Cover Photo: Image of a landfill with mountains of clothes due to fast fashion from the University of Queensland.
Fast fashion, the culprit behind our ever-growing closets, has revolutionized the way we purchase and dispose of our clothing. This business model, which sells trendy clothing at cheap prices, has led to an exponential increase in clothing consumption,
with over 80 billion pieces of new clothing purchased annually, resulting in a staggering $1.2 trillion for the global fashion industry.
Shockingly, the US leads the pack, consuming more textiles and clothing than any other nation.
Unfortunately, our obsession with fast fashion comes at a significant cost to our planet, with a whopping 85% of the clothing we consume, nearly 3.8 billion pounds annually, ending up in landfills as solid waste.
The impact of fast fashion on the environment is a global environmental justice issue that cannot be ignored. The hazardous effects of the production processes of fast fashion are devastating to the environment, with untreated wastewater from textile dyeing containing heavy metals and other toxicants that adversely affect the health of both animals and residents. Additionally, the production of cotton and polyester, which make up 90% of clothing sold in the United States, have significant health impacts. Cotton requires large amounts of water and pesticides to grow, while polyester, a synthetic textile, is derived from oil. This has created a host of occupational hazards, with garment assembly employing 40 million workers worldwide, mostly in low to middle-income countries where occupational and safety standards are often not enforced.
Image of dyes dumped in ocean waters by fast fashion factories from Greenpeace.
Textile waste is another major issue with,
the average American throwing away approximately 80 pounds of clothing and textiles annually, taking up nearly 5% of landfill space.
Clothing not sold in markets becomes solid waste, clogging rivers, greenways, and parks, creating the potential for additional environmental health hazards.
Sustainable fibers are the key to minimizing the environmental impact of textile production. Natural cellulosic and protein fibers are better for the environment and human health, but in some cases, manufactured fibers are more sustainable. Fabrics like Lyocell, made from the cellulose of bamboo, are made in a closed-loop production cycle, recycling 99% of the chemicals used to develop fabric fibers.
But it's not just the industry that must change. Consumers can promote global environmental justice by adopting the "less is more" mentality.
High-quality clothing that lasts longer, shopping at second-hand stores, selling and renting second-hand clothes, repairing clothing they already own, and purchasing from retailers with transparent supply chains can make a significant difference.
The United Nation's SDG, "Ensure sustainable consumption and production patterns," seeks to redress the injustices caused by unfettered materialism, and it's time for us to do our part.
Ultimately, fast fashion is not just a fashion issue, but a global environmental justice issue. It's time for all of us to take responsibility for our fashion choices and work towards a more sustainable future. Buying less, buying better, repairing, and recycling are key actions we can take to reduce the environmental impact of textile production. Let's change the way we consume fashion and promote global environmental justice.
Sources:
https://psci.princeton.edu/tips/2020/7/20/the-impact-of-fast-fashion-on-the-environment
https://ehjournal.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12940-018-0433-7