The United Nations Alliance has described the industry as creating an "environmental and social emergency" due to the amount of greenhouse gases caused by mass production. In addition, the textile industry has been linked with an increasing amount of plastic entering the ocean, causing a highly negative impact on the environment, marine life and ultimately us, the human race.
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What is fast fashion?
During the 21st century, the average consumer has bought 60% more items of clothing than they did in 2000. The fashion industry employs more than 75 million people globally to keep up with demand.
However, each garment lasts only half as long, on average, as it did 15 years ago. This has led scientists to coin the phrase "fast fashion" to describe the trend for continually throwing out one item of clothing and replacing it with another new garment within a short time.
What is the appeal of fast fashion?
The fast turnover of fashion trends means manufacturers have increasingly favoured mass-produced, cheap clothing. This enables them to keep up with consumer demand for trending styles by constantly releasing new lines.
From a customer point of view, we can follow the latest fashions without spending a fortune. It doesn't matter that the garments don't last as long, as one trend is soon replaced by the next, so old clothes are simply thrown away. Consumers are no longer waiting for new, seasonal collections. Instead, they can grab trend-led fashions all year round at a cheap price.
However, some new clothes are never even worn, according to research by charity Oxfam. The average UK resident has an incredible 57 unworn garments tucked away in the back of their wardrobe! This means the damage to the environment in terms of greenhouse gases caused by garment manufacture is often for nothing when the finished product isn't even worn.
The real price of buying cheap clothes is the lasting damage to the planet, according to environmental campaigners.
What are some of the biggest fast fashion brands?
Some of the biggest fashion brands say they are making concerted efforts to be more environmentally friendly in their manufacturing processes. However, a number have come under fire from the Competition and Markets Authority for making claims about the sustainability of their products that have been thrown into doubt.
The CMA is investigating allegations of "greenwashing" by Boohoo, ASOS and George at Asda. A government press release, in January 2023, revealed the CMA was investigating whether the language and statements used by the brands were "too broad and vague". This may have created an impression that their collections are "more environmentally sustainable" than they are.
What effect does fast fashion have on the environment?
Fast fashion is having a disastrous effect on the environment. As well as the manufacturing processes causing greenhouse gases, earth's raw materials are being depleted.
Growing cotton for garment manufacturing takes up around 2.5% of the planet's farmland. An estimated 342 million barrels of oil are used annually to make synthetic materials like polyester. Dying clothes uses 43 million tonnes of chemicals every year.
The fashion industry also uses a lot of water - it takes 2,700 litres of water to make one t-shirt; 10,000 litres to make a pair of jeans; and 600 litres to make just one pair of cotton socks.
What other ethical issues does the industry have?
Aside from the environmental issues, the fashion industry has been accused of other ethical problems. These include the working conditions of people in overseas factories, exploitation, animal welfare issues and fair-trading considerations.
Although businesses are increasingly recognising the importance of corporate responsibility, including a social duty of care, it is challenging to balance responsible production practices with consumer satisfaction, while making a profit.
Is fast fashion clothing made to be recycled?
Fast fashion creates more than 92 million tonnes of global waste a year, according to research carried out by Aalto University in Finland. The findings were published in the Nature Reviews Earth and Environment journal, which called for immediate "fundamental changes" in the industry.
The study concluded fashion was the planet's second-biggest polluter after the aviation industry. The boom in fast fashion depends on cheap manufacturing practices, frequent buying and the short-lived lifespan of garments.
Nearly 1.75 million tonnes of clothes and textiles are created annually in the UK, with 1.2 million tonnes ending up in landfill. Research shows the average garment is worn only ten times before being thrown away.
Around 60% of clothing fabric is made from plastic-based materials, such as polyester and acrylic. The tiny microplastics used in garment manufacturing have a devastating effect on our planet.
How can someone reduce their fashion footprint?
The waste reduction charity Wrap is urging people to revamp and repair existing outfits rather than discarding them.
Choosing organic and natural clothing, buying second-hand garments, upcycling old clothes instead of buying new ones and donating used clothes to charity rather than sending them to landfill sites are all ways consumers can help.
How can businesses help?
The corporate world plays an important role in protecting the environment and it must take action before it's too late. Environmentalists are urging clothing brands to stop the trend for fast fashion and produce more clothes that are made to last.
As a responsible supplier of storage solutions, Solent Plastics never supplies single-use plastics - our products are made to last a lifetime. We also specialise in used crates and containers, offering customers massive savings on high-quality products. Providing a wide range of recycling opportunities for consumers and businesses; our recycling bins can be used at home or in the workplace.