Fashion is a highly polluting industry. It is responsible for 10% of the world’s greenhouse gas emissions, more than the shipping and aviation industries. Increased branded resale initiatives help extend clothing life and reduce pointless production. Other environmentally friendly efforts include using natural fabric fibers and reducing the microfiber pollution caused by washing.
Reduce Carbon Footprint
Despite its relatively small size, the fashion industry significantly contributes to greenhouse gas emissions. It churns out new clothes at a dizzying pace. It generates 10% of the world’s carbon dioxide emissions, greater than all international travel and shipping. Fossil fuels are significantly used in its manufacture and transportation. Clothing brands can do a lot to reduce their carbon footprint. They could switch to renewable energy sources, implement more efficient manufacturing practices, invest in supply chain transparency and sourcing, and decarbonize their retail operations. But more than these measures is needed on their own. They will be more effective with a shift in consumer behavior, which can also deliver massive emission savings. One easy way to reduce your impact is to shop second-hand, cutting down on manufacturing and shipping waste. Many online sites are designed for this purpose, or you can check out a local thrift store or swap group in your area. You can also shop for sustainable and ethical brands, using apps to learn more about their environmental and social impacts.
Reduce Chemicals
The fashion business creates hazardous chemicals that are bad for the environment, utilizes a lot of water, and produces a lot of garbage. The sector also emits many greenhouse gases and reports about exploiting workers at factories continue to surface. Fashion brands can help the environment by reducing their chemicals and switching to environmentally friendly fabrics. Additionally, clothing companies can reduce their water consumption by using new technologies and practices. They should also support biodiversity in their supply chains by purchasing from producers that use regenerative farming techniques and promote soil health conservation.
Many companies are working to make their production chains more eco-friendly, but there’s a long way to go. Consumers can help by shopping with companies that care about the planet and are transparent about their entire supply chain. They can also shop for sustainable brands that use organic cotton and regenerative agriculture or make their garments with natural dyes. Companies are creating yarn and fabric from the fibers of kapok trees through a process that doesn’t harm the plant or require much water.
Reduce Waste
As one of the world’s most wasteful industries, the fashion industry has much to do to reduce its environmental footprint. The fast-fashion business model produces cheap clothes that consumers quickly discard, contributing to massive landfill waste. In addition, the manufacturing process generates a lot of carbon emissions, leading to climate change. Fortunately, some clothing brands are working to reduce their environmental impact. These sustainable brands produce premium apparel made from long-lasting materials. They also recycle garments and other textiles to create new products, which reduces waste generation. In addition, they use regenerative cotton—cotton that is grown without pesticides or fertilizers and with cover crops and diversified plants to nourish the soil.
Furthermore, many sustainable fashion brands encourage consumers to buy used clothing instead of new items. By purchasing pre-owned clothes, consumers can reduce their environmental impact by up to 85%. It is because the entire clothing production process—from harvesting raw materials to manufacturing and transporting clothing—generates many emissions. By buying pre-owned clothes, consumers can save the planet from all these emissions.
Recycle
A fashion industry shift to a circular design business model would help recapture the material value of clothing that reached the end of its life. It would help mitigate high manufacturing and waste costs, reduce toxic dyes and wastewater pollution, and prevent the exploitation of underpaid garment workers. Brands that focus on quality and durability can increase customer loyalty, build a reputation for ethical production practices, and create new revenue streams through reselling used clothing. Many consumers say they will pay more for sustainable clothing if the environmental impact is clear.
Clothes made of natural fibers take less time to biodegrade than their synthetic counterparts, so they have a smaller environmental footprint. Clothing brands make their clothes in small batches to avoid fabric waste, use non-toxic dyes, and partner with mills to ensure their products are sustainably sourced. They also offer clothing swaps to encourage reuse and support local communities. Some brands have even partnered with blockchain technology companies to provide a tamper-proof digital identifier for each piece of clothing throughout its entire lifecycle.
Reuse
The fashion industry has one of the highest environmental impacts of any sector. Plastics pollute the oceans, wastewater is released into rivers and streams, and workers are exploited. But there are ways to reduce the industry’s impact, including reducing waste, minimizing carbon emissions, and encouraging reuse. The first step is reducing emissions from upstream operations, such as material production and processing. It would require embracing renewable energy, decarbonizing fabric manufacturing, and increasing transparency in supply chains. These efforts could deliver 61 percent of the accelerated reduction needed by 2030. Another way to decrease the environmental impact of clothing is to produce higher-quality, longer-lasting garments. It helps brands earn a better profit margin per product and introduces new revenue streams, such as resale. Brands can encourage sustainable consumption by showing consumers their clothing’s full life cycle.