Fast Fashion’s Waste Problem and the Need for Recycled Textiles

Introduction

Fast fashion, characterized by rapid production cycles and low-cost clothing, has become a global phenomenon. However, its environmental consequences are far-reaching. Let’s explore how fast fashion and mass production affect the world and how sustainable alternatives like upcycling and vintage clothing can help.

1. The Environmental Toll of Fast Fashion

• Greenhouse Gas Emissions: The fashion industry is responsible for 8-10% of global emissions, surpassing both aviation and shipping combined1. Producing clothes consumes significant natural resources and releases greenhouse gases.

• Textile Waste: Fast fashion’s throwaway culture contributes to a growing textile waste mountain. Old clothes often end up in landfills, especially in developing countries. For instance, a skirt deposited at a London store under a take-back scheme was found in a landfill in Bamako, Mali2.

• Waste Colonialism: An estimated 15 million used clothing items are shipped to Ghana weekly, with many ending up in landfills. This phenomenon is often referred to as “waste colonialism.”

2. Recycled Textiles: A Solution in Progress

• Zara’s Efforts: Zara, a fast fashion retailer, recently launched a womenswear collection made from recycled poly-cotton textile waste. This initiative followed investments in textile recyclers like Circ and Infinited Fiber Company2.

• H&M’s Commitment: H&M entered a five-year contract with Swedish textile recycler Renewcell, aiming to acquire 9,072 tonnes of recycled fiber (equivalent to 50 million T-shirts) for its products2.

• Scaling Up: While some brands are embracing recycled textiles, the movement needs to expand globally. Brands must track discarded garments suitable for recycling and establish facilities capable of meeting mass market demand.

3. The Role of Upcycling and Vintage Clothing

• Upcycling: Upcycling involves transforming old or discarded clothing into new, high-quality fibers. It requires less energy than recycling and helps conserve natural resources while reducing greenhouse gas emissions3.

• Vintage Clothing: Vintage garments mirror fast fashion in some ways, but their lifespan extends beyond a mere few weeks. When vintage items don’t sell, they re-enter the recycling process, contributing to a circular economy.

4. The Path Forward

• EU Legislation: The European Commission is drafting legislation to make the fashion industry pay for processing discarded clothing. Companies may need to collect waste equivalent to a percentage of their production2.

• Reducing Oversupply: Brands must commit to reducing new clothing production. Visibility of production volumes is crucial to achieving a 40% reduction over five years4.

In conclusion, addressing fast fashion’s impact requires a collective effort. By embracing recycled textiles, upcycling, and vintage clothing, we can move toward a more sustainable and responsible fashion industry.

Sources:

1. Fast fashion’s waste problem could be solved by recycled textiles but brands need to help boost production2

2. How clothes are linked to climate change - BBC1

3. Fashion Film: The Role of Upcycling Clothing in Mitigating the Environmental Impact3

4. An ethical decision: fast fashion vs. vintage fashion5

5. ‘It’s the industry’s dirty secret’: why fashion’s oversupply problem is an environmental disaster4