Fast fashion refers to a business model that emphasizes the rapid and large-scale production of clothing to keep pace with constantly evolving trends driven by luxurious looks, designer runways, and influencers.
Enabling retailers to offer a wide range of products, this model allows consumers to access diverse fashion options at lower prices. For individual consumers, fast fashion is a more convenient and economical choice compared to high-quality, durable clothing. But at what cost for our planet?
According to 2023 data by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP),
the fashion industry contributes to 10% of global carbon emissions annually, more than the emissions from international flights and maritime shipping combined. If current trends continue, its greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions are projected to increase by over 50% by 2030.
Although fashion-related carbon emissions cannot be solely linked to fast fashion, the latter remains one of the largest contributors. Indeed, the industry’s need to match trends leads to the continuous production of new garments, significantly increasing its environmental footprint. Consumers frequently purchase and discard perfectly wearable and often still new clothes as new trends emerge. This cycle of buying and discarding clothing greatly increases carbon emission, exacerbating existing environmental concerns.
One of the primary causes of GHG emissions in the fast fashion industry is fabric production. A Changing Markets Foundation 2021 report found that, to keep the cost low, cheap materials like polyester – a synthetic and cheap fiber made from petroleum, a nonrenewable fossil fuel – are widely used in the production of garments. Although polyester can be a better fabric compared to cotton in terms of flexibility and cost, it cannot decompose until approximately 200 years later, resulting in significant environmental impacts including soil damage and groundwater poison. Additionally, it can create carbon emissions three times those generated by the manufacturing of cotto, leading to serious air pollution. It is estimated that a single polyester t-shirt has emissions of 5.5 kg CO2e compared with 2.1 kg CO2e for one made from cotton.
In addition to fabric production, another significant factor is the manufacturing processes for fast fashion. More than 60% of textiles are used by the clothing industry, with a substantial portion of production taking place in developing countries such as China, India, and Bangladesh. These regions have for decades relied on coal-powered plants for clothes manufacturing, further amplifying the carbon footprint of each garment.
This production mode has a huge social impact, too. Labour in developing countries is cheap, driving down the price of fast fashion items while also making it difficult for workers to sustain themselves. It is suggested that among 75 million factory employees, only fewer than 2% can earn a sufficient wage to support themselves.
Establishing factories in developing countries not only elevates carbon emissions during the production process but also increases emissions associated with transportation. Companies must transport raw materials to these manufacturing countries, and subsequently distribute the manufactured products globally. Some garments may even travel the globe multiple times during the manufacturing process. A 2024 study found that jeans production and cross-broad transportation contributed 91% of the carbon footprint of fast fashion consumption.
If nothing changes, research predicts that the fashion industry could account for 26% of global carbon emissions by 2050.
With projections indicating that the fashion industry’s carbon emissions will rise by 60% by 2030 to reach 2.8 billion tons, roughly equivalent to the emissions produced by over 550 million cars in a year, it is crucial to consider how we can create a more sustainable future. Sustainable, slow fashion is often associated with reuse and recycling, but the current methods for recycling synthetic fabrics – which make up most fast fashion items – are quite limited. Only a few companies offer chemical recycling for these materials, and this technology is expensive and not widely accessible. Therefore, it is essential that future technological advancements and research focus on developing affordable and accessible production and recycling methods.
Consumers also have a significant role to play in reducing the carbon emissions from clothing production. One effective strategy is to carefully consider whether new clothing purchases are truly necessary, especially since in some countries, 40% of purchased clothing is never worn. Additionally, buying second-hand clothing can extend the lifespan of garments and reduce the demand for fast fashion items.