Fast fashion has revolutionized the way we purchase clothes. It has made apparel more budget friendly, democratising fashion by making it accessible to everyone.
Unfortunately, fast fashion has an adverse effect on the environment. Studies indicate that it accounts for 10% of global carbon emissions - more than all international flights and maritime shipping combined.
The Rise of Fast Fashion
Fast fashion is a term used to describe clothing produced by retailers that offers inexpensively made garments with an ever-changing style. These trends often originate from runway or celebrity trends, enabling consumers to purchase new garments as soon as they become trendy.
The rapid production of clothes has a major effect on the environment, as it consumes plenty of water and electricity and emits carbon emissions. Furthermore, garment production leads to wastewater and chemical waste that could pose major issues for the ecosystem.
Estimates suggest the United States produces over 21 billion pounds of textile waste each year, a number which continues to rise. Furthermore, this industry emits considerable air pollution into the atmosphere as well.
A major contributor to this issue is the manufacturing process, which utilizes toxic chemicals and dyes that may harm the environment. For instance, polyester fabrics which are usually made of plastic that breaks down easily when wet can release hazardous toxins into the air when they’re washed.
Fast fashion factories often have an adverse effect on the environment and health for workers and those living nearby who live in areas affected by production. Furthermore, fast fashion often uses sweatshops to cut costs; employing millions of workers worldwide that may significantly lower quality of life for those employed there.
The Environmental Cost
Fast fashion is an emerging trend that involves mass production of low-cost garments that copy the latest catwalk styles and move quickly through stores to capitalize on current trends. It has become immensely popular with young consumers, yet also has a major environmental impact.
According to the United Nations, the fashion industry consumes an incredible 93 billion cubic metres of water annually - more than all world’s airlines and maritime shipping combined!
This has a devastating effect on the environment. Not only does it contribute to water pollution, but it’s also the second-largest consumer of carbon emissions globally.
Another pressing problem is the use of polyester, a plastic that doesn’t decompose in the ocean. This synthetic fiber contributes to microplastic pollution in our oceans.
Finally, the use of toxic chemicals to dye fabrics and treat them is another major issue with serious environmental repercussions. These substances tend to be highly hazardous, leading to both health issues as well as damage to ecosystems and the environment.
Fast fashion brands are now taking steps to reduce their environmental footprints, but the industry still has a long way to go towards sustainable and ethical practices. The Fashion Pact, an initiative which brought together 32 of the world’s top fashion and apparel companies in August 2019, marked an important step towards this goal, but it is far from enough to reverse all the damage done by this sector.
The Chemicals and Dyes
Fast fashion garments contain a large amount of synthetic chemicals that can be hazardous to workers and the environment if exposed long-term.
Dyes are among the most toxic of all these chemicals. Many, such as azo dyes, have carcinogenic potential and have been banned in Europe due to their high level of toxicity.
Water pollution causes death to aquatic life and destroys soil, poisoning drinking water sources and making rivers unfit for human consumption.
These toxins can also be absorbed through human skin, leading to respiratory problems and dermatitis. Furthermore, they have the potential to irritate eyes and lead to eye infections.
Another commonly used chemical in fast fashion clothing is formaldehyde. This resin compound helps make clothes stain-resistant and prevent wrinkles, but if people are exposed to it for extended periods of time they may develop cancer.
Some of these brands use natural dyes that come from plant and biological materials such as beets or Terminalia cherbula. These dyes pose a potential safety hazard due to their potential danger for consumers.
Natural dyes produce muted, earth-toned fabrics that lack the vibrancy of synthetics. Unfortunately, they fade faster in direct sunlight and after washing; some require the use of a mordant to permanently set their colors.
The Environmental Risks and Health Hazards
Fast fashion may appear to be a boon for those in need of affordable clothing, but its effects on the environment are far reaching. This industry accounts for 10% of humanity’s carbon emissions, dehydrates water sources and pollutes rivers and streams with toxic waste.
Additionally, this industry produces wastewater that is discharged directly into water systems, releasing heavy metals and other hazardous chemicals. These hazards pose a danger to local residents, wildlife, as well as their own health.
Another environmental issue stems from the use of synthetic fibers, which are derived from oil and require energy-intensive processes for production. This increases the fashion industry’s greenhouse gas emissions.
Synthetics create microplastic pollution when they’re washed, which ultimately ends up in waterways. These microscopic plastic pieces increase the concentration of plastic in the ocean and disrupt marine food chains.
Polyester, which accounts for 60% of garment production, has a significant environmental impact. It emits two to three times more carbon emissions than cotton and does not decompose in the ocean.
The fashion industry is responsible for discarding 85% of textiles worldwide into landfills, leading to soil drying out and greenhouse gas emissions. Furthermore, washing clothes sends an abundance of microplastics into the ocean; increasing plastic concentration in the ocean and disrupting marine food chains - leading to health issues for humans as well as animals.
The Social Cost
Fast fashion has many negative social, environmental and economic repercussions that extend far beyond workers, their families and communities.
One major impact of this industry is the excessive production and disposal of textile waste. On average, 85% to 90% of clothing produced annually ends up as landfills.
Due to their extremely short shelf lives, garments produced today usually only get worn seven times before being discarded.
Furthermore, these garments are a major contributor to microplastic pollution found in water and air we breathe. Not only is this harmful for marine life, but it has a detrimental effect on human health and wellbeing as well.
Another significant effect of fast fashion is the exploitation of laborers. Women and girls are often duped or coerced into working in factories for little or no pay.
They lack the freedom to select their own work or negotiate for a higher pay rate, and many times are subjected to hazardous or even lethal working conditions.
Therefore, the garment industry must reform and create sustainable and ethical manufacturing processes. This can be accomplished locally by demanding transparency on production practices and labour conditions inside brands, raising concerns about child labour or sweatshops, and using your power as a consumer to pressure these companies towards greater ethical behavior.
The Social Impact
Consumers purchasing fast fashion clothes are not only contributing to environmental degradation, but they are also complicit in human rights violations. This is because much of the production for such garments takes place in developing countries where wages are low and working conditions inadequate.
In addition to the environmental consequences, garment workers face health issues due to low wages and unsafe work environments. Furthermore, they are exploited through wage theft and mistreatment by brands and factories.
Textile factories produce toxic wastewater which, if left untreated, can contaminate water bodies and runoff into rivers - endangering millions of people living near these waterways.
Fast fashion consumers also contribute to the negative environmental consequences of fast fashion by producing massive amounts of textile waste. Estimates suggest that in Australia alone, approximately 500 million kilos of textiles are sent to landfill annually.
To reduce the negative impacts of fast fashion, not only must policies and regulations be put in place, but also encourage consumers to make responsible purchases and reduce their garment consumption. This involves supporting companies that manufacture clothes sustainably as well as selecting brands with clear social and environmental practices.
In Conclusion
The fast fashion industry has revolutionized the way we purchase clothes, but at a great cost to the environment and to human rights. The production of low-cost garments has led to a significant increase in carbon emissions, water pollution, and textile waste. The use of synthetic fibers and toxic chemicals has not only led to environmental degradation but also poses serious health risks to workers and local communities. Ultimately, the fashion industry must reform and adopt sustainable and ethical manufacturing processes to reduce its impact on the environment and to ensure ethical treatment of workers.
As consumers, we also have a role to play in reducing the impact of fast fashion. By supporting sustainable and ethical clothing brands and reducing our garment consumption, we can make a significant difference. We must demand transparency from brands and hold them accountable for their actions. By educating ourselves on the environmental and social impacts of fast fashion, we can make informed choices and contribute to a more sustainable future.