It is no surprise that fashion comes with a huge social and environmental cost. The study was done by the Ellen MacArthur FoundationThe fashion industry is responsible for between 8-10% of the world’s carbon emissions. This is more than all international shipping combined.
Approximately 60% of all materialsThe plastics used in fashion industry contribute to environmental pollution. Want to learn more? The guide will show you how fashion can have negative effects on the environment, and what big fashion brands are doing to address these issues.
The Environmental Footprint of Fast Fashion
Despite the fashion industry’s growth, environmental concerns have been raised. Here are a few.
1. Excessive Water Consumption
According to the, the fashion sector uses approximately 93 billion cubic metres of water each year to meet the needs of five million people. UNCTAD 2020 reports. Cotton is a very thirsty crop. A single kilogram of it needs 7500 to 10K Liters of water. Additionally, 20% of industrial wastewater pollutingFashion is a major industry worldwide.
2. Climate Change
Each year, 70 million tons of trees are cut down to supply the fashion industry’s needs. This number is expected to increase by 20% by 2034. According to the MacArthur Foundation Study fashion produces close to 1.2 million metric tonnes of carbon dioxide each year. This results in additional greenhouse gas emissions. Additionally, the fashion industry is a major user of fossil fuel-based plastics that contributes to climate change.
3. Produces waste
Polymers are the base of fibers found in polymers. These polymers are reduced by washing and wearing clothes, which makes them ineligible for making new fabrics. Only one percent of clothing can be reused to make new clothes. This means that millions of tons of clothing are thrown away each year, resulting in harmful waste that contributes to global warming.
What are the environmental changes being made by large brands?
Here’s a list of initiatives taken by big brands to reduce the negative effects of fashion on the environment.
Patagonia, the famous American retailer of outdoor clothing has taken remarkable steps to promote environmental sustainability. It taxes itselfEvery sale – 1%They donate this money to preserve and restore the natural environment. They have donated US$100,000,000 to grassroots organizations.
Patagonia has committed to reduce carbon emissions by at least 45% over the next ten years to reach net-zero emissions by 2020.
This is the most important pearl jewelryBrand contributes a portion of every sale for non-profit organisations that support women’s issues.
This well-known clothing brand uses a variety of eco-friendly materials to create its clothing line, including Global Organic Textile Standard cotton. They are also Fair Trade Certified and follow organic manufacturing guidelines.
This luxury clothing brand has a reputation for being a leader in sustainable fashion. It follows a lifecycle approach to reduce its negative environmental impacts. Vogue reports that Eileen Fisher initiated the Green Eileen campaign to reduce fashion waste. It is a luxury brand that buys back and resells its own clothing, so you can get it at a lower price and in great condition.