Fast fashion’s environmental toll 🌍
Fast fashion has transformed the way we shop, making clothing cheaper and more accessible than ever. However, this convenience comes at a huge environmental cost. The fashion industry is responsible for up to 10% of global carbon emissions, more than all international flights and maritime shipping combined!
One of the biggest issues is the enormous amount of waste. The average Australian throws away 23 kg of clothing each year, most of which ends up in landfill, where synthetic fabrics can take hundreds of years to break down.
Fast fashion also drives excessive water consumption and pollution. The fashion industry consumes around 79 billion cubic meters of water per year! Additionally, textile dyeing is the second largest polluter worldwide, contaminating rivers and harming ecosystems.
Beyond pollution and waste, fast fashion contributes to severe human rights concerns. The industry employs more than 300 million people worldwide, and their have been numerous reports of workplace abuse against textile workers, including discrimination, child labour, forced labour and unsafe workplaces.
Sustainable style is within your reach ♻️
1. Care for your clothes 🧼
Taking good care of your clothes is a simple yet effective way to make a big impact. Washing in cold water, air drying instead of using a dryer, and choosing gentle wash cycles can help your clothes last longer.
Repairing small damages, like fixing a tear or replacing a button, can also keep your items in rotation. The longer you keep your clothes, the less you need to buy new ones, helping reduce waste and your environmental impact!
2. Shop sustainably 🛍️
Explore op shops for unique secondhand items that reduce waste and give clothes a new life. It’s beneficial for both your wallet and the planet!
When shopping new, invest in high-quality items that will last longer - this reduces waste over time even if the initial cost is higher. Use your purchasing power to choose brands that prioritise sustainability and ethical practices.
Not sure where to start? The Shop Ethical app can help you make informed choices, or try online secondhand platforms like Depop for convenient sustainable shopping from home. For locally-made ethical fashion, check out Ethical Clothing Australia's digital shopping map to find accredited brands near you. BCorp certification is also a great sign!
Fashion brands KLOKE and activewear brand Tarkine Athletics are committed to creating durable, stylish, eco-friendly products that are made with ethical production practices. (When you donate or participate in this challenge, you'll be entered into a draw to win vouchers from these sustainable brands!)
3. Disposing of your clothes responsibly 🚮
Although donating your clothes is a step in the right direction, op shops are overrun with fast fashion items, resulting in only 10% actually making it to the store floor.
Instead, you could sell clothes on online platforms like depop, or organise a clothing swap with friends for a fun, sustainable way to refresh your wardrobe!
If your unwanted clothes don’t find a new home, textile recycling company UPPAREL can help by sorting your items for reuse, and then recycling the textiles into new fibres to create sustainable products, giving them a second life!
Take Action Today! 📣
While updating your wardrobe is one way to make a difference, your support of Climate for Change can create even bigger ripples.