Fashion is one of the leading industries that’s contributing to climate change as clothes production uses chemical dyes and excessive amounts of water usage, as well as significant carbon emissions. Fast fashion allows people to buy clothes that are on trend for as cheap as possible, leading to millions of tons of waste each year with poor quality clothing ending up in landfills. We look at 21 shocking facts about how the fast fashion industry is impacting the environment.
The Industry Produces 10% of Global Carbon Emissions
The fast fashion industry accounts for approximately 10% of global carbon emissions, more than all international flights and maritime shipping combined. The overuse of synthetic fibers like polyester are adding to greenhouse gas emissions and accelerating climate change as they’re made from fossil fuels.
Millions of Tons of Microplastics Pollute Oceans
Fast fashion garments often contain synthetic materials like polyester, nylon, and acrylic. When unnatural fabrics are washed, they shed tiny plastic fibers that enter waterways and pollute oceans, harming marine life in the process. Every year, nearly 500,000 tons of microplastics are released from washing synthetic clothes alone.
Textile Dyeing is the Second Largest Water Polluter
The fashion industry is responsible for 20% of global wastewater pollution due to dyeing and textile treatment that release toxic chemicals. Chemicals used in factories leach into rivers, lakes, and oceans, contaminating drinking water sources and harming ecosystems, having a significant impact on local communities.
Fast Fashion Consumes Vast Amounts of Water
It takes about 2,700 liters of water to produce a single cotton t-shirt, which is the equivalent to what an average person drinks in two and a half years. Excessive water use in clothes production is depleting freshwater sources and worsening droughts in already water-scarce regions.
The Cotton Industry Uses Harmful Pesticides
While cotton is a natural fiber, the cotton industry is one of the largest consumers of pesticides and insecticides. The chemicals used in cotton production are necessarily for a high yield but they affect biodiversity in areas it’s grown as well as impacting the health of farmers.
Cheap Labor Comes at an Environmental Cost
Many fast fashion brands outsource production to developing nations where environmental regulations are lax or poorly enforced. Factories often dump untreated waste into rivers, release pollutants into the air, and operate under conditions that harm both workers and the environment, all in pursuit of cheap clothing production.
The Majority of Clothing Ends Up in Landfills
On average, people buy 60% more clothes than they did two decades ago, yet they keep them for only half as long. Around 85% of all textiles end up in landfills each year, where synthetic materials take hundreds of years to decompose, releasing methane and other harmful gases.
Recycling in the Fashion Industry is Minimal
Despite growing awareness of sustainability, only about 1% of all textiles produced for clothing are recycled into new garments. There’s little in the way of public education in recycling clothes and there’s certain complex fabrics that are blended in a way they can’t be recycled.
Fashion Supply Chains Contribute to Deforestation
Fast fashion’s demand for cheap materials like viscose and rayon contributes to deforestation as hundreds of acres of rainforest are cut down each year. Deforestation can devastate communities and put many species in danger due to decreased biodiversity.
Fashion Waste is Often Exported to Developing Countries
A large portion of discarded fast fashion items from wealthy nations is sent to developing countries under the guise of donation. But, many of these countries lack proper waste management systems, and unwanted clothing piles up in landfills, pollutes local water sources, and disrupts local economies.
Fast Fashion Encourages Overproduction
Many brands produce excessive amounts of clothing to keep up with ever-changing trends, which results in overstock and waste. Rather than give excess clothes away to those who need them, some companies burning unsold clothes releases harmful pollutants into the atmosphere, impacting the environment further.
Single Use Adds to Waste
The rise of influencer culture has encouraged people to adopt a “wear once” mentality, where they are pressured to keep up with new trends. The focus on fast fashion to more waste as clothes are discarded after just a few uses.
Workers in the Fashion Industry Face Health Hazards
Many textile factory workers are exposed to toxic chemicals used in dyeing and processing fabrics, particularly in countries that use cheap labor. Long-term exposure to chemicals can lead to respiratory issues, skin diseases, some which are life-threatening conditions.
Leather Production Harms the Environment
Toxic chemicals like chromium are used in the tanning process, contaminating land and water sources. Also, the manufacture of leather is associated with greenhouse gas emissions from livestock and deforestation for cattle grazing.
The Growth of “Greenwashing” Misleads Consumers
Many fashion brands market their products as “eco-friendly” or organic without making substantial changes to their practices. This is a deceptive tactic known as greenwashing that misleads people into thinking they are making sustainable choices while companies aren’t truly addressing environmental concerns.
Fast Fashion Contributes to Air Pollution
Factories producing fast fashion items release pollutants into the air, including volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and hazardous chemicals. The emission of hazardous chemicals lead to smog and poor air quality which can lead to respiratory diseases for people living in the areas.
Synthetic Fabrics Take Centuries to Decompose
Unlike natural fibers, synthetic fabrics like polyester and nylon take hundreds of years to break down and as they decompose they release harmful chemicals into the soil, polluting our ecosystems in the process.
The Cost of Returns Adds to the Carbon Footprint
Many fast fashion brands offer free returns, leading to a surge in online shopping waste. Returned clothing is often not resold but instead discarded or incinerated due to the high cost of processing, adding to the industry’s already substantial carbon footprint.
Ultra-Fast Fashion Increases the Crisis
The rise in ultra-fast fashion brands, that produce new styles in a matter of days, has intensified fashion’s impact on the environment. When brands prioritize speed over sustainability, they contribute to textile waste, water pollution, and unethical labor practices.
Consumers Hold the Power to Change the Industry
While the fast fashion industry is a major polluter, consumers have the power to drive change. Supporting sustainable brands, buying second-hand and reducing clothing consumption can help mitigate the environmental impact of fashion and encourage the fashion industry to take their actions seriously.
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