The fashion industry’s carbon emissions alone are expected to reach 2.8 billion tons by 2030, the equivalent of the carbon emissions of 550 million cars. These figures indicated an urgent need for change in how the world produces and uses clothing. There have been movements recently for larger adoption of high-quality, sustainable fashion, also called “slow fashion.” Additionally, more efforts are being seen to use recycled material in clothing production, Impakter reported.
For synthetic materials, however, the technology needed to recycle or reuse them is often too expensive or inaccessible for mainstream use. More investment and research is needed to develop technologies that can contribute to a sustainable supply chain amongst these large textile and clothing producers.
Retailers and governments alike have begun putting real effort into limiting fashion’s huge pollution of the earth. Brands like Patagonia are offering services to consumers to fix their garments free of charge as an attempt to get them to consume less. Adidas, for example, are experimenting with more personalised clothing to limit returns and textile waste. And Ralph Lauren has pledged that by 2025, 100% of its key materials will be sustainably sourced.
While UK ministers rejected a movement by some members of parliament addressing the environmental footprint of fast fashion, French President Emmanuel Macron made a deal with 150 brands to increase sustainability within the industry.
Consumers as well must change their behaviours should the world hope to lower these emissions. In some countries, 40% of purchased clothing is never worn. Fast fashion has promoted a culture where clothing is often discarded and put to waste in favour of the newest trends and styles. More second-hand garment shopping and a move towards buying more high-quality, durable clothing are two methods that can help consumers to mitigate the burden that fast fashion places on the environment.
Clearly an issue of huge concern to environmentalists around the world, some companies and governments are addressing the issue head-on, while others have deferred blame or ignored it. As emissions continue to increase on trend, more and more efforts will be needed by all stakeholders in the fashion supply chain to limit the long-term damage to the earth caused by the population’s insatiable consumption of clothing.