Do they ever wonder why the price is so low or how long it took to make those jeans? They are likely more interested in getting what they want due to the attractive price. The problem is that low prices can have a huge impact on the environment. These fast-fashion shops have many harmful effects on the environment that should be alarming.
As fashion trends change, businesses are quick and cheap to make fashionable clothing. This has led to excessive clothing waste and increased pollution. People tend to lose value when the item is cheap because it is easy to get and mass-produced. About 62 million metric tonnesAs of 2019, apparel was consumed worldwide.
These clothes end up in landfills due to their low quality and wear after a few use. They move the clothing to other areas to get rid of it. The U.S. 85% of clothesDiscarded items end up in landfills, or are incinerated. This poses a health risk to the surrounding communities as they could be exposed by landfill smoke and toxic gases that pollute our air.
The toxic chemicals used in textile dyeing are also affecting the oceans. Many of these companies are located overseas, and foreign environmental regulations are not restrictive when it comes clothing production. Bangladesh is one of the world’s largest clothing manufacturers, with a revenue of $34 MillionIt is a common practice to dump wastewater into oceans. Water is a mixture Toxic chemicals, dyes, heavy metals, and saltsThese substances can have a negative impact on drinking water supplies and further pollute our environment. About 719 finishing plantsBangladeshi residents dump their wastewater in rivers in Dhaka, the capital of Bangladesh. Around 200,000 people will be living in 2021. 349 million cubic metresThese dyeing techniques will produce a lot of wastewater.
Manufacturing clothes takes a lot of water, which pollutes the oceans. It takes approximately 2000 gallons waterFrom the beginning of the cotton harvest to the final manufacturing, it takes approximately 3.5 years to make a pair. This is enough water for an average person to consume for 11 years. 182.5 gallonsEach year, approximately 1 billion liters of water. This is a ridiculous amount of water waste and must be corrected if we are to preserve our water resources.
Working with companies is one way that they can reduce water waste. production sitesThat reuses wastewater to make more clothes. Programs like the Better Cotton InitiativeThese companies can help with the sourcing of sustainably produced cotton. Their goal is to help farmers learn better cotton farming techniques through field training. Farmers will then be able to obtain a better license to farm cotton after they have learned these practices.
Consumers can look for better alternatives to fast fashion shops and take action to stop the negative effects. alternatives.Local thrift stores are a great place to shop for affordable clothing that doesn’t harm the environment. Donating clothes at local thrift shops helps to repurpose clothes and reduce fabric waste in landfills. About 16 million tons of textile scrap is produced each year in America. 10 million ends up in landfills.It is vital that we find creative ways to reuse and recycle old clothing, rather than to throw it away.
There are many websites and apps that allow people to trade, buy and sell clothing. Depop, a popular app right now, has many sellers that cater to all styles. This allows you to easily access clothing that is on-trend and does not create new waste. Other Apps can be bought and soldYou should also check out Esty, Facebook Marketplace, eBay, Poshmark, Mercari, and Esty.
It is possible to reduce textile pollution by simply buying less. Always ask yourself if the item is really necessary. You can also sew the item and make it new again, instead of replacing it if it is damaged or ripped.
As consumers, we must continue to look for alternatives to fast fashion and raise awareness about the environmental impact of mass-produced clothes.
Illustration featured by Miranda Thomas