only powerful Australian designers taking charge in the world of slow fashion but also the new Volvo EX30, part of Volvo Car Australia’s electric fleet, supporting the ambition to be fully electric by 2026.
Other event partners and organisations aligned in our sustainable goals are Fressko, Moth Design, bettercup, Australian Fashion Council, Sustainability Victoria among many more.
Click on Sustainability within the program options to find out more
M/FW 2024 SUSTAINABILITY INITIATIVES
The event looks at all possible ways to decrease its carbon footprint and be more sustainable, including initiatives to date such as:
- Reducing construction waste from materials used for building event spaces and runway sets by hiring items rather than building new pieces.
- Reusing assets used in the build of our event spaces and runway sets where possible for future events with the help of agencies like Moth Design.
- Partnering with bettercup to reduce single use plastic across all runway hospitality offerings
- Gift bags are reusable tote bags made with made with 100% recycled cotton.
- All items within gift bags considered under a sustainable lens and no pamphlets included.
- Upcycled banners into bags program.
- Reducing single use plastic – no plastic water bottles or straws.
- Reducing the amount of printed materials we produce and opting for more digital executions.
- Integration of vegetarian meal choices and overall reduction of red meat in catering. Reusable serve wear.
- Reusable serve wear.
- Recycled accreditation tags and lanyards.
