Fast fashion is an emerging trend, in which brands produce large volumes of clothes that follow the latest runway and celebrity looks. They sell these garments both online and in physical stores.
These pieces are often manufactured using environmentally damaging materials, often in factories that lack safe and ethical labor practices. Furthermore, they generate a substantial amount of waste which contributes to climate change by filling landfills with recyclable items.
Water
Water is an integral element in Earth’s ecosystem, occurring in liquid, gaseous and solid forms. It provides life on this planet as well as many other places throughout the universe.
Water is an indispensable solvent, capable of dissolving many substances. It plays a crucial role in biological processes as it aids in the transport of nutrients between tissues.
The fashion industry consumes a great deal of water to manufacture clothes, making it one of the world’s biggest water users. On average, one cotton shirt requires 700 gallons of water while two jeans require 2 000 gallons.
Textile dyeing involves mixing water with chemicals to produce unique hues on fabric. Unfortunately, this contributes to water pollution by dumping wastewater into ditches or streams instead of being collected and processed.
Energy
Energy is essential for doing any type of work – walking, driving, cooking food on stoves, making ice in freezers, building buildings or sending astronauts into space. But it also powers our clothes, shoes and other products.
Textile production, whether natural or synthetic, requires a significant amount of energy. It releases greenhouse gases and other emissions which alter the way energy flows on Earth.
Climate change causes global temperature shifts, impacts ecosystems and human life on Earth; additionally, it depletes non-renewable resources.
The fashion industry is a major polluter, accounting for 10% of humanity’s carbon emissions. It dries up water sources, pollutes rivers and streams, sends 85% of textiles to landfill annually (UNECE), and when washing certain types of clothing can release thousands of tiny bits of plastic into the ocean.
Chemicals
Fast fashion is notorious for the use of chemicals in its production processes. These chemicals are employed to expedite production, yet often have adverse effects on both human health and the environment.
One example is microplastic pollution caused by synthetic fibers used in fast fashion clothes. These microscopic particles float through water and end up in our oceans, where they cause harm to marine life.
Another example is the use of phthalates and other hazardous chemicals in textiles, which can interfere with hormones and lead to cancer.
To avoid chemical hazards, shoppers should inspect clothing labels for warnings. They should also search out brands that have achieved product safety certification through organizations like Oeko-Tex or Bluesign.
Waste
Fast fashion industry revolves around inexpensive, quickly manufactured garments to cater to temporary trends. Its impact on water and energy resources, waste generation and social injustices has caused widespread public concern for this rapidly expanding sector.
Fast fashion has one of the greatest environmental costs due to its excessive water usage for manufacturing and dyeing processes. Furthermore, many factories dump their wastewater directly into local rivers instead of collecting and treating it properly.
Furthermore, the industry’s use of synthetic fibers creates microplastic pollution in wastewater that flows into marine ecosystems. This poses a serious problem as microplastics have been known to cause neurological issues in aquatic creatures and result in health problems for humans.
To combat this, companies are developing sustainable materials like Orange Fiber’s silky material made from orange rinds or Flocus’ fully biodegradable and recyclable fabrics made with the cellulose found in kapok tree pods. Furthermore, governments should take action to address the environmental effects of fast fashion by taking steps toward more responsible production methods.
