The 10 Essential Fast Fashion Stats
6. 20% of global wastewater comes from textile dyeing
The fashion industry consumes a monstrous amount of water, around 93 billion cubic metres, leaving much of it contaminated by toxic chemicals. According to the UN Environment Programme, 20% of global wastewater comes from textile dyeing.
7. We discard 92 million tons of clothes-related waste each year
92 million tons of waste each year = garbage truck full of clothes sent to the landfill every second = enough to fill up 1.5 Empire State Buildings every day
8. Produces half a million tons of microplastics
Garments are a huge source of microplastics because so many are now made of nylon or polyester, both durable and cheap. Each wash and dry cycle, especially the latter, sheds microfilaments that move through our sewage systems and end up in waterways. We estimate that half a million tons of these contaminants reach the ocean each year
9. Returns of items bought online exceed the amount of all purchased goods
As more and more online retailers, big and small, offer the option to send back goods easily and often for free, return rates, especially of fashion items, have skyrocketed, exceeding 30% of all purchased goods.
10. You can easily help cut consumer emissions by more than half
It has been shown that by skipping one in six washing loads, washing half loads at below 30 degrees, and substituting every sixth dryer usage with open-air drying, we would reduce consumer emissions by more than half.