Did you know it takes 2,700 litres of water to produce one cotton tshirt?
and nearly 100 billion clothing items are produced each year. Learn about some of the most astonishing facts about impact of fast fashion on environment.
Based on these jaw-dropping high figures, it should come to no surprise that global clothing production represents the third largest manufacturing industry in the world, preceded only by the automotive and technology industries. This article covers few of the most astonishing facts about fashion industry.
The Environmental Footprint of Fast Fashion is equivalent of one garbage truck full of clothes is burned or dumped in a landfill every second
The fashion industry is one of the largest contributors to global pollution. It’s estimated to be responsible for around 10% of global carbon emissions, more than international flights and maritime shipping combined. 500,000 tons of microfibres are released into the ocean each year (Ocean Clean Wash, 2023). Read more about environmental impact of our wardrobe in a report from World Bank.
It can take up to 2,700 liters of water to produce a single cotton T-shirt, equivalent to what one person might drink over three years.
The production of textiles requires vast amounts of water. Some 93 billion cubic metres of water — enough to meet the needs of five million people — is used by the fashion industry annually, contributing significantly to water scarcity in some regions (UNCTAD, 2020). Around 20% of industrial wastewater pollution worldwide originates from the fashion industry.
Waste Generation by Fashion Industry is equivalent to a rubbish truck full of clothes ends up on landfill sites every second
The fashion industry generates a staggering amount of waste. Millions of tons of clothing end up in landfills each year, contributing to the growing problem of textile waste.
Beyond the design and materials, the glamours luxury brands manufacture garments that are considered as a status symbol. Burning excess stock, as opposed to selling it as a discount, maintains the brand’s value and sense of exclusivity.
Then there’s the “grey market” where genuine designer goods are bought cheaply and resold by others. Some brands even offer discounts to staff and industry insiders to reduce the amount of unsold stock out there, and prevent it falling into the hands of resellers.
“93% of brands surveyed by the Fashion Checker aren’t paying garment workers a living wage”
Rana Plaza incident is one of the prominent examples of unjust labour practices in fashion industry. Many fashion brands outsource production to countries with lax labor regulations. This can lead to exploitation of workers, including low wages, unsafe working conditions, and long hours. Labourers are forced to work in pathetic, inhumane conditions, which consequently has direct impact on their quality of life, mental and physical health. This vicious cycle is seen mostly in poor sections of underdeveloped and developing countries.
Child Labor in fashion Industry- The ILO estimates that 170 million are engaged in child labour, defined by the UN as “work for which the child is either too young — work done below the required minimum age — or work which, because of its detrimental nature or conditions, is altogether considered unacceptable for children and is prohibited”
Shockingly, child labor is still prevalent in some parts of the fashion industry, with children as young as 5 or 6 years old working in hazardous conditions to produce clothing.
Toxic Chemicals used in garment manufacturing
Around 8,000 synthetic chemicals are used in the clothing manufacturing process, and some of them are indeed toxic for the consumers, garment workers and the environement. Toxic chemicals in clothing are especially found in fast fashion to save money or speed up certain processes. Commonly used azo dyes in fashion industry are used to make garments look bright, cheerful and pleasing. However, you might have noticed that when you buy a fast fashion garment, hand wash it, and your entire sink becomes bright-coloured? This is because our skin absorbs them easily, leading to endocrine disruptions, higher risks of tumour formation, and allergic reactions.
Overproduction
A report from shows that From tales of top fashion brands burning £90 million of unwanted items in just five years to the billions in unsold inventory that fast fashion brands hold, fashion overproduction is a major source of needless waste. The fashion industry frequently overproduces clothing, leading to excess inventory that often goes unsold. This overproduction not only contributes to waste but also puts pressure on brands to reduce prices, potentially compromising quality and labor conditions.
In one high-profile case, Richemont, the parent company of fine watch brands such as Cartier and Montblanc, was caught up in controversy after it destroyed more than £400 million worth of designer timepieces in a bid to stop them being sold by unauthorised vendors. In response, Richemont also said it had bought back some unsold stock and recycled some of the precious metals and stones.
Garments are made from fossil fuels
Many fashion items are made from unsustainable materials like virgin polyester, which is derived from fossil fuels. Fossil fuels are one of the most important element in fashion industry’s supply chain, from the fertilizer used to grow crops like cotton to the gas used to power vehicles shipping online orders to customers. Fossil fuels also keep the factories used to manufacture apparel running. And they even make up the garments themselves, with polyester — which is derived from petroleum — being the most commonly used textile. These materials take a significant toll on the environment during production and disposal.
The fashion industry is responsible for 8–10% of humanity’s carbon emissions — more than all international flights and maritime shipping combined (UNEP, 2018). If the fashion sector continues on its current trajectory, that share of the carbon budget could jump to 26% by 2050 (Ellen MacArthur Foundation, 2017)
What Can I Do?
International organizations, governments and businesses are constantly working on solutions to shift the fashion industry toward a more sustainable pathway. Indeed, consumers can also play a role with their daily actions. Read about how your actions create an impact
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