Hello dear readers!
Today’s post will focus on textile waste and pollution. Even though the UN has emphasised the need for “sustainable consumption and production” (SDG 12), many corporations have found ways to circumvent environmental laws, offshoring their production to developing nations, where laws are not strictly enforced.
The shift of garment and textiles industries to developing countries has allowed fast fashion to prosper. With low cost and low wages, mass production is easier than ever. Low and middle-income countries (LMICs) provide 90% of the clothes we wear, yet they suffer with poor working conditions and occupational hazards. The low cost of clothing has resulted in an increase of textile pollution. With the immense volume of clothes being produced today, consumers are enabled to purchase even more, resulting in more clothes being donated or disposed. As a result, 5% of global landfills are taken up by textile waste!
Where do our donated clothes go? More often than not, they are exported to be sold in developing countries, where if they are still unsold, become solid waste in landfills or rivers. This unsustainable cycle creates waste that impacts LMICs and their quality of life. Corporations must be responsible for the amount they produce, and must be held accountable for where they products end up. Such solid waste pose even more problems for these nations, as they do not possess the resources for a sustainable municipal waste system.
Textile waste is not simply solid waste with no other negative impacts apart from its physical presence. Clothing can leech harmful dyes and chemicals. This is because the chemicals used are often synthetic and thus not easily biodegradable. This degrades the quality of water and soil of LMICs, oftentimes polluting water bodies that they depend on for daily needs such as drinking and cleaning.
COVID-19 has greatly affected the fashion industry. Many companies are suffering with unsold merchandise due to the excess of supply but decreasing demand. Brands are resorting to large discounts, although some luxury brands are concerned about looking desperate for sales. I believe that brands should take a step back and reflect on the amount they produce. The convenience and low cost of mass production should not be a reason to produce an exorbitant volume of supply.
♡, Qystina
Sources:
Aiswariya, S., & Jaisri, J. (2020). Harmful effects of textile waste. Fibre2Fashion. Retrieved September 1, 2020, from Available at: https://www.fibre2fashion.com/industry-article/8696/harmful-effects-of-textile-waste
Bick, R., Halsey, E., Ekenga, C. C., (2018) ‘The global environmental injustice of fast fashion’, Environmental Health, 17(92), 1-4.
Cook, G. (2020). What will happen to all the unsold clothes? Financial Times. Retrieved September 1, 2020, from https://www.ft.com/content/f030f125-0a15-4097-bb5f-4b0543544ec3