The Environmental Impact of Fast Fashion

The fast fashion industry produces over 92 million tons of textile waste each year.

You might have heard the term 'Fast Fashion' being bashed around in the past 5-10 years, but, what is fast fashion? 

Well, it isn't where you go to a H&M Drivethru and order 3 medium jumpers with an extra large bucket hat. Fast fashion actually refers to the rapid production of inexpensive clothing that mimics the latest fashion trends...bucket hats being a prime example. 

Brands like Zara, H&M, Primark, Missguided and plenty of others have all made this model very popular by offering trendy designs at extremely low prices, but unfortunately, low prices equals low quality...meaning after a few wears it will end up thrown away & discarded on the landfill. 

There may sound like there is nothing wrong with the quick production of new clothing and textiles, but with the new production of these items, comes new pollution!

The fashion industry is one of the largest polluters in the world!

So, how can we help to put a stop to fast fashion & if we do purchase it, what is the best way to get rid of this without impacting the environment?

Let's find out!

Understanding the Environmental Impact of Fast Fashion

Water Pollution: How many litres of water does it take to manufacture 1 cotton T-Shirt? Do you know? The real number will astound you....It takes around 2700 litres to make 1 T SHIRT!

That is enough for 1 person to drink for over 2 years. 

In more developing countries, the water is usually dumped in rivers or lakes...this doesn't alarming initially, but this water will contain many toxic chemicals, which can harm aquatic life!

Textile Waste: Those cheap, easy to buy, 5 pack of shirts that you bought cost £4, so it is no wonder that customers feel they can throw these away without any backlash...unfortunately, the backlash is something that you can't see! 

92 million tonnes of textile waste is made each year, with only around 10% being recycled. Surely we can all do better then that. 

Carbon Emissions: Big textile factories & warehouses are needed to create the millions of fast fashion clothing sold each year & we all know these big factories create big pollution! Synthetic fibres need fossil fuels to be made, which releases greenhouse gases...not to mention the carbon emissions released from all the transportation needed to deliver these to stores across the world!

Micro-plastic Pollution: If you have read any other of our blogs, you will know that we call micro plastic the next asbestos...this is one of the reasons why. 

Cheap clothing is usually made from synthetic fibres such like Polyester, Nylon etc...When you wash any of these fabrics, it sheds tiny, microscopic plastics. These plastics end up making there way into the ocean, where fish will eat it, which ends up coming right back to us in the food chain! 

Do you want any micro-plastic with your chips? 

Environmental Fashion Facts

• Each year, an estimated 500,000 tons of microfibers are released into the ocean from the washing of synthetic textiles.
• It is estimated that 85% of textiles end up in landfills annually, which equates to one waste truck full of clothes being dumped every second.
• The fashion industry produces 20% of global wastewater and is responsible for 10% of global carbon emissions.

The Carbon Footprint of the Fashion Industry

Fast fashion relies on just that...being Fast. This means, making sure the latest TikTok fashion trends are ready on shelves for unsuspecting customers...with this comes a lot of unnecessary carbon footprint. 

There are many different processes to making those garments reach the shelves, many of these processes can unfortunately be harmful to the environment around us & contribute to climate change. 

These processes are - 

Production Processes: A lot of energy is needed to produce clothing, this is usually sourced from coal and natural gas (No, not your partners). 

It is said that polyester alone is responsible for around 40% of the fashion industries greenhouse gas emissions.

Transportation and Distribution: If you shop on the high street regularly, you will probably notice how the clothes on the shelf, change day by day. This is due the massive demand from customers, who want the newest fashion trends as quickly as possible.

This means that clothes need transporting all over the world as quickly as possible & normally involves a wide range of transportation to do this, such as Planes, Trains, Lorries etc. This results in incredibly high amounts of carbon emissions and pollution. 

Short Product Lifespan and Increased Waste: The way fast fashion is marketed & the fact that the trends change so quickly, all promote a short lifespan for clothing waste. The standard buy, wear, dispose mentality has swept the more well-developed countries. You will find that in more developing countries, due to the lack of resources, they understand the concept of reusing, re-wearing and up-cycling clothing.

Just think of the term 'Hand Me Downs', even still till this day it is classed as a negative term. Like you are cheap or can't afford new clothes...when in reality hand me downs are crucial for our environment and sustainability. 

Comparison: Fast Fashion vs. Sustainable Fashion

The ultimate showdown...Ali vs Foreman, Rocky vs Creed, Ketchup vs Brown Sauce...Fast Fashion vs Sustainable Fashion. 

How do these 2 compare?

Material Choices:

• Fast Fashion: Uses low-cost materials like polyester which are made from petrol and have a high carbon footprint. Polyester emits up to 3 times as much CO2 as cotton. 
• Sustainable Fashion: Priorities the use of organic, natural or recycled fibres. This could mean from organic cotton which uses less water and energy & doesn't rely on nasty synthetic materials. Recycled materials are key for this!

Production:

• Fast Fashion: Speed & low costs is key. This often means next to no consideration on the environmental impacts of this. Factories rely on coal and other non-renewable energy sources without any waste practices in mind!
• Sustainable Fashion: Eco-friendly waste practices are first in mind when it comes to sustainable fashion. This could be by reducing the water consumption to produce the textiles, or minimising waste by implementing zero-waste methods in the factories that create these products. 

Transportation and Distribution:

• Fast Fashion: Fast, cheap shipping is needed to keep up with growing fashion trends, regardless of the carbon footprint associated with this. 
• Sustainable Fashion: More sustainable fashion companies will focus on using local production and sourcing of more sustainable materials. There are some brands that use carbon offset programs to counteract the environmental impact from their shipping.

Garment Lifespan:

• Fast Fashion: 'Buy Cheap, Buy Twice!' Due to the low quality and the fact millions have been churned out, customers don't think twice about throwing it away and replacing it again. Most of this waste ends up in landfills. 
• Sustainable Fashion: Sustainable clothing is designed with longevity & you in mind. They are more durable and able to withstand washes, reuse and repair, which, not only extends your favourite coats lifespan but...saves you money and reduces your carbon footprint, as you don't need to buy another straight away because it has ripped apart. .

Sustainable Alternatives to Fast Fashion Brands

Luckily, the fashion industry is becoming a lot more aware fast fashion's environmental impact, and whilst some mainstream companies will still rely on quick, fast trends being stacked on the shelves, there are plenty of global fashion brands that now focus on a more sustainable way of wearing! 

Here are some eco-friendly brands to look out for! 

Patagonia

Probably one of the most recognised, modern sustainable brands. Patagonia uses organic cotton and recycled materials. Their Worn Wear program helps customers to recycle & repair their own products.

Their goal is to help keep clothing out of landfills, which, if you know us...and you should...is something that we love to hear!

Website Link: https://eu.patagonia.com/gb/en/

Komodo

It was founded in 1988...so again a company that has been going a long time, long before sustainability was on anyone's mind!

They use premium quality organic, natural and eco fibres, and use green PU coating and recycled PET, from plastic bottles. Most of their products are vegan and cruelty free. 

Website Link: https://www.komodo.co.uk/

People Tree

This fair trade brand was founded in 1991 in Japan (Who knew, the same year we were born...what a great year for the planet). Their motto being Truly Conscious Clothing, they focus on ensuring every piece of fabric that gets delivered to customers is from a sustainable source. 

They work directly with with farmers in developing countries to create the most ethical pieces. 

Website Link: https://peopletree.eu/

Celtic & Co

If you are looking for a UK based sustainable knitwear & sheepskin brand, then Celtic & Co could be just for you! They use natural fibres like wool from ethical farms to create long lasting pieces of clothing. 

Website Link: https://www.celticandco.com

The Future of Fashion: Moving Towards Green Fashion

Now, we know clothes are expensive & if you haven't got the cash-flow, it can be difficult to ensure that you are being as sustainable with your wear, but not impossible! 

With the future of fashion becoming more aware and moving towards a more eco-friendly, circular economy. It is only a matter of time until green fashion is a global fashion agenda.

Here is where we see the future of fashion and some tips to help you move towards a more sustainable approach: 

The Future

Clothing Rental Subscription: Picture Netflix but for clothes. There are already some going in the UK, such as Rent The Runway. These companies let you rent the clothes & once you are done using them, you can send them back...ensuring items get re-used over and over again. 

3D Printed Clothes? You might laugh, but this could well be a possibility. If this was feasible, do you reckon you would be happy to rock the latest 3D printed garms? 

Fully Biodegradable Garments: Now, as you have seen above, this is already in place with some clothing brands,  however, in the future, it will become more readily available, in hopefully, every store!

Tips

Buy Second-Hand: There are plenty of new apps out there can push buying and selling second hand clothes. Depop, Vinted & even Facebook can be great places to start. Buy buying second hand items, you are stopping the need for new production. 

Borrow for Special Occasions: Consider borrowing some outfits from your friends for any special occasion! This means that you can not only look good, but your wallet is also looking tasty! 

Conclusion

We know the fashion industry has to change & rightly so, but us as consumers can make a big difference! 

By ensuring that we choose brands that really care about their environmental impact, you can send a clear message to the bigger brands, that they need to get on board or get left behind!

Now, with prices rising everywhere it is always going to be tough to purchase that new eco-friendly clothing for probably 2 or 3 times the price of the cheaper, less sustainable item...but in the long run you are: 

1. Saving money on having to replace the cheaper item again. 
2. Helping the environment. 
3. Showing the bigger brands that they can't get away with this fast fashion anymore. 
4. Purchasing a quality piece of clothing which are made to high standards. 

So, the next time you see fast fashion being shovelled down your throat in the form of Social Media or Love Island. have a think about the real impact of that piece of clothing. It may look good, but nothing good comes from it. 

Again, we want to reiterate that with the cost of living rising, always shop within your means & don't be too hard on yourself if you do have to purchase the cheaper item for you or your family.

Life is hard as it is!