Greta Jimenez
The fashion industry has had a devastating impact on the environment, contributing to water pollution, air pollution, soil degradation, and climate change. Fast fashion, in particular, has been identified as a significant driver of these issues, with its mass production, low prices, and high sales volumes promoting a culture of excessive consumption and waste. The industry is a major consumer of water, with large quantities of freshwater used for dyeing and finishing processes, as well as for growing cotton and other fibres. It is also a significant contributor to global carbon emissions, with textile purchases in the EU in 2020 generating about 270 kg of CO2 emissions per person. The production and disposal of garments have led to the proliferation of chemicals and microplastics in waterways, affecting both marine life and humans who consume seafood. The use of synthetic fibres and animal-based textiles has further increased the environmental cost, with the production of synthetic fibres relying on crude oil and animal-based textiles contributing to habitat loss and grassland conversion. The fashion industry's global supply chain has also led to worker exploitation and hazardous working conditions in low-income countries. These issues have spurred international efforts to promote sustainable fashion practices and address the environmentally destructive practices of the industry.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Water consumption | 700 gallons for a cotton shirt, 2,000 gallons for a pair of jeans, 2,700 litres for a t-shirt |
| Water pollution | Textile dyeing is the world's second-largest polluter of water, fertilisers used in cotton production heavily pollute runoff waters, chemicals from clothing in landfills can leech into the ground and cause environmental damage |
| Carbon emissions | 10% of global carbon emissions, 121 million tonnes of CO2 emissions from EU textile purchases in 2020 |
| Greenhouse gases | 2-4% of world total greenhouse gas emissions in the late 2010s, 85% of textiles go to dumps each year, microfibres from washing clothes equivalent to 50 billion plastic bottles |
| Air pollution | Textile dyeing and finishing, yarn preparation and fibre production are energy-intensive processes based on fossil fuels, burning unsold clothing pollutes the air |
| Land pollution | Cotton production degrades soil quality, leading to exhausted fields and expansion into new areas, destruction of local habitats |
| Waste | 80 billion items of clothing consumed annually, 85% of clothes consumed in the US sent to landfill, less than 1% of clothing recycled to make new clothes, donations often don't go to thrift stores |
| Health | Chemicals used in clothes production raise health concerns for workers and consumers, pollution impacts health of local people, animals and ecosystems near factories |
| Human rights | Infringements on human rights, workers in developing countries paid low wages and forced to work long hours in poor conditions |
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What You'll Learn
Fast fashion's environmental cost
Fast fashion has a massive environmental impact. It is the second-biggest consumer of water, requiring about 700 gallons to produce one cotton shirt and 2,000 gallons of water to produce a pair of jeans. The industry also dries up water sources and pollutes rivers and streams, as the water left over from the dyeing process is often dumped into ditches, streams or rivers.
The fast fashion industry is a significant contributor to the climate crisis, responsible for as much as 10% of global carbon dioxide emissions. The production and distribution of the crops, fibres, and garments used in fashion all contribute to differing forms of environmental pollution, including water, air, and soil degradation. The industry is also a growing contributor to the climate crisis, with about 1% of crude oil production used to produce synthetic fibres.
The pollution introduced by the fast fashion industry results in devastating impacts on both terrestrial and aquatic environments, with harmful effects linked to habitat degradation, the proliferation of chemicals and microplastics in waterways, and the increasing impact of climate change from anthropogenic greenhouse gas emissions. Even washing clothes releases 500,000 tons of microfibres into the ocean each year, the equivalent of 50 billion plastic bottles. The majority of microplastics from textiles are released during the first few washes, with fast fashion promoting many first washes due to its mass production, low prices, and high sales volumes.
The fast fashion business model relies on the exploitation of resources and human labour to deliver garments following the latest trends to its consumers at an unprecedented rate. This quick output of garments demands a sizeable volume of raw materials fed into the fast fashion industry, creating a significant amount of waste, pollution, and degradation to air and water sources. The heavy use of chemicals in cotton farming is causing diseases and premature death among cotton farmers, along with massive freshwater and ocean water pollution and soil degradation.
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Textile waste and microfibres
The fashion industry has a massive environmental impact, with fast fashion being a significant contributor to the pollution of the environment. The industry is the second-biggest consumer of water and is responsible for 10% of global CO2 emissions. It also dries up water sources and pollutes rivers and streams, with 85% of all textiles ending up in dumps each year.
Textile waste is a significant issue, with the fashion industry producing vast amounts of waste due to mass production and low prices, which promote high sales volumes and frequent disposal. The industry's focus on fast fashion, with new styles constantly being produced at very low prices, has led to a boom in the quantity of clothes produced and discarded. Consumers are buying more clothes and keeping them for shorter periods, contributing to the waste problem.
Microfibres, particularly plastic microfibres, have been identified as a significant source of pollution, with their presence detected in ecosystems worldwide, including marine environments, freshwater systems, and soils. These microfibres are released at various stages of a textile's value chain, from production to use, care, and disposal. The predominant pathway for microfibres to enter aquatic environments is through wastewater, with washing machines being a significant source. The majority of microplastics from textiles are released during the first few washes, and washing synthetic textiles contributes to the accumulation of microplastics in the oceans.
The impact of microfibres on the environment is concerning due to their potential to enter the food chain. Their small size and shape allow them to be consumed by aquatic organisms, and they can cause blockages in their guts.
Addressing the issue of textile waste and microfibres requires a comprehensive approach. Solutions include re-engineering textiles to minimise shedding, developing advanced wastewater treatment plants, improving textile waste management, and implementing interventions such as filters on washing machines.
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Chemicals in production
The fashion industry's chemical-intensive production process has had a detrimental impact on the environment. The heavy use of chemicals in cotton farming is causing massive freshwater and ocean water pollution, as well as soil degradation. Cotton production degrades soil quality, leading to exhausted fields and expansion into new areas, which results in the destruction of local habitats and the associated pollution affecting biodiversity.
Textile dyeing is the world's second-largest polluter of water, as the water left over from the dyeing process is often dumped into ditches, streams, and rivers. The dyeing and finishing process for textiles requires a significant amount of freshwater—up to 200 tons of freshwater per ton of dyed fabric. The use of fertilizers for cotton production also heavily pollutes runoff waters and evaporation waters. When textile clothing ends up in landfills, chemicals such as dye can leech into the ground and cause environmental damage.
The production of synthetic fibres, which now account for approximately 64% of global fibre production, has significant environmental impacts throughout their life cycle due to the emission of greenhouse gases and pollutants. Synthetic fibres are made from fossil fuels, making their production much more energy-intensive than that of natural fibres. The use of fossil fuels in the production of synthetic fibres contributes to climate change.
The proliferation of chemicals and microplastics in waterways is another consequence of the fashion industry's chemical-intensive production. Microplastics from textiles are released during the first few washes of clothing, and these microplastics accumulate in the oceans. Microfibers have been found in the digestive tracts of widely consumed fish and shellfish, which are then consumed by humans, leading to the absorption of micro-pollutants. Techniques such as the use of a marine algal bioabsorbent for dye removal have been proposed to address the environmental impacts of the fashion industry.
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Water usage and pollution
The fashion industry is the second most water-intensive industry in the world, consuming 79 trillion litres of water annually. This accounts for about 20% of industrial wastewater globally. The industry's environmental impact is also felt through water pollution, with 85% of all textiles ending up in dumps each year.
Cotton, the most widely used natural fabric for clothing, requires large amounts of water for irrigation and treatment, depleting local freshwater and groundwater resources. Cotton cultivation is the largest contributor to freshwater withdrawal. To increase cotton output and meet high demand, pesticides and fertilisers are often used, which, in addition to damaging soil quality and destroying underground microbial communities, pollute water sources with their runoffs.
Textile dyeing is the second-largest source of water pollution, as the water used in the dyeing process is often dumped into natural water sources without being treated first. This releases colourants and harmful chemicals into the water. The fashion industry's use of chemicals in clothes production also raises health concerns for both workers and consumers.
The rise of fast fashion has exacerbated the industry's impact on water usage and pollution. Fast fashion is based on the constant provision of new styles at very low prices, resulting in mass production, high sales volumes, and the encouragement of frequent consumer purchases. This has led to an increase in the quantity of clothes produced and discarded, with items being thrown away rather than donated. The high turnover of clothing has resulted in the fashion industry producing obscene amounts of waste.
There is a growing movement towards sustainable fashion, with consumers encouraged to buy good quality clothing instead of cheap fast fashion apparel, which will be worn more times and kept for longer. Consumers can also cultivate sustainable fashion practices by buying clothing made from 100% organic cotton, which uses 88% less water and 62% less energy than conventional cotton, or by purchasing second-hand clothing.
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Worker exploitation
The fast-fashion business model relies on the exploitation of resources and labour to deliver garments following the latest trends to consumers at an unprecedented rate and at a low price. The human cost of fast fashion is significant, with workers—primarily young women in developing countries—being subjected to hazardous working conditions, long hours, and unliveable wages, despite the companies pulling in massive profits.
In 2013, the Rana Plaza factory collapse in Dhaka, Bangladesh, killed more than 1,000 garment workers and injured thousands more. This tragedy helped to open the world's eyes to the fashion industry's exploitation of workers, particularly women of colour in the Global South, who are underpaid, lack basic health and safety protections, and face higher risks of sexual violence in the workplace.
The fashion industry's demand for cheap labour has led to the development of garment industries in low-income countries such as Bangladesh and China, which rarely follow environmental regulations. These countries offer lenient laws and regulations, vast tax breaks, and cheap labour, making them attractive to the fashion industry. As a result, workers in these countries are often exploited, working in dangerous and unhealthy conditions with little pay.
The New York Fashion Sustainability and Social Accountability Act (Fashion Act) aims to hold big brands accountable for their exploitation of workers and the environment. The Act would require apparel and footwear companies to map their supply chains, disclose their environmental and social impacts, and create binding targets to improve them. This includes addressing issues such as greenhouse gas emissions, chemical management, energy consumption, and water and material usage.
The slow fashion movement also challenges the ethical issues of fast fashion, such as the underpaying and overworking of factory workers. It encourages the purchase of clothing from local sources, as locally-made pieces are often of higher quality, last longer, and reduce pollution caused by the disposal of clothes.
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Frequently asked questions
The fashion industry has polluted the environment through the use of pesticides and chemicals in the growing and manufacturing of textiles, the emission of greenhouse gases, the use of massive amounts of water and energy, and the disposal of clothing.
The fashion industry is the second-largest consumer of water worldwide. It takes about 700 gallons of water to produce one cotton shirt, and 2,000 gallons of water to produce a pair of jeans. The industry also dries up water sources and pollutes rivers and streams, with 85% of all textiles ending up in dumps each year.
The fashion industry emits more carbon than international flights and maritime shipping combined. It is responsible for about 10% of global carbon emissions, with the fast fashion industry being the biggest contributor.
The pollution generated by the fashion industry has a devastating impact on the health of local ecosystems, with harmful effects linked to habitat degradation, the proliferation of chemicals and microplastics in waterways, and the increasing impact of climate change from anthropogenic greenhouse gas emissions.
