Fashion can be a lot of fun but, due to the way the industry is currently set up, it has negative effects on the environment that can't be ignored.
Clothing is something everyone needs. It's also something that many people consider a hobby and a way to express who they are. I've always been interested in fashion and clothing - when I was little, I remember drawing different themed outfits and wanting to be a fashion designer. Fashion can be a lot of fun and I truly do love it. Unfortunately, there's a lot of negative consequences for the environment because of how the industry is currently set up. These things can change, but knowing what's currently happening is crucial in being able to make a difference.
Most of It Ends Up in Landfills
Because of the large amount of clothing being produced and the limited ways to recycle textiles, most of it ends up in landfills. In fact, the EPA (The United States Environmental Protection Agency) says that in 2018, an estimated 9 MILLION tons of clothing and shoes went to landfills. Another 4 million were discarded but in other ways (recycled or combusted with energy recovery). Companies need to held accountable for this much production, but consumers also need to make changes as well. Find other ways to discard of old clothing and only buy what you really need. A climate activist that I follow, Megan McSherry (@acteevism), likes to "see her consumer dollars as a vote" in how things are done and you can too!
Production of Clothing Pollutes Our Water
The fashion industry also contributes to water pollution. According to a report put together by The World Bank, "more than 80% of the world's wastewater... is still released into the environment without treatment." Another report by CDP showed that of the 136 big fashion & textile companies they reached out to, only 43 have a water risks assessment in place, and 54% didn't even disclose what they're doing. This is a little suspicious and alarming as the CDP also says that the textile industry puts out 217 million cubic meters of polluted wastewater into the environment a year. This is due to dyes and chemicals used during the production of textiles. This doesn't include the pollution due to insecticides used for growing cotton, microfibers and microplastics, and landfill waste that makes its way to the water.
The Industry Creates a lot of Greenhouse Gas
By making clothes, a lot of companies make something else as well - greenhouse gases. The number one synthetic fabric used is polyester. Polyester is made by burning fossil fuels. The production of polyester created 282 billion kilograms of carbon dioxide in just 2015.
This brings up an interesting conundrum in sustainability. Polyester is one of the longest lasting fabrics and requires less care than others. It doesn't need to be replaced as often. Climate Change and Environmental Bloggers Patty and Leigh Anne, said on their blog,
“Polyester is much (much, much, much!) cheaper than natural fibers and it wears like iron – so you can keep your sofa looking good for 30 years. The real question is, will you actually keep that sofa for 30 years?”
I can't tell you what fabric to choose to be the *most sustainable* because that depends on your definition of sustainability and what your priorities are - but hopefully this information will help you decide and do something about what you choose.
Fast fashion and the effects it has on the environment are overwhelming - even doing this research I was feeling a little burned out. My hope is that seeing the actual data will empower you to pick one thing you can do today to start making a difference, even if its something small. Change can only happen when we understand what the problem is and when we decide we won't let it stay that way. Let me know either in the comments or on Instagram what you are going to do to help make this change happen!
The article was originally published 7/15/2022.
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