A recent research exposes the environmental hazards posed by the clothing industry that the fashion threatens the planet vigorously.
According to a 2019 EU report fashion companies produced two collections a year in 2000, but this had increased to five by 2011, with some chains such as offering 24 collections per annum. The report stated that this had led to clothes being regarded as “nearly disposable” goods.
One washload of polyester clothes can release 700,000 microplastic fibres into the environment. It is estimated that half a million tonnes of these microfibres end up in the sea each year.
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Polyester, made from fossil fuels, is non-biodegradable. Microfibres from synthetics are a major contributor to microplastic pollution. The industry was responsible for 1,715 million tonnes of CO2 emissions.
The fashion industry consumes more energy than the aviation and shipping industry combined. The Pulse report forecast fashion emissions to grow by 63% by 2030.
The production of clothing is very water-intensive. According to the 2017 Wrap report the average water footprint for a kilo of cotton is 10,000-20,000 litres. India and Pakistan are major suppliers of cotton to the UK.