Greta Jimenez
The fashion industry is the second-largest polluting industry in the world, responsible for 10% of global carbon emissions, 20% of industrial water pollution, 10% of global microplastics, and 8% to 10% of global CO2 emissions. Fast fashion, which comprises 10% of total global carbon emissions, is an increasingly unsustainable market that continues to grow. It is based on mass production, low prices, and high sales volumes, promoting a culture of overconsumption and mindless consumption. The environmental impact of the fashion industry is not limited to pollution, as it also contributes to water use, carbon emissions, human rights violations, and gender inequality.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Environmental impact | Depletion of non-renewable sources, emission of greenhouse gases, use of massive amounts of water and energy, land degradation, air and water pollution, destruction of forests, contamination of water, use of toxic chemicals, clogging of landfills, exploitation of workers, harm to wildlife, degradation of land, pollution of soil and water, proliferation of chemicals and microplastics in waterways, climate change |
| Water consumption | 79 trillion liters of water every year, 215 trillion liters of water per year, 700 gallons to produce one cotton shirt, 2,000 gallons of water to produce a pair of jeans, 1,400 liters of water to produce a single t-shirt, 2,700 liters of water to make a single cotton t-shirt |
| Water pollution | 20% of global water pollution, 20% of industrial wastewater pollution worldwide |
| Carbon emissions | 10% of global carbon emissions, 8-10% of global CO2 emissions, 15 kg of CO2 emitted from the production of 1 kg of textile |
| Global warming | 4-8.6% of global greenhouse gas emissions |
| Waste | 85% of all textiles go to dumps each year, 500,000 tons of microfibres released into the ocean each year, 35% of all microplastics in the ocean come from the laundering of synthetic textiles, 60% of clothing and 70% of household textiles are made of synthetic fibres, 3.25 billion tonnes of resources used each year, less than 1% of material recycled into new clothing |
| Health impact | Pollution impacts the health of local people, animals and ecosystems where factories are located, use of chemicals in clothes production raises health concerns for workers and consumers |
| Social impact | Infringements on human rights, 80% of apparel is made by young women between the ages of 18 and 24, evidence of forced and child labour in the fashion industry, rapid production supersedes human welfare |
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What You'll Learn
Water pollution from dyeing and finishing
The fashion industry is one of the most polluting industries in the world, and it is the second-largest consumer industry of water. It uses an estimated 93 billion cubic metres of water annually, and a single cotton t-shirt requires 2,700 litres of freshwater to produce, enough to meet one person's drinking needs for 2.5 years. The fashion industry is responsible for 20% of global clean water pollution, with the worst contributor being the dyeing and finishing processes, which account for 36% of the industry's global pollution impact. These processes are used to apply colour and other chemicals to fabrics, and they generate toxic wastewater that is often dumped into natural water systems, such as ditches, streams, and rivers, or used to irrigate fields. This wastewater contains residual dyes, hazardous chemicals, and fixative chemicals called mordants, which can pollute water systems and be harmful to humans if not properly disposed of. The use of mordants, however, is necessary to prevent colours from fading and potentially extending the life of garments.
The countries that still dominate the dyeing industry, such as China, Bangladesh, Thailand, and Indonesia, face major problems due to water pollution from the fashion industry. In addition to environmental concerns, the pollution generated by the fashion industry has a detrimental impact on the health of local people, animals, and ecosystems near factories. Furthermore, the rapid production and consumption of fast fashion often take priority over human welfare, leading to labour rights violations and hazardous working conditions.
To address water pollution from dyeing and finishing, there is a need for systemic change and collaboration between consumers, brands, and manufacturers to produce clothing in less harmful ways. Government support and legislation are crucial to transitioning from wet to dry dyeing and ensuring that the entire supply chain works together to reduce water pollution. Some countries, like Bangladesh and China, have already implemented legislation to address water pollution from the textile industry.
Innovations in textile pre-treatment and coloration can also play a significant role in reducing water consumption and emissions. Organisations like Alchemie are working towards accelerating the shift from wet to dry processing in the textile supply chain. Additionally, the European Commission has introduced strategies to make textiles more durable, repairable, reusable, and recyclable, with clearer information and calls for companies to minimise their environmental footprints.
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The human cost of fast fashion
The fashion industry is the second-largest consumer industry of water, using around 79 trillion litres of water every year, which is about 10% of the world's total water consumption. It takes 2,700 litres of freshwater to make a single cotton t-shirt, enough to meet one person's drinking needs for 2.5 years. The industry also uses massive amounts of energy, with 15 kg of CO2 emitted for every 1 kg of textile produced, contributing to the industry's carbon footprint, which is larger than that of the aviation industry.
Fast fashion, which comprises the constant provision of new styles at very low prices, has led to the rapid growth of the fashion industry, with the number of new garments made per year nearly doubling over the past 20 years and global consumption of fashion increasing by 400%. This has resulted in a significant amount of waste, pollution, and degradation to air, water, and wildlife habitats. The pollution introduced by the fast-fashion industry has had devastating impacts on the health of local people, animals, and ecosystems where the factories are located.
The environmental and social impacts of the fast-fashion industry have led to growing concerns and efforts to promote sustainable fashion and foster international cooperation. Organisations are advocating for manufacturing practices that respect people, the environment, and animals, and for business models that reuse clothes and maximise their useful life. Legislative efforts, such as the Fashion Sustainability and Social Accountability Act (Fashion Act) in New York, aim to expose the negative side of the industry and push for stricter regulations.
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The environmental impact of synthetic textiles
The fashion industry has an immense environmental impact, from water usage to carbon emissions and pollution. One of the major contributors to this is the industry's use of synthetic textiles. Synthetic fibres like polyester, nylon and acrylic have become popular due to their low cost, durability and versatility. However, their production and disposal have severe ecological consequences.
Synthetic textiles are derived from petroleum-based chemicals, which means their production contributes to the exploitation of oil reserves and exacerbates our dependence on fossil fuels. The manufacturing process involves the use of toxic chemicals, such as formaldehyde, chlorine and phthalates, which pose risks to both human health and the environment. These chemicals can contaminate soil, water and air during production and when the textiles are incinerated at the end of their life cycle.
The issue of microplastics further exacerbates the environmental impact of synthetic textiles. Washing synthetic textiles releases microplastics that accumulate in the oceans and enter the food chain. A single laundry load of polyester clothes can discharge 700,000 microplastic fibres. The majority of microplastics from textiles are released during the first few washes, with fast fashion promoting frequent washing of new garments.
The shift towards synthetic fibres has also contributed to the growing landfill crisis. Unlike natural fibres, synthetic fibres take hundreds of years to break down, releasing harmful microplastics into the environment. This has led to ground and groundwater contamination from old landfills worldwide. While there are efforts to recycle synthetic textiles, such as using recycled bottles to create polyester, the environmental impact of these textiles throughout their life cycle remains significant.
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The fashion industry's contribution to climate change
The fashion industry is one of the world's largest polluters and a significant contributor to climate change. It is responsible for around 10% of global carbon emissions, more than all international aviation and shipping combined. If the industry continues on its current trajectory, its share of carbon emissions could jump to 26% by 2050. The environmental impact of the fashion industry includes the depletion of non-renewable sources, emission of greenhouse gases, and the use of massive amounts of water and energy.
Water pollution is a significant issue in the fashion industry, with around 20% of industrial wastewater pollution worldwide originating from textile dyeing and finishing processes. The industry also dries up water sources and pollutes rivers and streams. It is estimated that the fashion industry uses more than 79 trillion liters of water every year, and a single cotton shirt can require up to 700 gallons of water to produce.
The use of synthetic fibres such as polyester, nylon, and acrylic is also a concern, as they take hundreds of years to biodegrade and release microplastics into the environment when washed. Fast fashion, with its rapid production and mass consumption, has exacerbated these issues, leading to the accumulation of microplastics in the oceans and the degradation of land and water sources.
The social and human costs of the fashion industry are also significant, with evidence of forced and child labour, poor working conditions, and low wages in developing countries. The rapid production and focus on profits in the fast fashion industry often supersede human welfare, leading to infringements on human rights and labour rights.
To address these issues, there is a growing movement towards slow fashion, which advocates for more sustainable and ethical practices in the fashion industry. Organizations are working towards shifting the fashion economy and fostering international cooperation to reduce the industry's environmental and social impact.
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The problem of waste in the fashion industry
The fashion industry is the second-largest consumer industry of water, accounting for about 10% of the world's total water consumption. It is also responsible for 20% of the world's pesticides and 10% of the world's microplastics. The industry uses massive amounts of water, with a single cotton shirt requiring about 700 gallons of water to produce, and a pair of jeans requiring 2,000 gallons.
Textile production is estimated to be responsible for around 20% of global clean water pollution from dyeing and finishing products. The water left over from the dyeing process is often dumped into ditches, streams, or rivers, and the use of synthetic fibres like polyester, nylon, and acrylic, which take hundreds of years to biodegrade, further contributes to water pollution.
The fast fashion business model relies on the exploitation of resources and human labor to deliver garments at an unprecedented rate. The rapid production and sales of garments in the fast-fashion industry create a significant amount of waste, pollution, and degradation to air, water, and wildlife habitats. The poor quality of fast fashion clothing contributes to the limited lifespans of garments, which often end up slowly decomposing in landfills or being incinerated.
The pollution introduced by the fashion industry has devastating impacts on the environment and the health of local people, animals, and ecosystems where the factories are located. It contributes to habitat degradation, the proliferation of chemicals and microplastics in waterways, and the increasing impact of climate change from anthropogenic greenhouse gas emissions.
To address the problem of waste in the fashion industry, there have been calls for a shift to more sustainable business models and practices, including the development of business models that reuse clothes and maximize their useful life. Organizations in Geneva and beyond are working to foster international cooperation on this issue, and the European Commission has presented a strategy to make textiles more durable, repairable, reusable, and recyclable, tackle fast fashion, and stimulate innovation within the sector.
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Frequently asked questions
The fashion industry is the second-largest consumer industry of water, using about 215 trillion litres of water per year. It takes around 1,400 litres of water to produce a single t-shirt, and 700 gallons to produce one cotton shirt.
The fashion industry is responsible for about 20% of global water pollution, largely from dyeing and finishing products. It is also the second-largest polluter of water, as the water leftover from the dyeing process is often dumped into ditches, streams, or rivers.
The fashion industry accounts for 8-10% of global CO2 emissions, more than all international aviation and shipping combined. If the industry continues on its current trajectory, its share of the carbon budget could jump to 26% by 2050.
