British Fashion Council Adopts Copenhagen Fashion Week’s Sustainable Approach

LONDON — The British Fashion Council is following in the green footsteps of Copenhagen Fashion Week and drawing up mandatory sustainability criteria for brands that want to join the London calendar.

The new requirements will be developed by CPHFW, and will start this year with the BFC Newgen scheme. The new rules will take full effect in January 2026.

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Caroline Rush, the BFC’s outgoing CEO, said the partnership between London and Copenhagen “builds on our existing minimum standards, and reaffirms our commitment to driving positive change across the global fashion industry.”

She described the alliance as a “significant step in ensuring that sustainability becomes integral to the future of fashion. Together, we are creating a framework that empowers emerging designer fashion businesses to lead the way, and contribute tangibly to a more sustainable and responsible industry.”

Cecilie Thorsmark, CEO of Copenhagen Fashion Week, said the agreement between the two cities “not only fosters much-needed industry alignment, but also underscores the unique potential of fashion weeks, and councils, to drive positive change within the industry. We see a lot of potential to further amplify the impact of our collective commitment to sustainability.”

Thorsmark introduced her Sustainability Action Plan at the beginning of 2020, asking fashion brands to fulfill 19 minimum standards before they can be part of the CPHFW calendar.

Companies are required to take responsibility for their environmental impact by measuring and offsetting their carbon emissions, and by eliminating the use of single-use plastic hangers and garment bags, among other things.

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