PLANET: Blog Post 1
From the production of raw materials used to create a garment, to the disposal of finished products, the fashion industry has a profound impact on our planet. The fashion industry is valued at over $3 trillion USD, making it the second biggest worldwide economic activity for intensity of trade (Corner.F, 2014), meaning not only is it a significant contributor to the global economy, but it is also one of the worlds most polluting industries, accounting for 10% of greenhouse gas emissions – which is greater than all international flights, maritime and shipping combined (Oxfam & European Parliament). One of the most prominent ways the fashion industry has impacted our planet is through the way in which clothing is produced. For example, the manufacture of synthetic fibres such as polyester, one of the most commonly used materials when producing clothing, requires large amounts of crude oil and involves releasing extensive emissions such as volatile organic compounds, particulate matter, and acid gases such as hydrogen chloride into the environment from polyester manufacturing plants (Luz Claudio, 2007), therefore creating numerous harmful effects on crops and wildlife due to the toxicity of these emissions and significantly contributing to climate change and global warming. In addition to this, over the past 15 years clothing production has doubled, and as a result, of the supposed 53 million tonnes of textiles produced globally every year, over 75% are discarded, both in the production phase and at post consumer level – meaning that the equivalent of a rubbish truck full of discarded clothing goes straight into landfill every second (Castro, O.D. 2021). This emphasises the potentially catastrophic impact of the fashion industry on our planet if large companies continue to produce clothing using harmful materials in such strenuous quantities and do not make environmentally – friendly changes to their production processes. Promisingly, as a result of consumers becoming more aware of the harmful impact of the fashion industry on our planet, a quarter of consumers in the UK have said their purchase decisions are being driven by sustainability, reflecting a broader pattern across geographies, and elevating the importance of sustainability marketing for brands (McKinsley, 2023). In response to demands from consumers for fashion brands to adopt more sustainable approaches, ‘fast-fashion’ brand Zara have taken on a ‘Join Life’ project, stating on their website that it ‘represents their approach to sustainability’ and that they are ‘working at all stages of [their] value chain in order to move toward a circular economy model to enable a longer life cycle of [their] products, starting with the way [they] work in the design and production process and through [their] repair, resell and donation programmes.’ This evidently demonstrates the positive developments made recently in terms of brands taking more careful consideration into their impact on our planet, allowing them to paving the path to achieve the UN’s goal of ‘responsible consumption and production’ and ultimately ensure that the drastic negative impact made by the fashion industry on our planet in recent years will be significantly reduced and leave for us a cleaner, greener planet in years to come.
REFERENCING
Corner, Frances. Why Fashion Matters, Thames & Hudson, Limited, 2014. ProQuest Ebook Central, https://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/ual/detail.action?docID=5878041.
Oxfam: New shocking facts about the impact of fast fashion on our climate. https://www.oxfam.org.uk/oxfam-in-action/oxfam-blog/new-shocking-facts-about-the-impact-of-fast-fashion-on-our-climate/ , News European Parliament: Emissions from planes and ships: facts and figures (infographic) https://www.europarl.europa.eu/news/en/headlines/priorities/climate-change/20191129STO67756/emissions-from-planes-and-ships-facts-and-figures-infographic
Claudio L. Waste couture: environmental impact of the clothing industry. Environ Health Perspect. 2007 Sep;115(9):A448-54. doi: 10.1289/ehp.115-a449. PMID: 17805407; PMCID: PMC1964887.
Orsola de Castro; Loved clothes last – how the joy of rewearing and repairing your clothes can be a revolutionary act London : Penguin Life, 2021 .https://libbyapp.com/library/arts/curated-1377967/page-1/6015783
The state of fashion 2023: Holding onto growth as global clouds gather (2022) McKinsey & Company. https://www.mckinsey.com/industries/retail/our-insights/state-of-fashion#/