How
Fast Fashion
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Impacts our
Planet
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How Fast
Fashion Impacts
Our Planet

Fast fashion has become a dominant trend, offering consumers access to the latest styles at remarkably low prices. However, this convenience comes at a significant cost, with severe environmental consequences, and that's not even touching on the labor issues involved. Below is a list of topics that you can learn about.

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🏬 Major Fashion Brands

Fast fashion continues to dominate the market, driven by rapid production cycles that cater to real-time trends.

*Fast fashion = The business model within the fashion industry that relies on cheap and speedy production of low-quality clothing to meet the hottest trends.

Fashion's top brands, such as Nike, Inditex, Adidas, and H&M, dominate global sales. However, these leading brands also represent the fast fashion industry. This graph highlights not just their commercial success but also points to the ongoing challenge of balancing high sales with eco-friendly initiatives.

🗑️ Waste & Landfills

Globally, the fashion industry produces around 92 million tonnes of textile waste annually.

87% of materials used to make clothing end up in landfill.

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That's one truckload every second!

🌍 CO₂ Emissions

According to 2023 data by the United Nations Environment Programme, the fashion industry contributes to 10% of global carbon emissions annually, more than the emissions from international flights and maritime shipping combined.

*10 million tons of CO₂e is the equivalent of more than 2 million gas-powered cars on the road per company.

While Nike, Inditex, Adidas, and H&M lead global sales as we noted above, their environmental impact is significant. Nike and Inditex each produce over 10 million metric tons of CO₂ annually, while Adidas and H&M contribute more than 5 million metric tons. This highlights a critical challenge: the fashion industry's top performers are also among its largest polluters.

💧 Water Consumption

The fashion industry’s water consumption is immense, using enough water annually to meet the drinking needs of 110 million people. The fashion industry is responsible for about 20% of global wastewater pollution.

Not so fun facts:

  • Producing a single cotton shirt alone requires around 2,500 liters of water, highlighting the significant strain this industry places on global water resources.
  • It takes 10,000 liters of water to produce just one pair of denim jeans, which is the amount a person would drink over the course of 10 years.
🌱 Sustainable Solutions

Sustainable solutions in fashion are gaining momentum as more consumers seek to reduce their environmental impact. Eco-friendly brands are emerging, prioritizing ethical production methods.

Patagonia logo. Ebay logo. Goodwill logo.

Thrift shopping and second-hand platforms like Depop and eBay offer alternative ways to refresh wardrobes without contributing to the demand for new production. These platforms not only promote the reuse of clothing but also help reduce textile waste that would otherwise end up in landfills.

By supporting these practices, individuals can play a crucial role in fostering a more circular and responsible fashion industry.

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Images are from: Vecteezy, Wikimedia Commons, Adobe Stock, and vhv.rs.