The Truth About the Environmental Impact of your Wardrobe

Posted by Klackciya Krishnakumar on 2024 Apr 8th

Hi friends! Love clothes? Us too! But lately, there's been a lot of buzz about the impact of fashion on our planet.

Want to learn more about how to break up with fast fashion? Visit one of our previous blogs here!

A rack displaying a vibrant assortment of clothing in various colours

It turns out, the fashion industry does have a big environmental footprint.

Here's the inside scoop:

Fast Fashion: Clothes are cheaper than ever, but that means more waste. We buy way more than we need, and tons of clothing ends up in landfills.

Every second, the equivalent of a rubbish truckload of clothes is burnt or buried in a landfill

(Ellen McArthur Foundation)

A massive landfill overflowing with discarded clothes of various colours and types.

Swap, Don’t Shop: Did you know extending the life of your clothes by just three months can seriously reduce their environmental impact?

Try swapping with friends or buying second-hand!

♻️ Fast fashion brands are producing twice the amount of clothes today than in 2000 (Igini, 2023)

Clothing racks of colourful clothes and accessories from a thrift store.

Washing Smarter: Did you know that 90% of the energy used in washing clothes goes towards heating the water?

❄️ By switching to cold water washes for most of your laundry, you can significantly reduce your carbon footprint.

The fashion industry is responsible for 20% of global waste water (Igini, 2023)

A pile of neatly folded clothes made from organic cotton.

Chemical Concerns: Lots of clothes are made with synthetic materials like polyester, which can release harmful chemicals.

☣️ In a 2017 study conducted by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), it was found that approximately 35% of microplastics in the ocean, which are tiny non-biodegradable plastic particles, originated from the washing of synthetic fabrics such as polyester (World Economic Forum, 2020).

A spool of white polyester yarn.

Greenhouse Gas: They trap heat, warming our planet. This disrupts weather, melts glaciers, and harms ecosystems – a big price tag for cheap clothes. Let's break up with fast fashion and ditch the climate woes!

☔️☀️ The fashion industry's footprint is huge - it generates 10% of global greenhouse gas emissions!

Factory buildings releasing smoke and greenhouse gases into the atmosphere.

So, what can we do? Here are some tips to be a sustainable style icon:

Shop smart: Invest in quality pieces that will last.

Embrace pre-loved: Hit the thrift stores and rock those vintage finds!

Wash cold: Skip the hot water and save energy.

Support sustainable brands: Look for companies that use eco-friendly materials and ethical practices.

Being fashionable and eco-conscious can go hand-in-hand!

This blog post is inspired by the information found in:

Wicker, A. (2024, March 6). Shocking (but Accurate!) Statistics About Fashion’s Environmental Impact.https://ecocult.com/shocking-but-accurate-statistics-about-fashions-environmental-impact/