Like many industries, the fashion industry impacts the environment. In this blog post, we will take a closer look at the environmental impact of big fashion, and explore some ways to reduce our carbon footprint.
The Impact
The fashion industry is responsible for a huge amount of pollution and waste. Every year, billions of pounds of clothes are sent to landfill, where they decompose and release methane, a potent greenhouse gas. The production of synthetic fabrics such as polyester and nylon also emits large amounts of greenhouse gases.
Fashion And Water Pollution
The fashion industry is one of the biggest polluters of water. The farming of cotton, which is used to make most of our clothes, is responsible for a large portion of this pollution. In fact, it takes more than 2,700 liters of water to grow enough cotton for just one t-shirt.
This water is often contaminated with pesticides and other harmful chemicals, polluting rivers and groundwater. This industry is also responsible for a huge amount of wastewater, which is usually released into the environment without being treated, causing further pollution.
Fashion & Climate Change
As an industry, fashion is a major contributor to climate change and when fashion brands use synthetic fabrics, it has the potential to release unhealthy gases into the atmosphere. In addition, you may not even know that this industry is responsible for a lot of transportation emissions. Every year, billions of garments are shipped around the world, often by plane or ship. This causes a huge amount of emissions, which contribute to climate change.
How You Can Help
There are a few simple things you can do to reduce your impact on the environment. These can be:
Reduced Buying
This doesn’t mean you have to stop buying clothes altogether, but simply being more mindful about the clothes you purchase can make a big difference. The average person buys 60% more clothes than they did 20 years ago, so we are certainly consuming more than we need.
Sustainable Purchasing
Another way to reduce your carbon footprint is to buy clothes made from sustainable materials, such as organic cotton or bamboo. You can also look for clothing that is made from recycled materials. These materials have a much lower environmental impact than conventional materials which in turn means that your clothing has a smaller ecological footprint.
Second-Hand Purchases
When your looking to reduce the amount of pollution caused by the fashion industry buying second-hand clothes can be a great option. This is a great way to reduce your impact, as it means that the clothes you are buying have already been made, so there is no need for more resources to be used. There are many ways to purchase second-hand clothing, such as thrift stores, consignment shops, and online.
Eco-Friendly Brands
Finally, you can support companies that are working to make the fashion industry more sustainable. There are a number of brands out there that are committed to using sustainable materials and practices like Rose In Good Faith. By supporting these brands, you can help to drive change in the industry.
As this industry has a huge impact on the environment, today many Los Angeles streetwear brands are starting to make more sustainable choices. So by being mindful of the clothes you purchase and supporting sustainable brands, you can help to make a difference.
Angela Spearman is a journalist at EzineMark who enjoys writing about the latest trending technology and business news.
