Textile waste is an increasing global problem with a significant environmental impact. Every year, approximately 92 million tons of textiles are discarded, making the textile industry one of the most polluting sectors in the world. This volume is equivalent to a fully loaded garbage truck being dumped every second. A large portion of textile waste ends up in landfills, particularly in developing countries. Synthetic fibers, such as polyester, do not decompose and can remain in landfills for hundreds of years. Another portion of textiles is incinerated, releasing greenhouse gases and toxic substances into the air.
A significant amount of used clothing and textiles is exported from wealthier nations to developing countries in Africa and Asia. However, many of these garments are unsellable and ultimately end up in local landfills. The largest textile waste dumps are located in developing countries, but wealthy nations such as the USA and EU member states also struggle with textile accumulation in landfills. Only a small fraction of textiles is recycled, as materials are often blends of natural and synthetic fibers, making their recycling more difficult.
Microplastics: Synthetic fibers release microplastics during washing, which end up in the oceans, negatively impacting marine life and human health.
The extremely harmful environmental impact of fast fashion waste is no secret. In addition to being responsible for nearly 10% of global carbon emissions, this industry is also notoriously wasteful, consuming massive amounts of resources and sending millions of pieces of clothing to landfills every day.
Here Are 10 Very Interesting Statistics About Textile Waste.
1. 92 million tons of textile waste are produced annually. Out of 100 billion garments manufactured each year, 92 million tons end up in landfills. If this trend continues, fast fashion waste is projected to rise to 134 million tons annually by the end of the decade.
2. Global emissions from the fashion industry will increase by 50% by 2030.
3. The average American consumer discards 81.5 lbs (37 kg) of clothing annually. This equates to 2,150 garments per second across the country.
4. The number of times a garment is worn has decreased by approximately 36% in the last 15 years. Today, many items are only worn seven to ten times before being discarded, marking a 35%+ decline in just 15 years.
5. The fashion industry is responsible for 20% of global wastewater production. Dyeing and finishing—processes that apply colors and chemicals to fabrics—account for 3% of global CO₂ emissions and more than 20% of worldwide water pollution.
6. It takes 20,000 liters of water to produce one kilogram of cotton. A single T-shirt requires about 2,700 liters of water, enough for one person to drink for 900 days. Additionally, 50 to 60 liters of water are used for a single laundry wash.
7. Every year, $500 billion is lost due to underuse of clothing and the inability to recycle garments. Globally, only 12% of the material used for clothing is recycled
8. Nearly 10% of microplastics released into the ocean each year come from textiles. Clothing is a major source of microplastics, releasing 500,000 tons into the ocean annually, equivalent to the plastic pollution from more than 50 billion plastic bottles.
9. In 2020 alone, 2.6 million tons of returned clothing ended up in U.S. landfills. The majority of clothing returned by consumers to retailers is sent directly to landfills. That same year, 16 million tons of CO₂ emissions were generated from online returns in the U.S., equivalent to the annual emissions of 3.5 million cars.
10. Fast Fashion Brands Are Producing Twice as Much Clothing as in 2000 Fast fashion brands now produce twice the amount of clothing compared to the year 2000. Due to excessive fabric cuts during garment production, a significant amount of material goes to waste, with one study estimating that 15% of the fabric used in clothing production is wasted.
After use, 60% of approximately 150 million garments produced worldwide in 2012 were discarded within a year.
