Rapid Apparel Production and Its Effect on Health, Emitted Through Pollution
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In the late 20th century, fast fashion emerged as a global phenomenon, driven by advancements in technology and globalization. This trendy, affordable clothing industry has since become a mainstay in modern retail, with new collections hitting stores weekly or even daily. However, the environmental and health impacts of fast fashion are becoming increasingly concerning.
Fast fashion's business model relies on high-volume manufacturing, outsourced production to countries with cheap labor, and the use of synthetic fibers like polyester, which constitute nearly 70% of clothing. This approach results in significant carbon emissions (about 2-8% of global emissions), extreme water use (93 billion cubic meters annually), vast textile waste (92 million tons landfilled or incinerated yearly), and chemical pollution affecting water and ecosystems.
The reliance on synthetic fibers worsens microplastic pollution, releasing millions of microfibers into oceans and the food chain annually. Resource-intensive cotton cultivation depletes fresh water supplies. These environmental damages contribute to climate change, biodiversity loss, and contamination of water bodies.
The health impacts of fast fashion are particularly severe for garment workers and nearby communities. Fast fashion prioritizes cost over safety, exposing workers to hazardous substances like formaldehyde and azo dyes, which are linked to respiratory issues, skin diseases, and cancer. Consumers may also face risks from exposure to residual toxins on clothes.
To mitigate these issues, both consumers and brands can take action. Consumers can shift towards sustainable consumption by buying fewer, higher-quality garments, embracing secondhand or upcycled fashion, increasing demand for transparency and eco-friendly practices, and supporting brands with clear commitments to reducing emissions and safer chemical use.
Brands are increasingly setting specific climate goals, investing in renewable energy and energy-efficient manufacturing, transitioning suppliers to renewable energy, using low-impact, regenerative materials, reducing reliance on virgin polyester, and scaling recycled fiber use. By providing transparency about supply chains and environmental impacts, brands can build trust with consumers and drive industry reform.
Governments can enforce stricter regulations on textile waste, chemical usage, and worker safety, and incentivize sustainable practices. They can also impose penalties for violations to drive industry reform.
Embracing sustainability and mindful consumption can shift the fashion industry towards one that respects both humanity and nature. Second-hand shopping, repairing and repurposing damaged clothes, and a minimalist wardrobe, investing in timeless, versatile pieces, are consumer solutions to fast fashion.
The future of fashion lies in a more circular, sustainable economy. With consumer awareness, government policies, and social media influence, the negative footprint of fast fashion can be significantly reduced, promoting a healthier planet and a fairer industry for all.
References:
[1] Ellen MacArthur Foundation. (2021). A new textiles economy: Redesigning fashion's future. Retrieved from https://www.ellenmacarthurfoundation.org/publications/a-new-textiles-economy-2021
[2] United Nations Environment Programme. (2017). A new circular economy vision for textiles. Retrieved from https://wedocs.unep.org/bitstream/handle/20.500.11822/23346/Circular-Economy-Textiles-2017.pdf
[3] World Resources Institute. (2020). The circular economy in fashion: A guide to making it work. Retrieved from https://www.wri.org/publication/circular-economy-fashion-guide
[4] Greenpeace. (2016). Detox: Making fashion circular. Retrieved from https://www.greenpeace.org/international/publication/3849/detox-making-fashion-circular
[5] World Health Organization. (2020). Microplastics in the environment: A global assessment. Retrieved from https://www.who.int/publications/i/item/9789240036206
- Adopting a health-and-wellness lifestyle that includes mindful consumption can bring about a shift in the fashion industry, moving it towards environmental-science practices and a more circular economy.
- Health concerns for garment workers and nearby communities stem from fast fashion's priority of cost over safety, which often leads to exposure to hazardous substances like formaldehyde and azo dyes, potentially causing respiratory issues, skin diseases, and cancer.
- The environmental impacts of fast fashion, such as carbon emissions, extreme water usage, textile waste, chemical pollution, and microplastic pollution, are intertwined with global challenges like climate-change, biodiversity loss, and contamination of water bodies.
- Lifestyle changes such as buying fewer, higher-quality garments, embracing second-hand or upcycled fashion, and supporting brands committed to reducing emissions and safer chemical use can help combat the negative effects of fast fashion on both the environment and mental-health.
- Science increasingly informs the fashion industry's efforts to become more sustainable, with brands investing in renewable energy, energy-efficient manufacturing, low-impact materials, and scaling recycled fiber use, ultimately promoting a healthier planet and a fairer industry for all.
