{"id":5017,"date":"2022-08-17T06:27:49","date_gmt":"2022-08-17T06:27:49","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/caring-consumer.com\/?page_id=5017"},"modified":"2023-06-13T13:26:32","modified_gmt":"2023-06-13T13:26:32","slug":"fast-fashion-environmental-impact","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/caring-consumer.com\/products\/clothing\/fast-fashion-environmental-impact\/","title":{"rendered":"Fast Fashion Is Destroying the Environment"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>The rapid rise of fast fashion has not only filled the closets of aspiring fashionistas with modern, trendy, and incredibly affordable clothing, but it has also caused incalculable damage to our natural world.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Below are the four major ways it impacts our environment, as well as the significant cost to those people who can least afford to suffer the consequences.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>But before we can stop fast fashion in its tracks, we first need to define what we\u2019re talking about.<\/p>\n\n\n<div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_67_1 counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-grey ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<div class=\"ez-toc-title-container\">\n<p class=\"ez-toc-title \" >Table of Contents<\/p>\n<span class=\"ez-toc-title-toggle\"><a href=\"#\" class=\"ez-toc-pull-right ez-toc-btn ez-toc-btn-xs ez-toc-btn-default ez-toc-toggle\" aria-label=\"Toggle Table of Content\"><span class=\"ez-toc-js-icon-con\"><span class=\"\"><span class=\"eztoc-hide\" style=\"display:none;\">Toggle<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-icon-toggle-span\"><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"list-377408\" width=\"20px\" height=\"20px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M6 6H4v2h2V6zm14 0H8v2h12V6zM4 11h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2zM4 16h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2z\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><\/svg><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" class=\"arrow-unsorted-368013\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"10px\" height=\"10px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.2\" baseProfile=\"tiny\"><path d=\"M18.2 9.3l-6.2-6.3-6.2 6.3c-.2.2-.3.4-.3.7s.1.5.3.7c.2.2.4.3.7.3h11c.3 0 .5-.1.7-.3.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7zM5.8 14.7l6.2 6.3 6.2-6.3c.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7c-.2-.2-.4-.3-.7-.3h-11c-.3 0-.5.1-.7.3-.2.2-.3.5-.3.7s.1.5.3.7z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a><\/span><\/div>\n<nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 eztoc-toggle-hide-by-default' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/caring-consumer.com\/products\/clothing\/fast-fashion-environmental-impact\/#what-is-fast-fashion\" title=\"What Is Fast Fashion?\">What Is Fast Fashion?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/caring-consumer.com\/products\/clothing\/fast-fashion-environmental-impact\/#how-fast-fashion-destroys-the-environment-four-top-areas\" title=\"How Fast Fashion Destroys the Environment: Four Top Areas\">How Fast Fashion Destroys the Environment: Four Top Areas<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-3' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"https:\/\/caring-consumer.com\/products\/clothing\/fast-fashion-environmental-impact\/#microplastics\" title=\"Microplastics\">Microplastics<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-4\" href=\"https:\/\/caring-consumer.com\/products\/clothing\/fast-fashion-environmental-impact\/#energy-use\" title=\"Energy use\">Energy use<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-5\" href=\"https:\/\/caring-consumer.com\/products\/clothing\/fast-fashion-environmental-impact\/#water-use-and-pollution\" title=\"Water use and pollution\">Water use and pollution<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-6\" href=\"https:\/\/caring-consumer.com\/products\/clothing\/fast-fashion-environmental-impact\/#fossil-fuels-and-global-emissions\" title=\"Fossil fuels and global emissions\">Fossil fuels and global emissions<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-7\" href=\"https:\/\/caring-consumer.com\/products\/clothing\/fast-fashion-environmental-impact\/#the-human-side-of-fast-fashions-impact\" title=\"The Human Side of Fast Fashion\u2019s Impact\">The Human Side of Fast Fashion\u2019s Impact<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-3' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-8\" href=\"https:\/\/caring-consumer.com\/products\/clothing\/fast-fashion-environmental-impact\/#labor-injustice\" title=\"Labor injustice\">Labor injustice<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-9\" href=\"https:\/\/caring-consumer.com\/products\/clothing\/fast-fashion-environmental-impact\/#gender-inequality\" title=\"Gender inequality\">Gender inequality<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-10\" href=\"https:\/\/caring-consumer.com\/products\/clothing\/fast-fashion-environmental-impact\/#occupational-safety\" title=\"Occupational safety\">Occupational safety<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-11\" href=\"https:\/\/caring-consumer.com\/products\/clothing\/fast-fashion-environmental-impact\/#pollution-and-human-health\" title=\"Pollution and human health\">Pollution and human health<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-12\" href=\"https:\/\/caring-consumer.com\/products\/clothing\/fast-fashion-environmental-impact\/#how-fast-fashions-destruction-of-the-environment-can-be-stopped\" title=\"How Fast Fashion\u2019s Destruction of the Environment Can Be Stopped\">How Fast Fashion\u2019s Destruction of the Environment Can Be Stopped<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-3' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-13\" href=\"https:\/\/caring-consumer.com\/products\/clothing\/fast-fashion-environmental-impact\/#wear-the-clothes-you-own-more-frequently\" title=\"Wear the clothes you own more frequently\">Wear the clothes you own more frequently<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-14\" href=\"https:\/\/caring-consumer.com\/products\/clothing\/fast-fashion-environmental-impact\/#explore-secondhand-stores\" title=\"Explore secondhand stores\">Explore secondhand stores<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-15\" href=\"https:\/\/caring-consumer.com\/products\/clothing\/fast-fashion-environmental-impact\/#donate-your-clothes-to-charity\" title=\"Donate your clothes to charity\">Donate your clothes to charity<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-16\" href=\"https:\/\/caring-consumer.com\/products\/clothing\/fast-fashion-environmental-impact\/#focus-on-eco-friendly-brands\" title=\"Focus on eco-friendly brands\">Focus on eco-friendly brands<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-17\" href=\"https:\/\/caring-consumer.com\/products\/clothing\/fast-fashion-environmental-impact\/#reduce-the-amount-you-buy\" title=\"Reduce the amount you buy\">Reduce the amount you buy<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-18\" href=\"https:\/\/caring-consumer.com\/products\/clothing\/fast-fashion-environmental-impact\/#rent-your-wardrobe\" title=\"Rent your wardrobe\">Rent your wardrobe<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-19\" href=\"https:\/\/caring-consumer.com\/products\/clothing\/fast-fashion-environmental-impact\/#host-a-clothes-swap\" title=\"Host a clothes swap\">Host a clothes swap<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-20\" href=\"https:\/\/caring-consumer.com\/products\/clothing\/fast-fashion-environmental-impact\/#choose-alternative-fibers\" title=\"Choose alternative fibers\">Choose alternative fibers<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-21\" href=\"https:\/\/caring-consumer.com\/products\/clothing\/fast-fashion-environmental-impact\/#buy-classic-designs-that-never-go-out-of-fashion\" title=\"Buy classic designs that never go out of fashion\">Buy classic designs that never go out of fashion<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-22\" href=\"https:\/\/caring-consumer.com\/products\/clothing\/fast-fashion-environmental-impact\/#how-fast-fashion-destroys-the-environment-wrapping-up\" title=\"How Fast Fashion Destroys the Environment: Wrapping Up\">How Fast Fashion Destroys the Environment: Wrapping Up<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"what-is-fast-fashion\"><\/span>What Is Fast Fashion?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cFast fashion\u201d is any <a href=\"https:\/\/caring-consumer.com\/products\/clothing\/\">clothing<\/a> that moves quickly from production to retail. It lets consumers take advantage of the latest trends, typically based on celebrity fashion and pop culture.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Fueling fast fashion\u2019s ubiquity <a href=\"https:\/\/www.investopedia.com\/terms\/f\/fast-fashion.asp\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">is its affordability<\/a>. The industry uses cheap fabric and production methods, employs low-wage laborers often in developing countries, and takes full advantage of the global supply chain.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Fast fashion has succeeded with consumers who appreciate its benefits:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul>\n<li>Quick release<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Cheap styles<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Up-to-the-minute trends<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>That being said, fast fashion has some considerable downsides, with its impact on the environment being the most notable.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"how-fast-fashion-destroys-the-environment-four-top-areas\"><\/span>How Fast Fashion Destroys the Environment: Four Top Areas<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>The average consumer may not realize how much of an impact their fashion habits have on the environment. A $10 T-shirt couldn\u2019t do that much damage, right?&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Wrong.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Most textiles\u2014<a href=\"https:\/\/calpirg.org\/blogs\/blog\/cap\/fashion-industry-waste-drastically-contributing-climate-change#:~:text=It%20might%20come%20to%20a,unused%20textiles%20and%20unsold%20clothes.\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">approximately 85%<\/a> of them\u2014end up in a dump each year. But fast fashion destroys the environment in more complex ways than waste alone.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"microplastics\"><\/span>Microplastics<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Fast fashion brands use plastic-based synthetic fibers, such as nylon and acrylic, to make their clothes. During the manufacturing process and throughout the lifespan of a garment, including every time you wash it, these fibers produce tiny waste that leaves with wastewater and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.greenprophet.com\/2022\/02\/microplastics-polltants\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">ends up in water sources<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>These microplastics, small pieces of fabric <a href=\"https:\/\/oceanservice.noaa.gov\/facts\/microplastics.html#:~:text=Plastic%20debris%20can%20come%20in,)%20are%20called%20%E2%80%9Cmicroplastics.%E2%80%9D\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">typically less than five millimeters in size<\/a>, aren\u2019t biodegradable. Instead they will take hundreds of years to degrade.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/portals.iucn.org\/library\/node\/46622?cookies-complaint=1\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">An International Union for the Conservation of Nature report<\/a> from 2017 highlights that over a third of microplastics in the ocean come from the production of synthetic textiles.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Given their size, it\u2019s easy to assume that microplastics couldn\u2019t impact the environment, but the sheer volume released every year is stunning.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Over <a href=\"https:\/\/truecostmovie.com\/learn-more\/environmental-impact\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">80 billion articles of clothing are purchased<\/a> every year, generating 82 million pounds of microplastic waste each year in America alone. Europe\u2019s fast fashion adds an estimated <a href=\"https:\/\/www.statista.com\/topics\/6088\/fast-fashion-in-europe\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">2.9 billion units of clothing per year<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Many of these fibrous microplastics end up in the ocean, where they contribute to the grotesque phenomenon known as the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nationalgeographic.org\/encyclopedia\/great-pacific-garbage-patch\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Great Pacific Garbage Patch<\/a>. Even worse is that microplastics attract other <a href=\"https:\/\/www.greenprophet.com\/2022\/02\/microplastics-polltants\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">environmental toxins<\/a>, compounding the harm they represent to the ecosystem.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Microplastics aren\u2019t only damaging seas, though. They\u2019re everywhere, even in <a href=\"https:\/\/www.greenprophet.com\/2022\/02\/microplastics-babies\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">newborn stool<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Microplastics are bad for the environment at every stage of their existence\u2014from the high environmental cost of crude oil extraction required to create plastic to their presence in ecosystems around the world, even the <a href=\"http:\/\/changingmarkets.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/FOSSIL-FASHION_Web-compressed.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">North Pole<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"energy-use\"><\/span>Energy use<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>An alarming amount of electrical and thermal energy is required to produce an article of clothing and get it from manufacturing to retail. <a href=\"https:\/\/oecotextiles.blog\/2009\/06\/16\/what-is-the-energy-profile-of-the-textile-industry\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Processing of the fabric<\/a> alone takes between 0.45 and 0.55 kwh of electrical energy per meter of cloth and 4,500-5,500 Kcal of thermal energy per meter of cloth.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>To reduce the high energy use associated with synthetic fiber production, one alternative could be sustainably farmed cotton. By producing clothes with cotton sourced from sustainable farming, which uses <a href=\"https:\/\/barnhardtcotton.net\/blog\/sustainable-cotton-farming\/#:~:text=Improving%20soil%20health%20through%20crop,greater%20predictive%20power%20to%20farmers\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">better irrigation methods and technology to optimize power use<\/a>, fast fashion brands could considerably reduce their energy consumption. It seems the cheap costs of synthetic fibers are too enticing, unfortunately.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"water-use-and-pollution\"><\/span>Water use and pollution<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>As the second-largest consumer of water on the planet, the fast fashion industry consumes <a href=\"https:\/\/www.commonobjective.co\/article\/the-issues-water#:~:text=It&#039;s%20estimated%20that%20the%20fashion,of%20all%20freshwater%20extraction%20globally.\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">93 billion cubic meters of water<\/a> per year. It takes up to 700 gallons to make a cotton shirt. To produce a pair of jeans, it takes 2,000, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.weforum.org\/agenda\/2020\/01\/fashion-industry-carbon-unsustainable-environment-pollution\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">according to WeForum<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In addition to wasting water, fast fashion also pollutes water with the myriad chemicals involved in production, particularly from the dyeing process.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Such chemicals include surfactants such as nonylphenols and nonylphenol ethoxylates (NP\/NPEs), which, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.epa.gov\/assessing-and-managing-chemicals-under-tsca\/fact-sheet-nonylphenols-and-nonylphenol-ethoxylates#what\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">according to the EPA<\/a>, are highly toxic to aquatic life.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.businessinsider.com\/fast-fashion-environmental-impact-pollution-emissions-waste-water-2019-10#fashion-causes-water-pollution-problems-too-textile-dyeing-is-the-worlds-second-largest-polluter-of-water-since-the-water-leftover-from-the-dyeing-process-is-often-dumped-into-ditches-streams-or-rivers-19\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">As Business Insider notes<\/a>, many of these chemicals end up in streams, lakes, and oceans. Some are even dumped into ditches. In time, these chemicals can affect nearby agriculture, and therefore human food consumption, and local wildlife, resulting in <a href=\"https:\/\/www.fashionrevolution.org\/nature-in-freefall\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">a loss in biodiversity<\/a>.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>These effects are hastened by fast fashion\u2019s carbon emissions and climate change impact.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"fossil-fuels-and-global-emissions\"><\/span>Fossil fuels and global emissions<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>The truth is, the \u201c<a href=\"http:\/\/changingmarkets.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/FOSSIL-FASHION_Web-compressed.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">majority of fashion today is made from fossil fuels<\/a>.\u201d Synthetic fibers\u2014led by polyester, which is present in 56% of textiles\u2014made of \u201cfinite resources such as crude oil and natural gas account for over two-thirds (69%) of the material input for clothes worldwide.\u201d&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>A UN Framework Convention on climate change shows that carbon emissions driven by fast fashion <a href=\"https:\/\/unfccc.int\/news\/fashion-industry-un-pursue-climate-action-for-sustainable-development\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">will skyrocket by 60%<\/a> by the year 2030. Business Insider highlights that it\u2019s responsible <a href=\"https:\/\/www.businessinsider.com\/fast-fashion-environmental-impact-pollution-emissions-waste-water-2019-10\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">for 10% of global carbon emissions<\/a>.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The impact of higher global emissions is well known:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul>\n<li>More frequent and worse natural disasters<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Melting of the polar ice caps<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Shifts in global weather patterns<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"the-human-side-of-fast-fashions-impact\"><\/span>The Human Side of Fast Fashion\u2019s Impact<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Though fast fashion is quickly becoming exposed for its impact on the environment, it also has a significant human cost, with <a href=\"https:\/\/truecostmovie.com\/learn-more\/environmental-impact\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">one in six people employed in the industry<\/a> in some capacity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Though a driver of employment, this means that a large number of people are at risk of fast fashion\u2019s impact. This impact is demonstrated in several ways.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"labor-injustice\"><\/span>Labor injustice<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Fast fashion aims to make clothing as quickly and cheaply as possible.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Enter low-paid and underpaid labor, typically in developing countries.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>A <a href=\"https:\/\/www.dol.gov\/agencies\/ilab\/reports\/child-labor\/list-of-goods\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">2018 report by the United States Department of Labor<\/a> highlights the countries rife with child labor, alongside the industries they work in, including cotton, textiles, and garments, all associated with fast fashion.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>These reports of labor exploitation emerged from multiple countries, including, but not limited to, the following:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul>\n<li>Bangladesh<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The Philippines<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Turkey<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Vietnam<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Brazil<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"gender-inequality\"><\/span>Gender inequality<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Many of these countries also solely employ women to carry out this work. Managers and upper-level staff, however, are typically male. That leads to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.solidaritycenter.org\/bangladesh-workers-targeted-with-gender-based-violence\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">gender-based violence and harassment within the industry itself<\/a>, says the Solidarity Center.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>That\u2019s particularly the case across Southeast Asia, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.synergiafoundation.org\/insights\/op-eds\/labour-rights-south-east-asia\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">claims the Synergia Foundation<\/a>.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"occupational-safety\"><\/span>Occupational safety<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>These underpaid workers are often forced to endure dangerous conditions. Despite being extremely low paid, production targets continue to rise, forcing longer hours of harder work.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Garment factories in many developing countries have been <a href=\"https:\/\/cleanclothes.org\/unsafe-workplaces\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">labeled hazardous by the Clean Clothes Campaign<\/a>. There have even been reports of such factories burning to the ground, often with workers still inside.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>An <a href=\"https:\/\/edition.cnn.com\/2013\/04\/25\/opinion\/bangladesh-factory-collapse-opinion\/index.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">eighth-floor garment factory in Dhaka, Bangladesh<\/a>, for example, burned to the ground in 2013. Hundreds of workers were killed in the fire, while many more were injured. Multiple American fashion brands sold clothes made in the factory.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>That directly ties the clothes that many people buy to such atrocities. Similar conditions exist in countless other factors in countries around the world.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"pollution-and-human-health\"><\/span>Pollution and human health<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>The health and safety implications of waste spillage from fast fashion shouldn\u2019t be overlooked. Reports of toxic chemicals\u2014including <a href=\"https:\/\/www.osha.gov\/hexavalent-chromium\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Chromium-6<\/a>\u2014have been highlighted in <a href=\"https:\/\/www.euronews.com\/green\/2021\/08\/19\/blue-rivers-and-water-as-strong-as-bleach-the-destructive-impact-of-fast-fashion-in-africa\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">rivers near Primark, ASOS, and Zara clothing factories<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The impact this has on a person\u2019s health is huge. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.osha.gov\/hexavalent-chromium\/health-effects#:~:text=Adverse%20health%20effects%20associated%20with,skin%20irritation%2C%20and%20erosion%20and\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">As OSHA notes<\/a>, Chromium-6 exposure is known to cause:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul>\n<li>Kidney Damage<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Respiratory Cancer<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Liver Damage<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Pulmonary Congestion<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>Continued exposure to Chromium-6, among other toxic chemicals, increases the likelihood of residents near such facilities developing such conditions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"how-fast-fashions-destruction-of-the-environment-can-be-stopped\"><\/span>How Fast Fashion\u2019s Destruction of the Environment Can Be Stopped<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Despite the seemingly overwhelming size of the environmental impact of fast fashion, you can make a difference.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Here are nine steps you can take right now.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"wear-the-clothes-you-own-more-frequently\"><\/span>Wear the clothes you own more frequently<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>The average American <a href=\"https:\/\/www.lemonade.com\/blog\/fast-fashion-destroying-our-planet\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">buys one article of clothing per week<\/a> and wears it only seven times before throwing it away. These may be spread out across several months, which could make buyers feel as though they get more use out of it than they do.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"explore-secondhand-stores\"><\/span>Explore secondhand stores<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Thrift stores are the most obvious way to cut down on your use of fast fashion. Though this may have been looked down upon before, \u201cthrifting\u201d has exploded in popularity in recent years.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>For those who have never been thrift shopping before, it\u2019s worth keeping a few things in mind:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul>\n<li>Know what you\u2019re looking for<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>No returns<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Cash only is common<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>Thrift shopping will let you dramatically decrease your use of fast fashion brands.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"donate-your-clothes-to-charity\"><\/span>Donate your clothes to charity<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Some charities, especially those that work with people experiencing homelessness, accept clothing donations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>If you\u2019re about to get rid of your old clothing, choose the sustainable option and donate. Not only does this free up space in your wardrobe, but the clothing will get a new lease on life instead of sitting in a landfill.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Some stores may have restrictions on what they can accept, however, so it\u2019s worth asking them ahead of time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"focus-on-eco-friendly-brands\"><\/span>Focus on eco-friendly brands<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>There\u2019ll come a point where everyone will need to buy new clothes. Few people can wear the same outfits for years on end without the clothing starting to fall apart.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>When it\u2019s time for you to pick out some new clothes, focus on eco-friendly brands.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>These brands go out of their way to minimize their environmental impact in several ways:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul>\n<li>Sourcing sustainable materials<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Reducing waste<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Using recycled packaging<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Using ethical manufacturing processes<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>Research brands before buying. While many claim to be eco-friendly and sustainable, some are more environmentally friendly than others. Choose the most eco-conscious and sustainable brand. Notable among these are <a href=\"https:\/\/www.thegoodtrade.com\/features\/fair-trade-clothing\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Patagonia, Pact, and Kotn<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Buying sustainable clothing can be as simple as checking the tag to see what materials the clothing is made from. Though this often means paying more, it also means protecting the planet and vulnerable laborers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Avoid these <a href=\"https:\/\/www.eco-stylist.com\/a-guide-to-the-most-and-least-sustainable-fabrics\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">least sustainable and most harmful materials<\/a>:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul>\n<li>Polyester<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Acrylic<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Conventional Cotton<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Rayon<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Nylon<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>Instead, try more sustainable fabrics, which I list below.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"reduce-the-amount-you-buy\"><\/span>Reduce the amount you buy<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>The average consumer fuels the fast fashion industry by buying more and more clothing and wearing the same yoga pants and concert T-shirt over and over again anyway. You don\u2019t really need 10 poorly made cardigans, each a different color.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The currently raging demand for fast fashion produces more and more emissions and pollution. Should the demand drop, the supply, and hence the damage, will naturally follow.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"rent-your-wardrobe\"><\/span>Rent your wardrobe<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Depending on the occasion, renting clothes may make much more sense than buying them. For anyone going to a wedding or another celebration, there\u2019s no point in buying something new. You\u2019ll never wear that taffeta bridesmaid\u2019s dress again.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Ride-sharing, office-sharing, and other forms of the emerging \u201csharing economy\u201d are becoming more and more popular. Clothes-sharing could be on the horizon. In fact, it already is, with multiple apps focusing solely on this.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Families have been upcycling for decades, if not centuries. None of us was safe from hand-me-downs. But now even some stores, such as American Eagle, will let customers rent clothes from them with a monthly subscription.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Peer-to-peer platforms have also become popular. These let consumers connect with people near them that are either renting out clothes or looking to rent some. Using these has multiple benefits.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Not only is this a more sustainable way of getting a unique look for a special occasion, but it\u2019ll also be more affordable. Your wallet will be as thankful as the environment will be.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"host-a-clothes-swap\"><\/span>Host a clothes swap<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>People want to swap out old clothes for new fashions at some point. While donating them to a secondhand store is convenient, there are other options.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Hosting a clothes swap with friends and family is an attractive choice for people who have more than a few articles of clothing they\u2019ve grown sick of. Not only can attendees pass their unwanted clothes to a new person, but they\u2019ll also get \u201cnew\u201d clothes in return.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Hosting one of these is easier than you\u2019d expect:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul>\n<li>Give guests enough notice.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Ensure everyone knows what clothes to bring (i.e. they\u2019re in good shape).<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Once they\u2019re there, lay out the clothes in a way that everyone can have a look.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Be sure to have a space for people to try on clothes.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>All told, it can be a fun and sustainable way to get some new clothes while getting rid of old ones.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"choose-alternative-fibers\"><\/span>Choose alternative fibers<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Instead of choosing cotton and synthetic fabrics, try sustainable ones:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul>\n<li>Hemp<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Linen<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Wild Silk<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Lyocell<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>Each of these needs much fewer resources to grow in large amounts. They also don\u2019t need the pesticides and other chemicals typically used in the fast fashion industry.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>That being said, they\u2019re more of a niche area than a mainstream one. As awareness grows about the risks of fast fashion, hopefully the use of these materials will as well.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"buy-classic-designs-that-never-go-out-of-fashion\"><\/span>Buy classic designs that never go out of fashion<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Trendy consumers often replace their clothing once it\u2019s gone out of style. As fashionable as that seems, it perpetuates fast fashion\u2019s impact on the environment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Doing so helps feed the fast fashion machine. It isn\u2019t the only option, however. There are <a href=\"https:\/\/www.harpersbazaar.com\/uk\/fashion\/what-to-wear\/news\/g37836\/timeless-iconic-fashion-must-haves\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">multiple classic designs<\/a> that shouldn\u2019t go out of style:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/caring-consumer.com\/products\/clothing\/fabrics\/leather\/\">Leather<\/a> Jackets<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Trench Coats<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Jeans<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Wrap Dresses<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>While some of these may be seasonal, keeping them in storage in your home means they can be brought back out at an appropriate time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"how-fast-fashion-destroys-the-environment-wrapping-up\"><\/span>How Fast Fashion Destroys the Environment: Wrapping Up<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Any eco-conscious person will want to have as minimal impact on the planet as possible. That goes beyond taking a bike to work and having a reusable water bottle.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>You need to carefully evaluate your impact. Are you a connoisseur of fast fashion? Fast fashion is an area that few people consider when focusing on climate change and similar issues.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>It hasn\u2019t been recognized as the driver of climate change that it is. Until now.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>What\u2019s more important, that new top that you can get for $8, or protecting the planet?&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Take care of the planet and ensure that it\u2019s here for generations to come. Stop fueling fast fashion and its destruction of the environment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Learn more about sustainable fashion <a href=\"https:\/\/caring-consumer.com\/brands\/fashion\/\">here<\/a> to see how you can help fight against it.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The rapid rise of fast fashion has not only filled the closets of aspiring fashionistas with modern, trendy, and incredibly affordable clothing, but it has also caused incalculable damage to our natural world. Below are the four major ways it impacts our environment, as well as the significant cost to those people who can least afford to suffer the consequences. But before we can stop … <a title=\"Fast Fashion Is Destroying the Environment\" class=\"read-more\" href=\"https:\/\/caring-consumer.com\/products\/clothing\/fast-fashion-environmental-impact\/\" aria-label=\"Read more about Fast Fashion Is Destroying the Environment\">Read More<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":10,"featured_media":0,"parent":118,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"footnotes":""},"featured_image_urls_v2":{"full":"","thumbnail":"","medium":"","medium_large":"","large":"","1536x1536":"","2048x2048":""},"post_excerpt_stackable_v2":"<p>The rapid rise of fast fashion has not only filled the closets of aspiring fashionistas with modern, trendy, and incredibly affordable clothing, but it has also caused incalculable damage to our natural world. Below are the four major ways it impacts our environment, as well as the significant cost to those people who can least afford to suffer the consequences. But before we can stop fast fashion in its tracks, we first need to define what we\u2019re talking about. Table of Contents Toggle What Is Fast Fashion?How Fast Fashion Destroys the Environment: Four Top AreasMicroplasticsEnergy useWater use and pollutionFossil fuels&hellip;<\/p>\n","category_list_v2":"","author_info_v2":{"name":"Jem","url":"https:\/\/caring-consumer.com\/author\/jem\/"},"comments_num_v2":"0 comments","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/caring-consumer.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/5017"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/caring-consumer.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/caring-consumer.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/caring-consumer.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/10"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/caring-consumer.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=5017"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/caring-consumer.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/5017\/revisions"}],"up":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/caring-consumer.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/118"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/caring-consumer.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=5017"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}