Textile waste is a huge problem in our world today. But who creates this waste?

There are a few different groups who are responsible for textile waste. The first and  most important is consumers.

Many of us purchase clothes without really thinking about what happens to them when we’re done with them. We might donate them to charity or sell them at a consignment shop, but often they end up in the trash.

The second group who creates textile waste is the fashion industry.

Fashion companies are always churning out new styles, which means a lot of textile waste is produced in the manufacturing process. In addition, clothes that don’t sell are often discarded, adding to this problem.

The third group responsible for textile waste are the governments.

In many countries, there are laws and regulations that require businesses to dispose of clothes and other textile products in a certain way. According to the U.S. government there is an annual average of 25 billion tons of textile waste that goes into the landfills. This is the equivalent of one garbage truck filled with textile waste going into the landfill every second of every day.

Can Textile Waste Be Reduced?

     Fortunately, there are a few things that can be done to reduce textile waste.

First, consumers can be more mindful of the clothes they purchase. We can buy less, and we can try to buy clothes that will last longer. These types of clothing may be more expensive, but they last longer and stay out of the landfills for a longer period of use.

Second, the fashion industry can make a few changes. For example, they can produce less clothing, and they can use sustainable materials. Materials such as cotton, hemp and bamboo are extremely durable, sustainable and will biodegrade, which means they do not cause a problem in the landfill.

Finally, the government can enact policies that would help to reduce textile waste. For example, they could put a ban on landfill sites, or they could offer financial incentives for companies who reduce their textile waste.

What Country Causes the Most Textile Waste?

It’s hard to say which country is responsible for the most textile waste, but it’s safe to say that it’s a problem in many countries.

In terms of absolute numbers, China is the biggest producer of textile waste. However, when you look at the ratio of textile waste to GDP, India is the worst offender.

So, although China is the biggest producer of textile waste, India is responsible for the most waste relative to its economy.  It is also safe to say that the U.S. is guilty of contributing greatly to the textile landfill issue too, as we throw away on average 81.5 pounds of clothing each year.

The fashion industry is responsible for 20% of global wastewater related to the processes in which they dye and finish the fabrics. There are companies, such as Bella Canvas that have worked hard to eliminate this type of ecological damage with great success. It is important to be aware of the companies that are manufacturing responsibly in terms of ecological damage as well as in terms of their use of sustainable materials with to make fabric.  We need to purchase our clothing from these manufacturers making our voices heard with our pocketbooks. Nothing will change if we don’t stop spending our money with the manufacturers who continue to pollute and destroy our planet. Money talks!

Sources: Earth.org; Author: martina.igini[at]earth.org

Fashion Industry Environmental, Waste, and Recycle Statistics

https://fashionunited.com/global-fashion-industry-statistics

http://www.business2community.com/fashion-beauty/30-shocking-figures-facts-global-textile-apparel-industry-01222057#hBWEEKFemo8cCM9Q.97

Forbes – Making Climate Change Fashionable – The Garment Industry Takes on Global Warming

Timo Rissanen, “From 15% to 0: Investigating the creation of fashion without the creation of fabric waste,” Presenter, Kreativ Institut for Design og Teknologi, September 2005.