The True Cost: Environmental Impacts of Fast Fashion

December 13, 2024

What is Fast Fashion?

Fast fashion refers to the rapid production of affordable clothing designed to keep pace with the latest trends, driving high consumer turnover. This industry has grown significantly over the years, propelled by consumer demand for inexpensive, stylish garments and brands’ quest for swift profits.

Retail giants like Zara, Forever 21, and H&M dominate the fast fashion market, producing trendy, low-cost clothing to meet the desires of young consumers. However, this model comes with a hefty environmental price. According to the UN Environmental Program UNEP the fast fashion industry is the second-largest consumer of water and contributes to about 10% of global carbon emissions – a figure higher than the combined emissions from all international flights and maritime shipping. Despite these significant environmental impacts, many consumers remain unaware or indifferent to the problems associated with fast fashion.

According to the UN climate change report, emissions from textile manufacturing alone are projected to skyrocket by 60% by 2030.

Environmental Impacts

1. WATER

The environmental impact of fast fashion includes the depletion of non-renewable resources, the emission of greenhouse gases, and the extensive use of water and energy. The fashion industry ranks as the second-largest consumer of water, needing approximately 700 gallons to produce a single cotton shirt and 2,000 gallons for a pair of jeans. According to Business Insider, textile dyeing is the second-largest water polluter globally, as the wastewater from the dyeing process is often discharged into ditches, streams, or rivers.

2. MICROPLASTICS

Additionally, brands often use synthetic fibers such as polyester, nylon, and acrylic, which take hundreds of years to biodegrade. According to a report from the International Union for Conservation of Nature estimated that 35% of all microplastics in the ocean originate from the laundering of synthetic textiles like polyester. According to the 2015 documentary *The True Cost*, the world consumes about 80 billion new pieces of clothing annually, a 400% increase from twenty years ago. The average American generates 82 pounds of textile waste each year. Moreover, the tanning process is one of the most toxic in the fashion supply chain due to the use of non-biodegradable chemicals such as mineral salts, formaldehyde, coal-tar derivatives, and various oils and dyes, which contaminate water sources.

3. ENERGY

The production of plastic fibers into textiles is an energy intensive process that requires substantial amounts of petroleum and releases volatile particulate matter and acids such as hydrogen chloride. Additionally, the manufacture of cotton, a common material in fast fashion products, is also environmentally harmful. The pesticides needed for cotton cultivation pose significant health risks to farmers.

To mitigate the waste generated by fast fashion, more sustainable materials that can be used in clothing include hemp, bamboo, organic cotton, linen.

4.Textile Waste

Fast fashion manufacturers frequently use virgin synthetic materials like polyester, nylon, and acrylic because they are quick and inexpensive to produce, allowing them to meet high demand. These synthetic textiles make up 7.7% of municipal solid waste in landfills and take decades or longer to biodegrade. A single 6 kg wash can release hundreds of thousands of microfibers: 496,030 from polyester, 728,789 from acrylic, and 137,951 from a polyester-cotton blend. Most polyester is non-biodegradable and can take up to 200 years to break down, leaving behind pollutants. Therefore, it is essential to slow down and pay closer attention to the labels on our clothing.

Social Impacts

Workers Rights & Labour conditions

Fast fashion isn't affordable merely because of cheap materials; it's also due to the exploitation of workers globally, 80% of whom are women. Historically, these workers are compensated through a piece rate system, resulting in extremely low wages. Under this system, workers earn a minimal amount per item, leading to full-time wages as low as $200 per week. In Bangladesh, the second-largest garment exporter globally, the monthly minimum wage for workers is just $113.

According to Vogue, this system often results in poor oversight regarding worker safety, with many workers reporting gender-based violence, harassment, and unsafe building conditions.

Garment workers, particularly in developing countries, often endure poor working conditions, low wages, and long hours.Workers frequently face exposure to harmful chemicals and unsafe environments, jeopardising their health.he Bangladesh Accord to prevent future tragedies.In 2013, a Bangladesh garment factory, Rana Plaza, collapsed killing 1,134 people. As a result the Bangladesh Accord was created to prevent this in the future.

The Role of Consumers and What We Can Do

The fashion industry emits more carbon than international flights and maritime shipping combined. Here are some steps consumers can take to help reduce this impact

Buy Less, Choose Well:

Opt for higher quality, longer-lasting items to reduce the need for frequent replacements. Investing in well-made pieces not only saves money in the long run but also reduces waste.

Support Eco-friendly Brands:

Choose brands that are committed to sustainable practices and fair trade to ensure ethical labour conditions and environmentally responsible production. Brands that prioritise sustainability often utilise eco-friendly materials and processes, thereby reducing their overall carbon footprint. It's important to choose brands with a genuine commitment to environmental care and impact, rather than those that merely engage in greenwashing with misleading claims. At TruHemp, our primary goal is to care for Mother Earth and raise awareness about hemp fibers, which are sustainable and beneficial for you, your skin, and the planet.

Role of Hemp

Hemp Promotes Sustainable Farming: Hemp farming is highly sustainable, requiring minimal inputs as it is naturally resistant to most pests, thereby reducing or eliminating the need for insecticides and herbicides. Additionally, hemp processing generates zero waste since all plant parts, from roots to flowers, can be utilized or transformed into various products. This versatility allows hemp to produce food, feed, cosmetics, biomaterials, and energy, offering significant environmental benefits when used as a rotational crop.

Hemp Captures Carbon: Hemp is highly effective at capturing and storing carbon, making it an excellent alternative to carbon-based raw materials. The plant's rapid growth (4-5 months), considerable height (up to 5 meters), and deep root system (up to 3 meters) enable it to store substantial amounts of carbon in both its stems and roots. A tonne of hemp stems absorbs 1.6 tonnes of CO2, with a yield of 5.5-8 tonnes per hectare resulting in 9-13 tonnes of CO2 absorption per hectare. One hectare of hemp can capture up to 13.4 tonnes of CO2, matching the efficiency of a hectare of tropical forest.

Hemp Saves Water: Compared to other fibers, hemp is much more water-efficient. It requires only 2,401-3,401 kg of water per kg of fiber, a 75% reduction compared to cotton, which needs 9,758 kg of water per kg. This significant water saving makes hemp a more environmentally friendly option for fiber production.

Hemp Fabric is Biodegradable: According to close the loop, unlike other synthetic-made fabrics, hemp fiber is completely biodegradable and compostable. The cultivation of hemp and the production of garments made from this sustainable fiber have a fairly low environmental impact. Hemp can decompose in about 2 weeks and cotton takes 1-5 months. On the other hand, Synthetic fabrics such as polyester, nylon, acrylic, and spandex are not biodegradable.

Polyester: Made from petroleum-based products, it is common in clothing and can take up to 200 years to decompose.

Nylon: Known for its strength and used in various products like clothing and fishing nets, it decomposes in 30 to 40 years.

Acrylic: A plastic used as a wool substitute, it can take hundreds of years to biodegrade.

Spandex: Valued for its elasticity and used in swimwear and activewear, it is not biodegradable.

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