It’s no secret that the fast fashion industry is wreaking havoc on our planet. But how exactly is it destroying the environment? Well, first of all, fast fashion is responsible for over 360,000 tonnes of textiles that are thrown away in the UK every year.
That’s a lot of clothing just going to waste! It also contributes to more than 330 million tons of e-waste every year, which is one third of all discarded electronics globally. It’s no wonder that fast fashion has been called the “fastest growing industry in the world.” Fortunately, you can do your part to help reduce the amount of waste produced by fast fashion by simply rethinking how you shop for clothes. Read on to learn more about what fast fashion is and how you can start reducing your footprint as soon as today.
What is Fast Fashion?
Fast fashion is any type of fashion that’s produced in large quantities and reaches stores in a very short period of time. In other words, it’s clothing that’s only made to be sold quickly. Think of any store that stocks items like name-brand jeans, T-shirts, dresses, and workout clothes that are all produced in large quantities. Almost all of this clothing is fast fashion! There are a few different ways that fast fashion companies choose to reach stores. One option is to produce large quantities of clothing using low-quality materials. When this happens, the clothing is often produced more quickly, but it’s also often of lower quality. This method usually produces high volumes of low-value clothing that’s not very durable. The other option is to produce clothing using sustainable materials and production methods. This is what the majority of clothing sold in stores around the world today uses. Sustainable fashion uses sustainable materials, like organic cotton, recycled fibres, and sustainable fishing practices, to reduce environmental impacts. Sustainable production methods, like fair trade practices, also reduce environmental impacts.
Why is Fast Fashion a Problem?
One of the main reasons why fast fashion is such a problem is because it’s responsible for a TON of waste. If we look at the United States, for example, 6 billion pieces of clothing are wasted each year. That’s a lot of clothing just going to waste! Wasted clothing creates a lot of additional waste for many other industries, too. But clothing is also a huge contributor to other types of pollution, like e-waste and greenhouse gas emissions.
The Dangers of Fast Fashion
The other problem with fast fashion is that it often contributes to a ton of dangerous pollution. Not only is fast fashion responsible for a ton of waste, it’s also responsible for a ton of pollution. Fast Fashion Is Responsible For a Ton of Waste 6 billion pieces of clothing are wasted each year in the United States. That’s a lot of clothing just going to waste! Fast Fashion Is Responsible For a Ton of Pollution Clothing is a huge contributor to climate change. In fact, a study found that one pair of cotton underwear can produce 6 liters of greenhouse gas emissions.
Ways to Reduce Your Footprint in Clothing
Fortunately, there are a ton of ways you can reduce the impact of fast fashion by simply rethinking how you shop. For example, you can shop with a reusable bag whenever possible, or shop secondhand if you have to buy new clothes. You can also try to shop during off-peak hours, or shop at a smaller store to reduce the number of items you need to buy. You can also wear less new clothes each year. The average person only wears about 25% of new clothing before it goes to waste. So, why not start reducing your footprint today?
Conclusion
The good news is that there are plenty of ways to reduce the impact of fast fashion. By simply rethinking how you shop, you can reduce the amount of waste produced by fast fashion. You can also try to shop during off-peak hours, shop with a reusable bag, and wear less new clothes each year. All of these things can significantly reduce the amount of fast fashion polluting the environment. We hope that you learned a thing or two about what fast fashion is and why it’s a problem. Before you go, why not take the quick quiz above to see how much you know about fast fashion. If you think you scored well, keep reading to find out how you can do even better.
You might also like to read: The Wonders of Nature: An Introduction to Biodiversity