How Fast Fashion is Affecting the Environment

There’s an inconvenient truth behind the glitz and glamour of the fashion industry: its impact on the environment. The production of clothes and footwear at fast-paced rates has contributed to greenhouse emissions. This is particularly prevalent in the fast fashion segment, which involves the rapid production of affordable clothing and accessories using low-quality materials. 

Read on to learn more about the harmful effects of fast fashion on the people and environment. 

Increased Carbon Emissions

The use of polyester yarns or fibers contributes to greenhouse gas emissions by three times compared to cotton. Nearly 50% of clothes are made of this kind of fabric, which may take more than a century to decompose. Unfortunately, the consumption of polyester has increased by 157% in the past two decades.

Hence, consumers are encouraged to buy sustainable fashion brands or those that produce clothes using organic and natural fibers that do not require chemicals.

Toxic Chemicals

In the United States alone, there are 11 million textile wastes thrown into landfills that contain poisonous cloth dye and synthetic fabrics (polyester, nylon, and acrylic), which could contaminate the river, oceans, and other water sources. Approximately 20% of water pollution in the world came from the clothing industry.

Meanwhile, pesticides and other hazardous chemicals used in different garments can cause air pollution in the long term.

When exposed to these chemicals, the health of buyers and factory workers could be at risk and lead to skin irritation, respiratory illnesses, and even cancer.

Labor Abuse in Factory Workers

Unfair labor practices among workers in the garments industry have become a prevalent issue in different countries around the world. There are cases when maternity leave is denied, pregnant women are immediately fired, forced overtime work is imposed, and sexual harassment involving managers and female workers occurs.

These human rights violations have been reported in major apparel and footwear brands. Thankfully, there are advocates who continuously expose these unfair practices to help improve the garments industry.

Risk of Severe Water Shortages

Fast fashion could cause water scarcity as it is considered the second-largest water consumer in the industry.

A single cotton shirt needs 700 gallons of water and a pair of denim jeans requires 2,000 gallons, which are equal to one person drinking eight cups of water for 3 to 10 years. To prevent this from happening, manufacturers or factories should use fibers that do not demand a high level of water consumption such as linen and recycled fibers.

Soil Degradation

With the continued popularity of fast fashion, most clothing companies use chemicals to grow cotton on croplands that are supposed to be used for human food sources. This leads to soil degradation because of chemical dyeing and pesticide.