Striding Towards Sustainability: Fashion’s Impact on Climate Change and How You Can Make a Difference.

Greta Thunberg once said, “the climate crisis is both the easiest and the hardest issue we have ever faced. The easiest because we know what we must do. We must stop the emissions of greenhouse gases.”

I think we have all heard 21-year-old Greta Thunberg speak up on climate change. Some may think she is crazy, while others passionately stand with her.

I remember when I was thirteen years old and first heard of Greta Thunberg. I stood by her despite not knowing what she really meant by the world’s need to take action for the planet. Four years later, I still stand by her, but this time, I truly understand what she meant.

I never thought that the top and pants I wear daily to school contributed to global carbon emissions. This made me interested in fast fashion’s impact on the climate, so I did some research, and here is what I found.

According to the UN Conference of Trade and Development (UNCTD), fashion is the second-most polluting industry in the world and accounts for 20% of the world’s water use. It may surprise you to know that the fashion industry contributes to about 10 percent of annual global carbon emissions. This is more than shipping and aviation combined.

Textiles

The Fashion industry dries up water sources and pollutes rivers and streams. It takes a lot of water to produce textiles, plus land to grow cotton and other fibers. Making a cotton shirt requires 2,700 liters of fresh water. This is enough to meet your or anyone in your family’s drinking needs for 2.5 years. Moreover, the textile sector was the third largest source of water degradation and land use in 2020. Nine cubic meters of water, 400 square meters of land, and 391 kilograms of raw materials were needed to provide clothes and shoes for each EU citizen.

One laundry load of polyester clothes can release 700,000 microplastic fibers that can end up in the food chain. Fast fashion is based on mass production, cheap prices, and high sales, which lead to many first washes.

Each year, half a million tonnes of microplastics are on the bottom of the ocean due to washing synthetic products.

Greenhouse Gas Emissions

Not only is the fashion industry’s carbon footprint influenced by the amount of waste sent to landfills, but CO2 emissions during the manufacturing processes, as well as water pollution from dyeing processes and microfibre pollution, also contribute to the industry’s carbon footprint.

Ways individuals can make sustainable choices

People can buy less and choose quality clothes. People can get creative with old clothing. Turn worn-out items into rags or upcycle them into new garments or household items. This reduces waste and gives life to old fabrics.

Secondly, individuals can participate in clothing swaps. People can organize or participate in clothing swap events where you can exchange old clothes with others. This promotes the circular economy and helps reduce waste.

Challenges and Barriers to sustainable fashion adoption

The biggest challenge when it comes to sustainability in fashion is cost. This is because of ethical labor practices, high-quality materials, and eco-friendly production processes. This reduces the accessibility to sustainable fashion for people with limited budgets. Moreover, we live in a fast-paced world where many may not be aware of the added value of sustainable fashion and prefer cheaper fast-fashion alternatives.

Conclusion

For us to successfully move towards sustainable fashion, there has to be a collective shift in consumer behavior. Shopping consciously and supporting brands that prioritize fair wages and natural materials are important ways to save our planet. We also need to move away from unnecessarily hoarding clothes and accept that it is okay to repeat outfits. A good habit is repairing clothes when they tear instead of throwing them away. Thrift stores and platforms like Vinted and Depop are great alternatives for finding rejected pieces of clothing, extra stock from stores, and used clothes. The fashion industry is a big contributor to waste generation and significantly impacts global warming. As consumers and inhabitants of Earth, we must take steps toward responsible consumer habits for the well-being of our planet and our future generations. The path to a sustainable future lies in the choices we make, and it is time to make them consciously.