Ever-changing fashion trends, pressure from fashion companies to consume more, and a decline in garment quality and durability are all big contributing factors to fashion waste. Despite these issues, there are things we can all do to help prevent clothing from ending up in landfill.
In this blog, we will explore key statistics and facts regarding the current landscape of fashion waste. As well as identify some key ways in which we can all do our part to help the environment through sustainable fashion and reduce your fashion waste.
5 Statistics of the Impact of Fashion Waste
- On average, each person in the UK throws away 3.1kg of textiles per year.
- It takes over 200 years for textiles to decompose when sent to landfills.
- The average person spends £980.00 a year on new clothing.
- Only 8% of clothes are repurposed worldwide.
- 30% of clothes in wardrobes are unused.
Where Does Most Clothing Waste Come From?
There are 2 main sources that contribute to fashion waste, them being the fashion brands and the consumer. Companies have a responsibility to dispose of unwearable garments and materials sustainably and be transparent about their practices regarding fashion waste. Consumers have a responsibility to take care of the clothing they buy, be mindful of their purchases, and dispose of items correctly once they’re done with them.
Fashion Brands
Even fashion brands that prioritise sustainability still contribute to fashion waste. Despite being more ethical and less damaging to the environment than big fast fashion brands, all clothing manufacturing is harmful in both its production and its contribution to fashion and material waste.
The Consumer
As consumers, we all contribute to fashion waste whenever we throw away old clothes or buy more than we need. Buying an excess amount of clothing from fast fashion brands also contributes to their profits and increases their supply and demand, encouraging their unethical business practices.
The Government’s Role in Regulating the Fashion Industry
Governments also have a responsibility in reducing fashion waste. Introducing policies and legislations will give fashion brands an incentive to adhere to more sustainable practices. Raising awareness of these issues through government schemes will help educate consumers to make more ethical choices. By both manufacturing and consuming, China and America are the leading countries in fashion waste worldwide. The top countries for fashion waste worldwide are:
- China – 20 million tonnes
- USA – 17 million tonnes
- India – 7.8 million tonnes
- Italy – 465,925 tonnes
The UK ranks number 7 in fashion waste, meaning there are ways we can all help improve our fashion sustainability as a nation.
6 Ways You Can Reduce Your Fashion Waste
There are a number of ways we can all reduce our fashion waste and help the environment, both collectively and individually.
Buy Less Clothing
The easiest and most effective way to reduce fashion waste is simply to consume less. All textile production is harmful to the environment, and all garments contribute to fashion waste eventually, no matter how long they are preserved or how ethically they are made. It is therefore encouraged that we all do our part in consuming less and using what we already have.
Second-hand/Vintage
Although our goal should be to consume less, when we must buy new clothing, second-hand clothing is a great, sustainable option. Charity shops and vintage shops give clothes a second lease of life.
Donating your old clothes that you no longer wear allows them to be bought by the right person who will prolong their life. Buying from charity shops and thrift stores is also a great way to obtain new clothing without directly contributing to fashion waste, as no new garment has been made.
Quality and Versatile Clothing
Investing in high quality, well-made clothing means your pieces will last longer before needing to be replaced. Being mindful of what you buy and sticking to versatile clothes that you will get a lot of wear out of also helps reduce clothing waste and overconsumption.
It is important to take note of what clothing you like and dislike when it comes to clothing, so you are more aware of what to look out for when shopping for clothes that you will get a lot of use out of.
Upcycle and Repurpose
When clothes cannot be worn anymore, upcycling them is a great way to prolong their life. Learning how to do simple fixes to garments such as reattaching buttons or mending holes helps prolong the life of these clothes that would otherwise be thrown away.
Creative ways to repurpose old clothes that aren’t in a wearable or mendable condition also helps reduce waste. Ways to repurpose these garments could include using them as rags for cleaning, or making them into new items such as tote bags, hair scrunchies, or children’s doll clothes.
Support Sustainable Brands
When needing to shop for new items, buying from sustainable brands means you are supporting companies who care about the ethics and sustainability of their products. This discourages unethical practices, as fashion brands will feel more inclined to improve their practices in order to appeal to customers.
Take Care of Clothes Responsibly
We can all do our part to help fight fast fashion and promote sustainable and ethical practices, this can be done by:
Progress in the Fight Against Clothing Waste
Despite there being a global fast fashion market worth over $100 billion, and growing each year, there has still been progression sustainably. Raised awareness of the damaging effects of fast fashion has resulted in some great improvements, including:
- The annual growth rate of the ethical fashion market is 8.3%.
- 75% of Gen Z claim to have bought pre-owned clothes.
- 12% of fashion executives cite sustainability as a principal opportunity in 2024.
By doing our part to prolong the life of our garments, shop second-hand, and support ethical companies, we can help reduce fashion waste, which in turn will:
- Reduce the amount of new clothing manufactured, which reduces water pollution and greenhouse gas emissions.
- Reduce the amount of clothes that end up in landfill, where clothes decompose and release toxic dyes and chemicals into our ecosystem.
How is Worth Its Weight Helping to Fight Fashion Waste?
At Worth Its Weight, our Cash for Clothes service allows you to sell your unwanted clothes in bulk. This is a great way to get cash for your unwanted clothes without having to go through the time-consuming process of selling online.
Once you have dropped off your clothes, these will be sorted through and sent to communities around the world in need. Worth it’s Weight helps reduce the amount of clothes ending up in landfills by giving these items a second lease of life. Find your nearest drop-off location today.
