Fast Fashion and Its Environmental Impact

Retail giants such as Zara, Forever 21, and H&M cater to the demands of young consumers by offering trendy and affordable clothing. However, the rise of fast fashion comes with a substantial environmental cost. As highlighted by the UN Environment Programme (UNEP), the industry ranks as the second-largest consumer of water and contributes to approximately 10% of global carbon emissions—surpassing the combined emissions from all international flights and maritime shipping. Despite these staggering statistics, the environmental impact of fast fashion often goes unnoticed by consumers.

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What Is Fast Fashion?

The term ‘fast fashion’ has become more prominent in conversations surrounding fashion, sustainability, and environmental consciousness. The term refers to ‘cheaply produced and priced garments that copy the latest catwalk styles and get pumped quickly through stores to maximize on current trends’.

The fast fashion model is so-called because it involves the rapid design, production, distribution, and marketing of clothing, which means that retailers can pull large quantities of greater product variety and allow consumers to get more fashion and product differentiation at a low price.

The term was first used at the beginning of the 1990s, when when Zara landed in New York. “Fast fashion” was coined by the New York Times to describe Zara’s mission to take only 15 days for a garment to go from the design stage to being sold in stores. The biggest players in the fast fashion world include Zara, UNIQLO, Forever 21, and H&M.

According to an analysis by Business Insider, fashion production comprises 10% of total global carbon emissions, as much as the European Union. It dries up water sources and pollutes rivers and streams, while 85% of all textiles go to dumps each year. Even washing clothes releases 500,000 tons of microfibres into the ocean each year, the equivalent of 50 billion plastic bottles.

The Quantis International 2018 report found that the three main drivers of the industry’s global pollution impacts are dyeing and finishing (36%), yarn preparation (28%), and fiber production (15%). The report also established that fiber production has the largest impact on freshwater withdrawal (water diverted or withdrawn from a surface water or groundwater source) and ecosystem quality due to cotton cultivation, while the dyeing and finishing, yarn preparation and fiber production stages have the highest impacts on resource depletion, due to the energy-intensive processes based on fossil

According to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change, emissions from textile manufacturing alone are projected to skyrocket by 60% by 2030.

The time it takes for a product to go through the supply chain, from design to purchase, is called a ‘lead time’. In 2012, Zara was able to design, produce and deliver a new garment in two weeks; Forever 21 in six weeks, and H&M in eight weeks. This results in the fashion industry producing obscene amounts of waste.

Fast Fashion and Its Environmental Impact

1. Water

The environmental impact of fast fashion comprises the depletion of non-renewable sources, emission of greenhouse gases and the use of massive amounts of water and energy. The fashion industry is the second largest consumer industry of water, requiring about 700 gallons to produce one cotton shirt and 2 000 gallons of water to produce a pair of jeans. Business Insider also cautions that textile dyeing is the world’s second-largest polluter of water, since the water leftover from the dyeing process is often dumped into ditches, streams or rivers.

2. Microplastics

Furthermore, brands use synthetic fibers like polyester, nylon, and acrylic which take hundreds of years to biodegrade. A 2017 report from the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) estimated that 35% of all microplastics – tiny pieces of non-biodegradable plastic – in the ocean come from the laundering of synthetic textiles like polyester.

According to the documentary released in 2015, The True Cost, the world consumes around 80 billion new pieces of clothing every year, 400% more than the consumption twenty years ago. The average American now generates 82 pounds of textile waste each year. The production of leather requires large amounts of feed, land, water, and fossil fuels to raise livestock, while the tanning process is among the most toxic in all of the fashion supply chain because the chemicals used to tan leather- including mineral salts, formaldehyde, coal-tar derivatives, and various oils and dyes- is not biodegradable and contaminates water sources.

3. Energy

The production of plastic fibers into textiles is an energy-intensive process that requires large amounts of petroleum and releases volatile particulate matter and acids like hydrogen chloride. Additionally, cotton, which is in a large amount of fast fashion products, is also not environmentally friendly to manufacture. Pesticides deemed necessary for the growth of cotton presents health risks to farmers.

To counter this waste caused by fast fashion, more sustainable fabrics that can be used in clothing include wild silk, organic cotton, linen, hemp, and lyocell.

The Social Impacts of Fast Fashion

Fast fashion not only exacts a significant toll on the environment but also engenders profound societal issues, particularly in developing nations. According to Remake, a non-profit organization, a staggering 80% of apparel is manufactured by young women aged 18 to 24. Shockingly, a 2018 report by the US Department of Labor revealed instances of forced and child labor in the fashion industries of countries such as Argentina, Bangladesh, Brazil, China, India, Indonesia, the Philippines, Turkey, Vietnam, and others. The relentless pursuit of rapid production often prioritizes sales and profits over human welfare.

A tragic exemplification of these dire circumstances occurred in 2013 when an eight-floor factory complex in Dhaka, Bangladesh, housing numerous garment factories collapsed, resulting in the deaths of 1,134 workers and injuries to over 2,500 others. Annie Radner Linden, in her project “An Analysis of the Fast Fashion Industry,” posits that the garment industry historically operates as a low-capital and labor-intensive sector.

Naomi Klein, in her seminal work “No Logo,” contends that developing nations are attractive destinations for garment industries due to factors such as cheap labor, extensive tax incentives, and lax regulations. As highlighted in “The True Cost,” one in six individuals globally is employed in some capacity within the fashion industry, rendering it the most labor-dependent sector. Unfortunately, these developing nations often overlook environmental regulations. For instance, while China emerges as a significant producer of fast fashion, it grapples with notorious issues such as land degradation and pervasive air and water pollution.

Is Sustainable Fashion the Solution?

Sustainable fashion represents a paradigm shift in the fashion industry, prioritizing environmentally friendly practices and ethical manufacturing. At Ecosoi, we advocate for this transformative approach, recognizing its crucial role not only in minimizing environmental harm but also in ensuring the well-being of garment workers. We firmly believe that embracing sustainability isn’t just a moral imperative but also a strategic necessity for businesses aiming for long-term success. As the fashion sector increasingly embraces sustainability, significant changes lie ahead.

We are Ecosoi, a leading company in Vietnam specializing in the production of fiber, yarn, and fabric derived from pineapple. With decades of experience in the industry, we collaborate closely with our clients, manufacturers, and distributors to promote fair and sustainable practices for all stakeholders involved.

Contact us: 0393755150 (Ms. Milena) or 0913617588 (Ms. Lieu)