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Sustainability

Now, Throughout this blog, we have talked about how fast fashion can influence the environment in a multitude of negative ways. From the effects that the manufacturing model has on the ocean to how it contributes to climate change. Fast fashion can seem a bit daunting due to how popular it is among major companies, however, there are ways an individual can consume fashion products without partaking in the cycle of unsustainability. Shopping in more sustainable ways can help lower emissions rates, even if it just starts with a single person. 

Sustainability in terms of shopping refers to the longevity a product has or the materials a product is made out of. There are many ways to shop sustainably. For instance, reading the materials that a garment is made of. Not to mention, shopping second-hand is also sustainable. Furthermore, consuming products more sustainably is important, but that is only one solution to this much larger problem. In order to truly be able to mitigate the problems created by fast fashion, both consumers and companies have to work together. 

Companies have the ability to turn fast fashion into slow fashion. Slow fashion refers to the fashion model that is produced more ethically and at a slower rate. While you might think that the reality of companies working toward sustainability is slim, think again. More and more companies are reevaluating their sustainability policies. Why? Well, with the outreach of social media individuals are understanding just how bad certain manufacturing models are for the environment. 

Refrences:

Hill, Madeleine. “What Is Slow Fashion?” Good On You, 3 July 2023, goodonyou.eco/what-is-slow-fashion/. Accessed 05 Dec. 2024.

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The Change Happening in Fashion: Climate Change

Constantly changing trends are not the only thing that fast fashion produces. The production of clothing through the use of the fast fashion model produces massive amounts of greenhouse gases. Now, you may be wondering what greenhouse gases actually are. Greenhouse gases are gases in the earth's atmosphere that absorb the heat that the earth emits, trapping it inside the atmosphere. The gases that are trapped within our atmosphere aid in the heating up of our planet. This warming up of our planet helps create climate change. 

Common greenhouse gases that are found within our atmosphere include carbon dioxide, methane, and nitrous oxide. The conditions in which fast fashion is produced are not ethical in the slightest, at least not from an environmental science standpoint. The never-ending usage of energy that is used to produce garments at a fast pace is the main reason that the amount of emissions this manufacturing model emits is so large. For instance, energy is used to wash, dye, and actually create all the clothing that will eventually be sold.

According to the UN in 2018, the fashion industry was estimated to be 8-10% responsible for the world's greenhouse gas emissions. Furthermore, the production of these garments isn’t the only contributing factor to the greenhouse gas emissions percentage. There are other variables used by fast fashion companies that are considered. Some other variables include the transportation and shipping of the garments. Overall, the constant production of these greenhouse gases is a threat to the environment. 

Refrences:

“UN Alliance Aims to Put Fashion on Path to Sustainability.” UNECE, 12 July 2018, unece.org/forestry/press/un-alliance-aims-put-fashion-path-sustainability. Accessed 05 Dec. 2024.

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The Brands Behind Fast Fashion

There are a multitude of brands that partake in the production model of fast fashion. With the ability to create garments quickly at a cheap price, companies don’t seem to mind how they are affecting our environment. But, who are these brands? Some major fast fashion brands that you can find at your local mall include H&M, Zara, and even Forever 21. All of these brands are known for their more reasonable prices and trendy pieces. However, both of these qualities come at a much greater sacrifice than affordability and style.

In recent years, fast fashion companies have been under major scrutiny. This scrutiny has been both legal and social. As more and more people have become aware of just how bad the practices regarding fast fashion are, the want and need for change has become popular. Furthermore, companies are aware of just how bad these practices look for them, and some have turned to lying to avoid being questioned. For instance, in 2022 the company H&M was accused of “greenwashing”. Greenwashing refers to the practice of misleading consumers into believing a company is environmentally friendly.

The greenwashing allegations hit H&M due to the company providing tags on their clothing stating that it had been used with recycled materials. The tags on the clothing implied that the actual clothing itself was produced with recycled materials, however, it turns out that the items that were actually made with recycled materials were the clothing tags themselves. So, intentional or not, consumers bought clothing from H&M thinking that they were more sustainable than they actually were. 

References: 

Shendruk, Amanda. “USA: H&M Faces ‘greenwashing’ Class-Action Lawsuit over Alleged Misleading & False Marketing of ‘Sustainable’ Clothing Line.” Business & Human Rights Resource Centre, 4 Sept. 2022, www.business-humanrights.org/en/latest-news/usa-hm-faces-greenwashing-class-action-lawsuit-over-alleged-misleading-false-marketing-of-sustainable-clothing-line/. Accessed 04 Dec. 2024.

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The Role of Microplastics

The synthetic fabrics found throughout the fast fashion space are one of the main reasons why the environment is so negatively affected by this manufacturing model. Through past posts on this blog, we have discussed how these materials are not easily biodegradable. To refresh your memory, some commonly used fabrics produced in fast fashion include nylon, acrylic, and polyester. All of these materials can be considered to be made up of plastic. Throughout the lifespan of these plastic-made fabrics, microplastics are produced and often pollute the surrounding environment.

Microplastics are exactly what they sound like. Microplastics are small pieces of plastic that usually have broken off from larger items. Now, how might these micro pieces of plastic truly affect us and our environment? Well due to the small size of these plastics, they often end up in places where they should not be. Not to mention, how easy it is for them to be created. In the article, “Are Microplastics Harmful And How Can We Avoid Them?”, the author states, “Today, there are 500 times more microplastics in the world than stars in our galaxy, a clear sign that the plastic pollution epidemic has spun out of control. “(Igini).

The production of plastic fabrics by fast-fashion companies enters our ecosystem at a rapid pace, further creating the constant need to wash these garments and resulting in microplastics making their way into our water systems. Most notably, microplastics are usually found polluting our oceans and affecting wildlife. Furthermore, the usage of synthetic fabrics just is not sustainable in the long run.

Works Cited:

Igini, Martina. “Are Microplastics Harmful and Can We Avoid Them?” Earth.Org, 21 Apr. 2022, earth.org/are-microplastics-harmful/. Accessed 04 Dec. 2024.

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Disposable Culture

Constantly consuming products manufactured through the fast fashion model has impacted the environment negatively. One of the main reasons behind the purpose of fast fashion is to produce clothing that is trending before it inevitably dies out. More recently, trend cycles have seemingly become shorter and shorter. Not to mention, consumers often or not look for ways to buy what's popular for a fraction of the price. So, pumping out trendy clothing fast and at a cheap price has become an ideal business model. In order to meet these demands, companies have succumbed to the unethical process of fast fashion.

Companies that are in the habit of using the model of fast fashion often produce an excess of clothing. The amount of clothing that is produced causes the quality of the product to be rather lackluster. The types of materials that are often used are cheap and are not very durable, meaning they can tear or break quickly. However, due to the pressure the media creates surrounding trends, consumers often disregard the importance of quality. 

The overconsumption and overproduction of these garments produce copious amounts of waste. The amount of waste from fast fashion companies fill up landfills. In 2018, EPA estimated that the amount of textiles that are produced and that end up in landfills is somewhere around 17 million tons. Due to the poor quality of the clothing, the garments can not degrade naturally. So, the garments often just sit in the landfills releasing toxic chemicals into the environment.

Refrences:

“Textiles: Material-Specific Data .” EPA, Environmental Protection Agency, www.epa.gov/facts-and-figures-about-materials-waste-and-recycling/textiles-material-specific-data. Accessed 03 Dec. 2024.

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Usage of Water in Fast Fashion

Water plays a major role in the manufacturing of clothing. Fast fashion produces a large amount of materials within a very short time, allowing water to be wasted due to water consumption and pollution. In the article, Clothed in Conservation: Fashion & Water, the author states “The fashion industry is the second most water-intensive industry in the world [1], consuming around 79 billion cubic meters of water per year [2].”(Taylor Mogavero).

Water is used in many different ways when it comes to fast fashion. For instance, water is used in preparing fabrics, and the process of dyeing clothes. The preparation of fabrics refers to the actions of getting fabrics ready to be cut and sewn into garments that are going to be sold to consumers. Fabrics are made of many different materials, furthermore, the materials used in clothing include both synthetic and natural fibers. However, in fast fashion, the most common textiles used are synthetic due to the ability to produce them for cheap. So, textiles including polyester, nylon, and acrylic are mostly seen.

The process of dyeing clothes is another way water is used in the fast fashion industry. This process refers to the usage of artificial dyes that are mixed with water in order to color clothing. The constant demand that is put on companies to produce clothing also affects the way clothing is dyed. The rate at which clothing is dyed creates a lot of water pollution that often finds its way into natural water systems, like lakes.

Works Cited:

Mogavero, Taylor. “Clothed in Conservation: Fashion & Water.” Clothed in Conservation: Fashion & Water | Sustainable Campus, 6 Apr. 2020, sustainablecampus.fsu.edu/blog/clothed-conservation-fashion-water. Accessed 03 Dec. 2024.

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What is Fast Fashion?

Fast fashion is a growing production model within the fashion industry that prioritizes speed and low costs, often creating a mass production of unneeded or unwanted clothing. The goal of this trendy business model can usually be defined as a way for companies to quickly produce and sell clothing items to keep up with what is popular in the media. From an outside perspective, the idea behind this model can seem effective and profitable. However, the impact created does not only include financial benefits.

The way that fast fashion is produced isn’t ethical in the slightest. The constant need and demand for new styles by consumers means that materials used in garments are often overproduced. Producing and dyeing materials, like polyester, tend to contribute to different forms of pollution. Textile production is one of the largest polluters in the world. The process of producing textiles often involves the usage of harmful pollutants and chemicals that leak into our environment. Not to mention, that most materials that are created through the fast fashion model tend to have a hard time breaking down naturally. The absence of these clothes being able to break down just allows for waste to continue to constantly pile up in landfills.

Furthermore, there are ways to consume fashion more sustainably. Through this blog, we will explore the different aspects of fast fashion and its effects on our environment. This exploration will be through the lens of science, and getting down to what we can do as individuals to help our environment out.

References:

Maiti, Rashmila. “Fast Fashion: Its Detrimental Effect on the Environment.” Earth.Org, 5 Jan. 2024, earth.org/fast-fashions-detrimental-effect-on-the-environment/. Accessed 02 Dec. 2024.