People associate fashion with beauty, creativity, self-expression, and social desirability. But the average shopper is unaware that with every purchase, they are contributing to 4% of all green gas emissions, or that almost all of their purchases will eventually end up in an incinerator or a landfill and they will smolder and pollute the air. Or of the 100 billion garments produced annually, only one percent will actually be recycled.Â
Most major industries are regulated. The automotive industry, for example, is regulated by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency as well as local jurisdictions such as the California Air Resource Board. The agriculture and food industries are regulated by the U.S. Department of Agriculture and The Food and Drug Administration (FDA). But the fashion industry, one of the largest manufacturing industries on the planet, is almost entirely unregulated.Â
Take the production of shirts and shoes, which has more than doubled in the past quarter century — three quarters end up burned or buried in landfills.Â
This level of speed already seems outdated and quaint. Shein (pronounced She-in) is now “the fastest growing ecommerce company in the world.” According to SimilarWeb, its web site ranks number one in the world for web traffic in the fashion and apparel category. Selling tops for $7, dresses for $12 and jeans for $17, Shein makes Zara and H&M look expensive and slow. To deliver on low price points for fast changing styles, these “real time” brands rely on fossil fuel-based synthetic materials that are cheaper, adaptable, and more widely available than natural materials. As a result, polyester has grown to become the number one synthetic fiber and now represents more than half of all global fiber production. It is derived from nonrenewable resources, requires a great deal of energy for extraction and processing and releases significant byproducts.
You have probably already heard this and it’s true… The climate impact on plant-based food smaller than that of animal products.
You do not have to go for vegan or vegetarian to do your part. Just lowering your meat consumption by half can make a big impact.
- Consider adding vegetarian meals to your diet
- Make a delicious salad to consume once a day
You’ll feel better about your Health and about helping your planet.
What You Can Do:
- Buy less and buy better
- Buying better can also mean supporting designers who are promoting sustainable practices
- Shop second hand and vintage
- Try rentingÂ
- Avoid greenwashing
- Know your materials
- Ask Who made the clothing
- Support brands that have a positive impact
- Take care of your clothes
- Clothe swap or resell it