BPS Economist Club
Turning people's good intentions into actionable steps
Fast Fashion Impact
There are enough clothes on the planet right now to dress the next six generations of the human race.
The fashion industry has a significant negative impact on the environment and climate change:
1. Water Pollution: Clothing manufacturing uses large amounts of fresh water, often contaminated with hazardous chemicals. The industry contributes to 20% of global water waste.
2. Plastic Pollution: Synthetic clothing adds to ocean plastic pollution, with microplastics found even on the seafloor. Clothing production and use may release up to 22 million metric tons of microplastics into the ocean by 2050.
3. Climate Pollution: Discarded clothing pollutes the environment through incineration and methane release in landfills. The fashion industry accounts for 10% of global carbon emissions.
Clothing overproduction harms water quality, worsens climate change, and depletes natural resources.
Dandora dumpsite, Nairobi, Kenya. Photo: Caitriona Rogerson
Dandora dumpsite, Nairobi, Kenya. Photo: Caitriona Rogerson
A trash picker walks by piles of garbage and textile waste on the shoreline at Chorkor beach in Accra, Ghana, on Sept. 16, 2022. Photographer: Andrew Caballero-Reynolds/Bloomberg
How to reduce your Impact on the environment.
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Reduce and Re-wear: You don’t need to buy new clothes all the time. Avoiding new purchases can cut down fashion waste and encourage you to wear what's already in your wardrobe.
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Reuse: Visit thrift stores, vintage shops, and online secondhand marketplaces. Organize clothing swaps with friends and family to refresh your wardrobe without spending money.
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Repair: Extend the life of your clothes by repairing them instead of buying new ones.
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Recycle: Look for textile recycling services to dispose of old clothes responsibly. Repurpose old clothing into household items like pillows or reusable bags.
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Resell: Consider selling your clothes or donate them to thrift shops or charities.
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Research: Before making a purchase, research the company's environmental practices. Your consumer choices can influence how companies operate, so support those aligned with sustainable practices.