Fashion industry’s impact on the environment

Along with these positive economic impacts, there are hidden costs to the fashion system. These costs deplete natural resources, exacerbate climate change, harm wildlife, and impact our health.

Source: Image by lunduniversity.lu

CO2 emissions: More than flights or shipping, the fashion industry contributes to climate change. Estimates suggest that it is responsible for 10% of worldwide carbon dioxide emissions each year.

The reason? Fashion has become more dependent on polyester (plastic) fibers than cotton or other natural fibers. These synthetic fibers are made from fossil fuel feedstocks, and they require three times the amount of energy (282 billion tons of carbon dioxide) to produce than cotton.

A fifth of all plastic produced each year–about 60 million tons–is used by the fashion industry. This amount is expected to increase as oil companies compensate for declining demand for gas used in transportation.

The problem is we cannot afford to shift this fossil fuel burning burden from one industry (transportation) to the next (plastics and fashion). It’s time for industries across the board to lower their GHG emissions to avoid the disastrous consequences of climate change.