The Environmental Impact of Fast Fashion
Did you know that one garbage truck of textiles is wasted every second? Around 85% of these clothes end up in landfills or are burned. Fast fashion is the second most wasteful industry behind gas. Along with unnecessary waste, the fashion industry contributes to 10% of our greenhouse emissions globally. The production of clothing also uses a significant amount of raw materials such as land, water, fossil fuels which are damaging to our environment.
There is an immense amount of pesticides and chemicals used to produce fabric and many companies tend to dump these hazardous materials directly into waterways. The microfibres and clothing dye also impact our oceans and freshwater. This poisons the land and the drinking water of the surrounding small and large communities.
Mass production in the fashion industry and the race to produce sickening low-priced products force manufacturers to use unsafe and harmful practices that negatively impact our environment.
How to Create Change
Make buying second-hand a priority. By purchasing something second hand you are decreasing the demand for new products.