Latest figures would indicate the fashion industry is not doing enough to shift the needle on sustainability.

Shocking figures on the environmental footprint of the apparel and textile sectors were released last week and among them was the realisation the amount of materials coming from recycled sources is negligible at best, begging the question has the fashion industry spun too far out of control?

According to new figures from the Circle Economy and H&M Foundation only 0.3% of the 3.25bn tonnes of materials utilised by the textile sector annually are derived from recycled inputs, while synthetic fibres sourced from fossil fuels constitute 70% of its raw materials.

Further, a report from the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) revealed that in the last two decades global fibre production has more than doubled from 58m tonnes in 2000 to a new record of 124m tonnes in 2023. If business continues as usual, the fibre market is expected to continue growing rapidly, reaching 160m tonnes by 2030.

By 2030, the fashion industry is expected to use 35% more land – much of it to grow materials for cheap and throwaway fashion.

The production of raw materials for textiles carries the risk of significant negative impacts on land, such as degradation, soil erosion, overgrazing, desertification, deforestation, freshwater depletion, pollution, waste, biodiversity loss, carbon emissions and climate change.

According to the UNCCD, up to 40% of the world’s land is degraded, and degradation is continuing at an alarming rate.

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The figures are shocking to say the least, particularly when you put into perspective that this is all in the name of fashion and keeping up with the latest trends. It is concerning that with all the green claims being made by fashion brands and retailers, the reality is the needle is barely moving. Maybe it is moving, but certainly not at the pace required to generate real change and affect climate change in a positive way.

The secondhand business model appears to be offering a glimmer of hope, particularly as the new generation of consumers embraces it.

A report from Vinted and Retail Economics revealed secondhand is accounting for just over 10% of all gift spending. The report shows shoppers are set to spend £20.5bn ($25.80bn) on gifts in total and overall 84% of secondhand shoppers are likely to spend a proportion of their budget on pre-loved Christmas gifts this year.

Most are turning to secondhand because it offers a more ‘unique’ (73%) or ‘high quality’ (71%) alternative to what is available on the mainstream market. And of course, budgetary constraints are another reason 54% of people are turning to secondhand channels. Sadly, when it comes to a desire to lower their environmental impact, only 29% said this is the reason they turn to pre-loved.

If the fashion industry is truly hoping to achieve net zero emissions by 2050 under the Paris Agreement, the latest figures would indicate we’re going the wrong way about it. But have we driven ourselves into a consumption cycle we can’t get out of?
While pre-loved is in the starting phases of becoming trendy, the shift must happen at a significantly faster rate to make an impact. Is the answer to ban fast fashion once and for all in favour of sustainable alternatives and ultimately, save the planet?

By Just Style