Fast Fashion vs the Environment

     “Approximately 85 % of the clothing Americans consume, nearly 3.8 billion pounds annually, is sent to landfills as solid waste, amounting to nearly 80 pounds per American per year”. Bick et al. (2018) Fast fashion has revolutionized the clothing industry by saturating the market with both trendy and disposable clothing. The fashion industry seems to have it all, from affordable pricing to easy accessibility. However, underneath its seemingly harmless cover, lies everything from environmental deterioration to ethical problems. This industry is a leading cause of water pollution, as well as environmental health hazards. This only underlines the critical need for sustainable revolutionization.

 

     The production of any waste can contribute to negative environmental impacts, and the production of wastewater and textile waste from fast fashion is no exception. According to the World Economic forum “Fashion production makes up 10% of humanity’s carbon emissions, dries up water sources, and pollutes rivers and streams. What’s more, 85% of all textiles go to the dump each year.” (McFall-Johnsen 2020)  Furthermore the production of cotton-which is an extremely common textile in the fast fashion industry, requires extreme quantities of water. For example, it can take around 2,650 litres of water to produce one cotton shirt. That equates to enough water for one person to drink eight cups of water a day for three-and-a- half years. (McFall-Johnsen 2020) This clothing which is often made from artificial materials such as polyester, can take hundreds of years to break down,  and does so while releasing microplastics into the environment, unleashing

 

     However, it can be argued that fast fashion provides a remarkable level of accessibility to clothing. Nonetheless, this advantage does not sufficiently outweigh the associated negative consequences. Fast fashion has had a detrimental effect on the environment. At least 10% of global carbon emissions are emitted by the fashion industry, while cotton farming is liable for 24% of insecticides and 11% of pesticides used globally, despite somehow only using 3% of the worlds land. This surpasses both the aviation and shipping industries emissions combined! (UNECE 2018)

 

     Whilst the impacts of the fast fashion industry are dire, there are many steps that can be taken to mitigate the long-term effects. Companies should start by adopting circular production models, using recycled materials and reducing waste at every stage of the production. Governments can also play a critical role by enforcing stricter regulations on pollution and incentivizing more sustainable practices within the industry. It is not only up to the government and big corporations to step in but also to the consumer. Consumers can prioritize quality over quantity and “micro-trends”, supporting sustainable brands and extending the lifespan of their clothing by repairing and recycling where possible.


     Fast fashion’s convenience and affordability come at an unsustainable cost to the environment. As awareness of its ecological impact grows, individuals and industries must work collectively to turn toward more sustainable practices. Only by addressing these challenges can we reduce the environmental toll of the fashion industry and move toward a more sustainable future.

 

 

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