I'm Brian Lehrer. This is my daily politics podcast from WNYC Studios. It's Monday, January 24th.

So folks, take a look at what you're wearing, your clothing right now. The New York State Legislature might want to know.

Do you have a good sense of how your clothing, including your footwear, is produced? Because as the

global fashion industry contributes an estimated 4 to 8% of the planet's greenhouse gas emissions,

produces 20% of industrial water pollution from the making of your

clothing, all while 80% of textiles wind up in landfills, there's growing consumer demand for

transparent sustainability from your fashion brands, right? Maybe you're one of the people

demanding it, but you don't know how. Well,

biotech company, Genomatica, claiming to pioneer renewable practices and making chemicals and

materials, conducted a survey of 2,000 teens and adults last year on their awareness and preferences

related to sustainable fashion. More than 70% said they were aware of the industry's environmental impact.

When clothing brands claim sustainable practices, 88% of respondents said they don't automatically believe them,

with more than half believing it's just greenwashing. And yet 42% of consumers in this group of 2000 weren't sure

what makes a piece of clothing sustainable. Less than half said they didn't know where to find

apparel produced sustainably. But more than half of the survey's respondents show interest

in buying sustainable clothing, with 38% saying they would do so

if there is clear information on a brand's environmental impact.

Aha.

So a new bill in committee in the New York State Legislature aims to provide that clear information.

The Fashion, Sustainability and Social Accountability Act,

or the Fashion Act, for short, as it's being called, targets apparel and footwear brands in

New York with at least $100 million in global revenue. So high-end brands are included with more

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