Fast fashion is bad for the environment

Question

The fast fashion chain is directly linked to environmental pollution due to the use of material and immediate disposal. The extensive resource extraction is also a definitive issue. A huge issue with fast fashion is the massive use of water and the waste water that particularly is used with the making of textiles. The industry produces 92 million tonnes of waste a year. And beyond just waste water, the industry also has a huge impact on CO2 emissions. 

https://www.nature.com/articles/s43017-020-0039-9

Answer 1

Fast fashion is bad for the environment so this claim is true. According to Earth.org, "The environmental impact of fast fashion comprises the depletion of non-renewable resources, emission of greenhouse gases and the use of massive amounts of water and energy." Fast fashion takes up an abundant amount of resources, which depletes us from them. It also uses a large about of microplastics, which takes a very long time to biodegrade, making the waste in our environment pile up. 

Answer 2

The original article that this user is using evidence for is correct, and is written by professors and researchers. The fact “ Impacts from the fashion industry include over 92 million tonnes of waste produced per year and 79 trillion litres of water consumed” is consistent over many sites, including this article https://earth.org/statistics-about-fast-fashion-waste/ . this claim is true.   

Answer 3

1. This claim is true. They use an academic source to back up their claim and there are many other credible sources that have published data on how fast fashion is bad for the environment.
2. https://www.nature.com/articles/s43017-020-0039-9 This is a peer reviewed journal that uses facts, and sites where they got their information from. They report that 92 million tons of waste is produced annually from the textile industry. https://earth.org/fast-fashions-detrimental-effect-on-the-environment/ Reports that 10% of global carbon emissions are caused by the fast fashion industry which is as much as the European Union produces. This source also explains that the fast fashion industry dries up and pollutes rivers.
3. There are not a lot of secondary sources as most information comes from scientific journals or organizations that did their own research. https://rfkhumanrights.org/lesson/fashion-and-consumption/?gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=21540753053&gbraid=0AAAAACo13VJREbiOZG5t5OV4IfTaGEzfU&gclid=CjwKCAiA1obMBhAbEiwAsUBbIn7n7BRX_OKTHIHPZvDAPTZj2ocWXzBn4EwHoOO_2xo2o1g3BDPv9BoCn7wQAvD_BwE this is from a humans rights organization that pushes information and asks for donations. They push similar statistics as the prior website and back it up with links to the scientific journals where they got the information from.
4. These articles are about environmental issues and take a side with nature however they do have facts that are able to back up the claims they include.
5. Both the article the claim came from and the fact checked sources use data and research from notable scientists to confirm their theory.

Answer 4

This claim is true. fast fashion is extremely harmful for the environment. According to an article “UN Helps Fashion Industry Shift to Low Carbon” by the United Nations Climate Change, that the original, “The Environmental Price of Fast Fashion” by Nature Reviews Earth & Environment, referenced the fast fashion industry produced around 20% of global waste water back in 2018 when the article was published. Both article support the statement made in the original claim that the industry produces 92 million tonnes of waste a year, presenting the same numbers with altered phrasing as the UN states, “85% of textiles end up in landfills or are incinerated” and NREE states, “produces vast quantities of textiles waste (>92 million tonnes per year)”.

Sources:

https://www.researchgate.net/publication/340635670_The_environmental_price_of_fast_fashion

https://unfccc.int/news/un-helps-fashion-industry-shift-to-low-carbon

Answer 5

1. Brief overall summary of your findings

The claim that fast fashion is bad for the environment is supported by scientific research. The clothing industry contributes significant waste, water usage, pollution, and greenhouse gas emissions. Peer-reviewed studies, including those published in Nature, demonstrate that fast fashion’s production and disposal processes have measurable negative environmental impacts.

2. Primary sources

Nature article on fashion industry environmental impacts
The Nature article explains how textile production and disposal contribute to environmental damage, including high levels of waste and greenhouse gas emissions. It summarizes research on how resource extraction, manufacturing, and rapid turnover of clothing accelerate pollution.
https://www.nature.com/articles/s43017-020-0039-9

Reports on greenhouse gas emissions from apparel production
Scientific and industry reports show that apparel and textile production are responsible for a significant share of global CO2 emissions, partly due to energy-intensive processing.
https://ourworldindata.org/fashion-industry

3. Secondary sources

Environmental news coverage
Various environmental outlets and reputable news sources report on fast fashion’s environmental harms by citing scientific studies. These articles help explain the broader context of the issue and support the claim that fast fashion negatively affects ecosystems.
(You can include links you found online, but be sure they are credible.)

4. Potential biases or interests

Scientific journals and environmental organizations are focused on environmental impacts and may emphasize negative outcomes. However, the Nature article and related research are peer-reviewed and based on empirical data, which increases credibility.

5. Evidence that supports the claim

The Nature article and scientific reports indicate that fast fashion contributes millions of tonnes of waste each year, requires large amounts of water, and generates carbon emissions. These findings support the claim that the industry harms the environment.

6. Evidence that undermines the claim

Some interventions and regulations are seeking to reduce the fashion industry’s environmental footprint, such as sustainable materials and recycling programs. However, these efforts are not yet widespread enough to counteract the overall environmental burden.

Answer 6

This statement is true, fast fashion is bad for the environment. In this article from the Environmental Innovations Initiative from the University of Pennsylvania. A professor and grad student have a conversation about the discourse behind fast fashion and its environmental impacts. A thing to be weary of is the grad student's being a co-founder of Baleena fashion brand. However, the research and takeaways remain valuable. 

Another convincing source I found comes from the U.S. Government Accountability Office. They discuss textile waste and pollution driven by fast changing fashion. This source confirms many of the concerns raised from the E.I.I. article.

Here is one from Uniform Market that shares fast fashion statistics. Here they say, "The environmental impact of fast fashion is undeniable, with the industry now responsible for 10% of the global annual carbon footprint, which is more than the emissions from all international flights and maritime shipping combined. Beyond carbon emissions, fast fashion consumes vast amounts of natural resources, using 141 billion cubic meters of water annually and contributing to 35% of microplastics polluting our oceans." There are statistics and charts that delve further into exploring the negative effects of fast fashion on the environment. 

Answer 7

Though the statement is fairly vague, the claim that fast fashion is bad for the environment is certainly true. The linked article (nature) speaks about the damage inflicted on the environment due to the water, material, chemical, and energy usage. The article also states that fast fashion brands are now nearly producing twice as much clothing than before the year 2000. Meaning that in 25 short years the manufacturing of clothing has doubled and therefore wildly increase the amount of textile waste and fumes in the atmosphere. Another source (davidsuzuki) tells that the fashion industry is accountable for 10 percent of the world's global emissions, demonstrating how impactful the industry really is. 

Answer 8

This claim is true. Fast fashion relies on cheap, synthetic fabrics and dyes, which use lots of water and chemicals. The industry produces massive waste: 92 million tonnes of clothing discarded annually. It contributes significantly to greenhouse gas emissions (CO2) and water pollution. There are multiple reliable sources with these facts such as the UN, https://www.unep.org/news-and-stories/press-release/unsustainable-fashion-and-textiles-focus-international-day-zero and NGO.

Answer 9

Think of this as your investigation log. Answer each question to explain what you discovered and how you got there.

1. Write a brief overall summary of your findings.
2. What primary sources did you find (e.g., transcripts, videos of politician speeches, tweets from public figures, scientific studies)?Summary of findings: The claim that "fast fashion is bad for the environment" is well-supported by multiple credible sources and is mostly true.

Primary sources consulted:

1. UN Environment Programme (UNEP) reports that the fashion industry produces 8-10% of global carbon emissions (more than aviation and shipping combined) and is the second-largest consumer of water worldwide. Fast fashion specifically drives overproduction and waste.

2. Ellen MacArthur Foundation's 2017 report documents that one garbage truck of textiles is landfilled or incinated every second, with less than 1% of clothing material recycled into new garments. Fast fashion's rapid turnover exacerbates this waste stream.

3. Research published in Nature Reviews Earth & Environment confirms fast fashion contributes to water pollution through dyeing processes, microfiber shedding from synthetic materials, and substantial greenhouse gas emissions from production and transportation.

4. The key mechanisms are: overproduction of cheap garments with short lifespans, high water and chemical use, synthetic fiber pollution, and massive textile waste.

Verdict: The claim is mostly true. Fast fashion demonstrably harms the environment through emissions, waste, water pollution, and resource depletion, as documented by environmental organizations and peer-reviewed research. For each source, write at least one or two sentences explaining what you learned. Include all links.
3. What secondary sources did you find (e.g., newspapers, magazines)? Only use secondary sources if sufficient primary sources are not available. For each source, write at least one or two sentences explaining what you learned. Include all links.
4. What potential biases or interests might each of your sources have?
5. What evidence supports the claim you are fact-checking?
6. What evidence undermines the claim you are fact-checking?
7. What happened when you tried contacting the person or group who made the original claim? (Always try to contact them—it’s okay if you don’t get a reply. For example, if the claim is that the president said something, try reaching out to the administration. If it was a Bluesky user, message that user on Bluesky.)

Answer 10

Based off of my findings, this claim is true. An article from Wild and Welfare describes fast fashion as, "rapid production, low labour costs, and cheap materials to keep up with consumer demand." Beyond this, the true cost of fast fashion comes at the expense of the environment, with negativities like water uses, greenhouse gas emissions, and other harmful toxins. The process of production which includes manufacturing and packaging contribute to a very large amount of greenhouse gas emissions, as well as plastic pollution. Furthermore according to Earth.org, "Fast fashion is the second-biggest consumer of water and responsible for about 10% of global carbon emissions..." further emphasizing the claim that fast fashion is harmful to the environment. Finally, a large resource of fast fashion are microplastics. Davidsuzuki.org describes microplastics as, "...synthetic, non-biodegradable fibers such as nylon, polyester, and acrylic." Microplastics harm aquatic life and ecosystems as well as human health. 

Source List: 

https://www.wildlifeandwelfare.org/news-blog/fast-fashion?gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=22913788547&gbraid=0AAAAAo4wE3Uc1b3eYYavU-kAuWd_4ovwN&gclid=Cj0KCQiAnJHMBhDAARIsABr7b85__HH97qGY9WJXtTRM7viHHxNdNmdjoTD0x8sFnwarYAqHh360yR0aAmwgEALw_wcB

https://earth.org/fast-fashions-detrimental-effect-on-the-environment/

https://davidsuzuki.org/living-green/the-environmental-cost-of-fast-fashion/