In June 2018, the UK's Environmental Audit Committee launched an investigation into the social and environmental impact of disposable ‘fast fashion’ and the wider clothing industry. 

At an oral hearing in November, the Committee questioned Marks & Spencer, Primark, Arcadia Group, Burberry, Boohoo, ASOS and Missguided about their practices. The Committee also wrote to 16 UK fashion retailers to ask what steps they are taking to reduce the environmental and social impact of the garments they sell, and asked four online retailers to answer similar questions following evidence at its first hearing about illegally low wages for garment workers and the disposability of some 'fast fashion' garments. In addition, the Committee wrote to Burberry and Kurt Geiger, following reports of stock burning by brands.

In February 2019, the Committee released a report on it's findings, highlighting key issues in the fashion industry, including environmental costs and human rights violations in supply chains. The report concludes that a new economic model for fashion is required and makes several recommendations to the Government, including a recommendation to change the law to require companies to perform due diligence checks across their supply chains.

In June 2019, the UK Government responded to the Committee's report, but did not accept any of the recommendations.