RIYADH: Consumers have an appetite for fashion items produced in a circular economy model, an executive said on Monday at a Riyadh conference.

“When it comes specifically to the fashion industry, we all know that we contribute to 10 percent of CO2 emissions, and (it) is the second-largest consumer of water,” Florence Bulte, chief sustainability officer at Chalhoub Group, said during a panel discussion at the World ESG Summit.

“We have been looking for a solution to change this aspect,” Bulte added.

She highlighted how the company realized that there was “an appetite” among consumers for green fashion.

One example Bulte noted is second-hand luxury items which are repaired before being resold — recycling materials and lowering costs while appealing to the demand for high-quality goods.

The conference highlighted how many businesses are working to switch from traditional to circular economy models.

This approach is presented as a sustainable alternative to the linear economy, which mainly focuses on taking, making and disposing.

In a linear model, resources are extracted, used and discarded, leading to an unsustainable depletion of natural resources and increased waste, whereas a circular economy focuses on designing products and systems that minimize waste, promote resource efficiency and extend the life cycle of materials.

This approach not only addresses environmental challenges, but also opens new avenues for economic growth and innovation.

As the Kingdom continues to promote sustainable development, the World Environment, Social and Governance Summit in Riyadh highlighted various ESG topics and investment opportunities.

During the event, one of the panel discussions focused on the transition to the circular economy and some of the strategies used by companies.

Among the panelists was SAWACO Water Group CEO Nizar Kammourie, who discussed how the company maintains sustainable practices in private water utility, including by launching AI in its water digitalization initiative.

“The purpose of this AI implementation is to have productive maintenance in place, so we know exactly what needs to be repaired before emergency shutdown,” said Kammourie.

The initiative reduced power consumption and maintenance costs, he added, preserving water resources and minimizing waste.

“So, less carbon emissions and more water,” Kammourie said.