# Worn Out: The Climate Toll of Fast Fashion, Overconsumption, and Textile Waste

Aliki Dimitropoulou

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Aliki Dimitropoulou. Worn Out: The Climate Toll of Fast Fashion, Overconsumption, and Textile Waste. Climate change in Cyprus and societal impact from past to present, High-resolution paleoclima- mate records & Social vulnerability for the last Millennium in Cyprus; Agence Reserche; CNRS, May 2025, Nicosia, Cyprus. *hal-05065498*

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Submitted on 13 May 2025

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# Worn Out:
The Climate Toll of Fast Fashion, Overconsumption, and Textile Waste

Alice Dimitropoulou - Department of Life Sciences – Human Biology - University of Nicosia

## Introduction

With the rise of social media in the past few years, clothing has become much more than a plain necessity for garments or desire for creative expression. Historically, fashion has always come in waves, with certain pieces always going “in and out of style”. However, the mere swiftness of the establishing and overcoming of trends in the present day is one of the main factors that contribute to the scourge that is *Fast Fashion*. This phenomenon causes a combination of overconsumption and immense waste, both on the side of the consumer and the fashion companies. For this reason, the fashion industry is a significant but often overlooked contributor to climate change. Its reliance on synthetic fabrics and microplastic materials, as well as its use of water-intensive cotton growing methods and dyeing processes, largely degrades ecosystems.

But the pollution doesn't end once the product is made. If it is not sold, it finds its way to a landfill, and if it is sold, once it is no longer appealing to the consumer, it gets disposed irresponsibly and meets the same fate. This poster follows the path of a garment, from the very collection/synthesis of its materials to its sale and disposal, exposing the real toll of a single piece of clothing to the environment. Through this journey, it becomes evident that it is crucial for companies to be imposed on stricter sustainability policies, but also for the consumer to buy sensibly, embrace circular fashion models, and be aware of their personal impact on the planet.

## What is Fast Fashion?

The term refers to cheaply produced and priced garments which are rapidly designed, produced, distributed and marketed. The term was first coined by The New York Times at the beginning of the 1990s, when Zara landed in New York, to describe its mission to allow garments to go from the design stage to being sold in stores in just 15 days.

Fast fashion has a significant environmental impact. According to the UN Environment Programme, the industry is the second-biggest consumer of water and is responsible for about 10% of global carbon emissions – more than all international flights and maritime shipping combined. Unfortunately, the industry's problems are often overlooked by consumers.

## Statistics & Infographics

### Carbon Emissions

The fashion industry is responsible for **10% of global carbon emissions**, a carbon footprint equal to that of the entire European Union. The UN Framework Convention on Climate Change predicts that emissions from textile manufacturing could **rise by 60% by 2030**.

Even the dyeing and finishing of clothes is a major culprit, responsible for **3% of global CO2 emissions**. These energy-intensive processes, powered mostly by fossil fuels, are among the highest contributors to resource depletion across the supply chain.

Much of this carbon output comes not just from production, but also from the returns process. In the U.S. alone, online returns generated **16 million tons of CO2** in 2020, the same impact as **3.5 million cars** driving for a full year. Most returned items are discarded instead of resold because it's cheaper for companies to dump them than reprocess them.

### Water Waste & Pollution

Just one t-shirt takes **2,700 liters of water** to produce, enough to hydrate one person for **900 days**. Washing that shirt later uses an additional **50 to 60 liters per load**.

But water waste isn't the only concern. **Over 20% of global water pollution** comes from dyeing and finishing fabrics, where harsh chemicals are used to create color and texture. These chemicals often end up in rivers and streams, threatening ecosystems and communities downstream.

### Microplastics

The rise of synthetic fabrics like polyester and nylon has created a new wave of pollution: **microplastics**. With every wash and dry cycle, clothes shed microfibers that escape water treatment facilities and enter oceans. An estimated **500,000 tons** of microplastics from textiles reach the ocean each year, the equivalent of **50 billion plastic bottles** worth of pollution.

<figure><img src="image_3.png" /><figcaption>GROWTH OF CLOTHING SALES AND DECLINE IN CLOTHING UTILISATION SINCE 2000</figcaption></figure>

Textile production over the years according to the European Environment Agency (ETC-CE Report 2023/5)

### Textile Waste

Globally, the fashion industry produces **100 billion garments every year**, yet **92 million tons** end up in landfills. That's **one garbage truck of clothing dumped every second**. By 2030, that number could reach **134 million tons annually**. Even worse, only **12%** of clothing materials are recycled. Most garments are made from a blend of natural and synthetic fibers, like cotton, polyester, plastics, and even metals, which makes recycling difficult with current technologies. This means that the majority of clothing we throw away, either ends up rotting in landfills or being incinerated, releasing yet more greenhouse gases.

<figure><img src="image_4.png" /></figure>

Average textile-consumption related environmental consequences per person in EU according to the European Environment Agency

## Land usage & Ecosystem Endangerment

Cotton farming uses about **2.5% of the world's arable land**, roughly **33 million hectares** each year, an area nearly the size of Germany. Despite this relatively small footprint, it accounts for **16% of global insecticide use** and **7% of herbicides**, making it one of the most chemically intensive crops. With around **20 billion cotton garments** produced annually, the environmental toll of cotton farming is significant in terms of land, water, and pesticide use.

Leather is another problematic material in the fashion supply chain. Its production requires **large amounts of feed, land, water, and fossil fuels** to raise livestock.

But the environmental harm doesn't end there. The **tanning process** used to turn animal hides into leather involves **toxic chemicals** like formaldehyde, mineral salts, coal-tar derivatives, and synthetic dyes which are **non-biodegradable**, pollute surrounding **water sources**, posing a serious environmental and health risk.

Turning plastic-based fibers into wearable textiles is also an **energy-intensive** process fueled by **petroleum**, and it emits harmful substances such as **volatile particulate matter** and corrosive acids like **hydrogen chloride**. Even **natural fibers like cotton** are not exempt from criticism: cotton farming relies heavily on **pesticides**, which can pose **serious health risks** to the farmers who handle them.

## How do we “stitch-up” this crisis?

In this crisis, **governments** must play the strongest role. While some, like the UK, have fallen short, with ministers rejecting a parliamentary report addressing fast fashion's environmental toll, others are stepping up. French President Emmanuel Macron, for example, has forged a pact with 150 brands, committing them to more sustainable practices. On the global stage, **organizations** are pushing for change. The **United Nations** has launched the Alliance for Sustainable Fashion, aiming to stop the socially and environmentally harmful practices within the industry. Meanwhile, the **World Resources Institute** urges companies to rethink their business models by designing for reuse, extending the life of clothing.

The most effective advice for individually reducing fashion's environmental footprint is simple: **less is more**. By choosing to buy fewer, better-quality items and extending the life of our clothes, we can all make a difference. Consumers are already making shifts, with many turning to secondhand options like thrift and vintage shops. These alternatives not only reduce waste but also help slow down the relentless cycle of production and consumption.

## Resources

1. Maiti R. Fast fashion: Its detrimental effect on the environment [Internet]. 2025 [cited 2025 Apr 16]. Available from: https://earth.org/fast-fashions-detrimental-effect-on-the-environment/

2. Mulhern O. The 10 essential fast fashion statistics. Earth.Org; 2024 [cited 2025 Apr 16]. Available from: https://earth.org/fast-fashion-statistics/

3. Fashion waste statistics & trends for 2025. Waste Direct; 2025 [cited 2025 Apr 16]. Available from: https://wastedirect.co.uk/blog/fashion-waste-statistics/

4. The impact of textile production and waste on the environment (infographics): Topics: European parliament. European Parliament; 2024 [cited 2025 Apr 16]. Available from: https://www.europarl.europa.eu/topics/en/article/20201208STO93327/the-impact-of-textile-production-and-waste-on-the-environment-infographics