Sustainability in fashion is crucial because the industry has a major impact on our environment, economy, and social well-being.
The statistics we share here underscore the massive water use, carbon emissions, and waste generation associated with clothing production, which directly affect our planet's resources and climate.
Moreover, they reveal the social implications, such as labor conditions, that are often hidden behind the glamour of fashion.
By understanding these numbers, consumers can make more informed decisions, pushing for changes towards a more sustainable, equitable, and responsible fashion sector.
Environmental Impact of Clothing
Water Use
It takes around 2,700 liters (~710 gallons) of water to produce just one conventional cotton t-shirt, which is enough to meet one person's drinking needs for 2.5 years (900 days). This estimation accounts for the water used in growing the cotton, manufacturing the fabric, and processing the garment through stages like dyeing and finishing.
When producing a single pair of jeans, it takes roughly 3,781 liters of water, from cotton growth to delivery.
On the other hand, producing an organic cotton t-shirt reduces the water usage by up to 90% compared to conventional cotton using only about 270 liters (~71 gallons) over the life of the garment.
Textile dyeing and finishing contribute significantly to industrial water pollution, with some sources indicating that 20% of global industrial water pollution comes from this sector.
The dyeing process of clothing is particularly water-heavy, with estimates suggesting that it takes about 200 liters (~53 gallons) of water to dye just one kilogram of fabric. We use about 5 trillion litres (1.3 trillion gallons) of water per year just dyeing fabric.
The fashion industry as a whole uses around 93 trillion litres (24.5 trillion gallons) of water per year, making it the second most water-intensive industry globally after agriculture. This volume of water is enough to fill almost 38 million Olympic-sized swimming pools.
The use phase, including washing and drying clothes, also contributes to water consumption. For instance, washing clothes at home adds to this footprint, with statistics showing that jeans shouldn't be washed more than once a month to conserve water and energy.
Carbon Footprint
The fashion industry accounts for around 10% of global carbon emissions, which is more than all international flights and maritime shipping combined. Fast fashion is increasing carbon emissions at all stages of the product's lifecycle.
Specifically, the production of one cotton t-shirt is associated with approximately 4.3 kg of greenhouse gases. A pair of jeans can emit around 33.4 kg of greenhouse gases.
A polyester shirt has a carbon footprint of about 5.5 kg, while polyester production was responsible for releasing about 706 billion kg of greenhouse gases.
An organic cotton t-shirt only contributes about 2.5 kg of CO2 during its lifecycle. This is about 40% less global warming potential than conventionally grown cotton. There are many more
benefits of organic cotton compared to conventional cotton.
The consumer care phase contributes to most of a garment's carbon footprint. Between 75 and 80 percent of the carbon footprint of an organic cotton t-shirt comes from this phase. Washing clothes at high temperatures and using dryers are the main culprits.
A single load of laundry can emit up to 3.3kg of CO2 equivalent. To reduce CO2 contributions, consumers can wash in cold water, use renewable energy sources, and hang dry clothes.
Waste and Recycling of Clothing
Waste of Clothing
The fast fashion model has doubled garment production since 2000, while the average number of times a piece of clothing is worn has decreased.
The fashion industry generates 92 million tons of waste per year, expected to grow by about 60% by 2030.
The average American throws away approximately 81.5 pounds of clothing per year, contributing to the 11.3 million tons of textile waste in America alone. In the UK, each person discards around 30 kg (66 pounds) of textiles annually.
Approximately 87% of the total fiber input used for clothing ends up being incinerated or disposed of in landfills. When clothes decompose in landfills, they produce methane, a potent greenhouse gas. Incineration, while reducing volume, emits CO2 into the atmosphere
contributing to global warming.
A single laundry load of synthetic clothes can release up to 700,000 microplastic fibers into waterways. These microplastics contribute to ocean pollution, with an estimated 500 million tonnes accumulating on the ocean floor each year due to washing synthetic garments.
And we have no way to get these microfibers out of the ocean water, so they end up in the food chain and then our bodies. You are full of plastic because of polyester clothing.
Recycling Practices of Clothing
Out of the 11.3 millions tons of waste in the United States only 12 percent of the materials are used to make new clothing, while out of the 92 million tons of waste globally, only a total of 1 percent is recycled.
While the US has a higher recycling rate than most countries, European countries like Germany, Belgium, Netherlands, Sweden, Austria, Italy, and France are at the forefront of recycling clothing.
Around 14.8% of polyester production was from recycled materials mostly from PET bottles.
Even though the rate is low, recycled polyester is one of the
most sustainable clothing materials. It reduces the energy consumption by around 60 percent and lowers CO2 emissions by up to 50 percent compared to making new materials.
The overall low rate of recycling is due to the difficulty in recycling blended fabrics and the lack of infrastructure to recycle clothing, but this can improve in the coming years.
Social Impact of Clothing
Labor Conditions
Approximately 75 million people worldwide are involved in making our clothes, with 80% of apparel being made by young women around the world between the ages of 18 and 24.
These women often face poor working conditions including exposure to toxic chemicals, low wages, and gender-based violence.
Only 2% of clothing workers earn a living wage, highlighting the need for better social sustainability.
For example, in Bangladesh, garment workers earn about $96 per month, while the government's wage board suggests that a living wage should be 3.5 times that amount.
The Rana Plaza collapse in Bangladesh in 2013 was one of the deadliest industrial accidents, resulting in 1,138 deaths and over 2,500 injuries, highlighting severe safety issues in garment factories.
Cultural Impact
A survey done had 71% of respondents reporting that their clothing choices are a form of communication, convey messages about their social status, occupation, ethnicity, or personal or cultural identity.
The influence of Western fashion on global culture is significant. An example is that jeans are now worn by nearly every culture around the world, symbolizing a blend of local and international fashion sensibilities.
In recent years, the trend of the fast fashion model has been criticized for creating a culture of disposability, where clothes are treated as transient items rather than durable goods, impacting societal values towards consumption and sustainability.
Social media platforms like Instagram and TikTok have significantly influenced fashion trends, pushing the fast fashion cycle and encouraging overconsumption among younger demographics.
Consumer Trends and Market Growth of Sustainable Clothing
Consumer Awareness
Fast fashion continues to be a significant trend, with a focus on trendy, affordable, and quickly changing styles.
Globally, more than 80 billion items of clothing are purchased by consumers each year. The average person is now buying 60% more clothing than they did 15 years ago.
However, consumers keep each item for only half as long with some trends changing so quickly that clothes are often discarded after a few wears.
There's been a noticeable shift towards sustainable fashion, with consumer interest in second-hand and eco-friendly clothing increasing, as 65% of fashion buyers surveyed care about the environment.
Market Size and Future Growth
The entire fashion industry is valued at around $1.3 trillion globally, making it a substantial economic force, with the sustainable fashion market being only about $7.8 billion of that (0.6%).
The global market for organic cotton increased by 25% in 2023, and the whole sustainable clothing market is projected to grow to $33 billion by 2030.
This growth is driven by consumer demand for eco-friendly fabrics and practices, like products certified under the Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS). 88% of consumers surveyed now expect companies to act responsibly regarding environmental impact
The Asia-Pacific region has a massive slice of the sustainable clothing market, with over 45% market share in 2023, due to increasing environmental awareness among the younger generations.
Consumers have shown they are willing to pay a premium for sustainable products. For example, in the U.S., 73% of Millennials are willing to pay more for sustainable fashion.
And they are more likely to purchase from brands that provide clear publicly backed information about their sustainability practices.
In the U.S., there's also a growing trend towards buying second-hand clothing. Sales of second-hand apparel are expected to outpace those of fast fashion by 2027.
Even though fast fashion is still popular we are gradually shifting towards slow fashion, focusing on quality over quantity, encouraging consumers to buy less but better, which includes investing in durable, timeless pieces.
Innovations and Materials
New Materials
Companies like Acme Mills have introduced bio-based polylactic acid (PLA) fabrics. These materials are made from renewable resources like corn starch or sugarcane and are designed to replace petroleum-based nonwovens.
MycoWorks, in collaboration with brands like Hermès, has been innovating with mycelium-based (fungi) materials, offering a sustainable alternative to traditional leather.
Piñatex is made from pineapple leaf fibers, and has a leather-like feel. This material has been adopted by several brands for its eco-friendliness and its ability to reduce agricultural waste.
Technological Advancements
The sustainable fashion sector sees significant investments, with about $3 billion invested in sustainable fashion startups since 2018, aiming at innovations in materials and processes.
Zero waste pattern cutting is a design technique that can reduce fabric waste by up to 15% in the manufacturing process, significantly lowering the environmental impact.
Some brands have moved towards a full digital 3D design to cut down on physical sample waste, with the potential to save millions of dollars annually in material costs.
Brands like Martine Jarlgaard use blockchain technology to ensure transparency, allowing consumers to trace the lifecycle of their garments from raw materials to the final product. Despite the myths,
blockchain is not bad for the environment.
Puma, as part of a consortium, introduced the world's first piece of 100% "Fibre-to-Fibre" biorecycled clothing, showcasing advancements in recycling technology to create new garments from old ones.
Techniques such as turning textile waste into waterproof coatings using metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) are being explored, enhancing the lifecycle of clothing materials.
