Post #4: The Environmental Impact of Fashion
- Storage Angels
- Apr 10
- 2 min read
Updated: Oct 25
In today’s world, trends are everything. A new fad comes up and suddenly everyone is rushing to the stores trying to get their hands on it which creates more demand for the item, increasing product production before quickly declining in popularity. However, this habit of overconsumption is a serious problem for our fragile ecosystem.
The Impact of Fast Fashion:
People are surprised to find out that the fashion industry is a major contributor to climate change and other environmental issues; approximately 92 million tonnes of clothes and fabric waste are being produced globally. According to Earth.org, that is about a garbage truck of clothes being dumped into landfills [1]. This only gets worse with the average person in the United States dumping 81 pounds of clothing each year which adds up to around 11.3 million tons of textile waste nationwide [1].
Environmental Impacts:
All these clothes and waste have a serious toll on our ecosystem. According to Earth.org, our fashion industries are responsible for about 10% of all global carbon emissions. This is more than all international flights and maritime shipping combined [2]. To make matters worse, much of the cheap clothing that the average person buys consists of materials from synthetic fibers like polyester, which are derived from fossil fuels that do not biodegrade easily, leading to extremely long-term pollution. Textile production, in general, is estimated to contribute to 20% of global clean water pollution from dyeing and finishing processes [3].
It is not just clothing and fabric products. Every item that we buy hurts our world and as we keep buying more products, this leads to more cluttered spaces and contributes to increased waste and resource depletion.
What Can YOU Do?
Buy less and choose quality
Instead of buying cheap products that last a short time, consider buying a higher quality product that you know for sure can last a good amount of time. This can significantly reduce the carbon emissions made from mass-producing these goods.
Extend the life of your clothes
Instead of buying a piece of clothing and throwing it out once you’ve overgrown or started to dislike it, hand it down to someone you know or donate it to a local charity
Support sustainable brands
Look for companies (does not have to be crazy expensive for your budget!) that you know stand up against these negative carbon emissions by prioritizing environmentally friendly practices and materials.
Embrace Minimalism
Focus only on what you need, not want.
By following just a few of these tips, one can make a significant impact on our very delicate and fragile ecosystem.
How We are Helping:
We at Storage Angels aim to solve this problem in our community. We provide clothing, furniture, and other valuable belongings for free to those who need it most in our area. We ask that you all contribute however much you can (volunteering to clear out storage lockers, delivering items to charities, etc.). Help us in our mission to create a better world for future generations!
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