The hidden costs of fast fashion: Why we must act now
- Tuesday, August 20, 2024
- Posted By The Growth Company
Fast fashion has revolutionised the way we shop, with cheap low-quality clothing easily available on the high street, it’s become a hassle free, convenient and affordable way for nearly everyone to buy the latest trends season after season - revitalising your wardrobe without breaking the bank. However, this comes at a significant cost to the environment, as well as to us as consumers as it poses an ethical dilemma.
Fast fashion is a term used to describe the clothing industry’s constant mass production of clothing, evolving from the traditional two seasons a year, to the current format of up to 52 micro-seasons of the latest trends quickly, and at low prices to replicate the latest fashion trends.
GC is on a journey to become net zero by 2035 and as employees of GC, it’s crucial that we understand the impact of our choices and the steps we can take to reduce waste and our carbon footprint.
Environmental Toll
According to the European Parliament, the fashion industry is estimated to be the cause of 10% of global carbon emissions. More than international flights and maritime shipping combined. Not only this but the extensive use of natural resources including water, energy and oil all adds to the environmental toll.
Did you know it takes 2,700 litres of water to produce one cotton shirt, that is the equivalent of 2.5 years of drinking water for one person!
With clothes no longer made to last and now a disposable item how many of us can say we regularly think before we purchase an item of clothing or throw it away?
When it comes to disposing of clothing Earth.org state that of the 1 billion garments are produced each year, with 92 million tonnes end up in landfills, whilst others are exported to the global south! As consumers of fast-fashion we are partly the reason why so much clothing is produced.
With Zero Waste Week (2-6 September) coming up it’s a great time to think about the circular economy which is based on the principles of 3Rs – reduce, reuse and recycle. This has now evolved to also focus on prevent/avoid, reduce, reuse, repair, recycle and recover.
You can take steps to eliminate waste and pollution whilst making a difference to your carbon footprint.
The Ethical cost
The ethical and social cost of fast fashion is multifaceted, when we buy clothing items, we may not realise the true cost. To sell items at a cheaper price, and drive-up sales, some brands have adopted unethical practices including child and forced labour, worker exploitation, including underpaying, and working long hours (75-hour weeks) and often in unsafe conditions.
How can we make a difference?
As colleagues we can play a vital role in promoting sustainable practices both within our organisation and in our daily life. Here are some steps we can take:
- Mend your clothes: Why not take part in a workshop watch a YouTube video on how to make basic mends to your clothes – you could learn how to fix a broken button, stitch a fallen hem or even fix a hole in your top. Making your clothes more durable and getting more wear out of them. Where you can’t fix minor mends, take them to a tailor or alternation service who will do this for you.
- Swap don't shop: Swap clothes that you no longer wear (in good condition) for something you like the look of via our clothes swaps, this is a free and sustainable way to revamp your wardrobe. Click here to see the locations of our clothes swaps.
- Upcycle or donate: If you can’t make our clothes swaps, why not think of selling your clothes online or donating them to someone else or to a charity.
- Buy second-hand or vintage clothing: Buying second-hand or vintage clothing helps to reduce waste and increase the lifespan of an item.
- Invest in items: Why not invest in staple items, these may be a slightly more expensive upfront cost but they will last years and make for great investment pieces that can be worn in many different ways.
- Support ethical brands: Find and support ethical brands that think about the way they produce clothes, so that the carbon emissions are lower, there are many apps that can help you to do this.
- Rent items: Some companies rent clothes or bags and other fashionable items to consumers for a fee. That way you can wear a great outfit and return it once used. This is great for weddings, and other special occasions when you may not need to wear an expensive again.
- Reuse: Always think about the wear you’ll get out of your clothes before buying them, don’t buy items to only wear once.
- Wash with care: Don’t just chuck your clothes in the washing machine and hope for the best. Read the care label and follow the instructions on how to wash and dry items.
Fast fashion has a profound impact on the planet, but if we learn to understand our contribution to that we can look to reduce our carbon footprint, and this could even lead us to embrace sustainable practices.
At GC, let’s work together to rethink our habits and support a circular economy. Take a look around our Small Changes Big Impact webpage to learn more about what we are doing at GC, when we all make small changes, they lead to a big impact.
Contact us at communicaitons@growthco.uk to discuss this topic further or come along to one of our clothes swaps.