One day, you probably walked around your favorite clothing store wondering, “how did all these new clothes get here?” While new stylish trends are spreading minute by minute, the fashion industry and respective factories have found a way to meet demands. They follow the “fast fashion model,” which involves the rapid design, production, distribution, and marketing of clothing, allowing retailers to pull large quantities of product variety that allow consumers to get more fashion at a low price. Among the various issues of how the fast fashion industry was able to blow up, the destructive effects on the environment remain a serious concern.

The fashion industry is one of the largest in the world, accounting for 2% of GDP (Gross Domestic Product). However, due to large production and waste from fast fashion, the industry is also one of thebiggest polluters in the world, second only to oil. According to a study by Business Insider, fashion production comprises 10% of the global carbon emissions, as much as the European Union. Unfortunately, 85% of all textiles we buy go to the dump each year, with the average UK shopper throwing out 70 kilograms of textile waste annually.

Furthermore, a report by Quantis International 2018 established that fiber production has had the largest impact on freshwater withdrawal (water withdrawn from a surface or groundwater source), and ecosystem quality due to cotton cultivation. Additionally, dyeing and finishing, yarn preparation, and fiber production have the highest impacts on resource depletion due to large energy amounts of fossil fuel production.

To piggyback on that, the production of making plastic fibers is an energy intensive process that requires lots of petroleum and releases volatile acids and particles like hydrogen chloride. Additionally, cotton is not so environmentally friendly to manufacture due to the pesticides necessary for growth, which presents many health risks to farmers.

Another environmental impact of fast fashion are microplastics. Brands use synthetic materials like polyester, acrylic, and nylon, which are the primary culprits that cause non-biodegradable plastic microfibers to enter our ocean. To further lower the price, brands turn to lower quality material. Fibers such as polyester, which is made of plastic, tend to release far more carbon emissions than cotton. While plastic takes a long time to degrade, when it finally breaks down, it creates a toxic substance with a harmful impact on marine ecosystems. The tanning process in the production of leather is one of the most toxic in all of the fashion supply chain because the chemicals used to tan, including oils and dyes, coal-tar derivatives, and formaldehyde, are not biodegradable and contaminate water sources.

Following that, fast fashion is an excessive water waster. It takes 10,000 liters of water to produce one kilogram of cotton, or 3,000 liters of water for one cotton shirt. Furthermore, textile dyeing requires toxic chemicals that end up in our oceans. 20% of the wastewater worldwide is attributed to this process. Sadly, in many cases, wastewater cannot be treated to be safe again.

In light of the social awakening of the environmental impacts of fast fashion, many companies are taking initiative to slow down the effects. The World Resource Institute suggests that companies need to design, test, and invest in business models that reuse clothes and maximize their usage life. One way consumers are reducing their consumption of fast fashion is by purchasing from sellers like Poshmark and thredUP, in which consumers can sell their unwanted clothing for lower prices. Retailers like Ralph Lauren announced it will use 100% sustainable sourced key-materials by 2025.

What are some ways you can approach smarter fashion habits? One way is to repair and take care of your clothes by following care instructions and learning basic sewing and de-staining techniques. Next, try secondhand clothing by using old or unused clothing from family or friends or buying from thrifting stores. Finally, shop mindfully. Shop for clothes you know you are going to use and choose high quality fabrics that are easily recycled or biodegrade easier. Remember, slapping an “eco-friendly” tag on a product is not proof that a product is good as gold. Do some background research on a brand to see if the item is sustainable. All of these habits are progress towards a cleaner environment and a mindful lifestyle.