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 harmful to the environment because it produces large amounts of waste, consumes massive amounts of water, and generates pollution through chemical dyes and textile production. The industry relies on producing clothing quickly and cheaply, which encourages overconsumption and leads to millions of tons of textiles being discarded in landfills each year. According to the United Nations Environment Programme, the fashion industry is responsible for about 10% of global carbon emissions and significant water pollution from dyeing processes (unep.org). Additionally, the Ellen MacArthur Foundation reports that less than 1% of clothing is recycled into new clothing, making fast fashion a major contributor to environmental degradation (ellenmacarthurfoundation.org).

Answer 2

This claim has proven to be true. According to Earth.org fast fashion is bad for the environment because it causes excessive water consumption and pollution. Also, it creates massive waste. This claim uses an article with scientists to back their findings. The author of the original source specialize in design and sustainability, so this source can be trusted. The fashion industry is responsible for 8-10% of global carbon emissions, according to Earth.org. This proves the claim to be true, fast fashion is bad for the environment. 

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

Answer 3

The claim that fast fashion is bad for the environment is true. The entire process, from the creation of polyester (plastic) material to the transportation of clothing internationally, uses an exorbitant amount of water and carbon emissions. In a scientific study I found (The carbon footprint of fast fashion consumption and mitigation strategies-a case study of jeans - ScienceDirect), it states that the fast fashion industry generates 10% of all global carbon emissions. A pair of jeans made by a corporation such as SHEIN or Forever 21 generates 2.50 kgCO2e per one wear of the pair, according to the study. While fast fashion companies might claim to be better than others (such as the brand Cider, which advertises itself as the eco-friendly option) the science points to the opposite--all fast fashion companies damage the environment in an extreme capacity. 

Answer 4

https://www.weforum.org/stories/2020/01/fashion-industry-carbon-unsustainable-environment-pollution/ 

Some of these negative impacts of fast fashion on the environment include its contribution of 10% of the world's carbon emissions and its use of water. Then there is the problem of pollution. These clothes go into landfills and cause pollution of the water ecosystem where these materials were made. Therefore, this shows that fast fashion is one of the contributing factors towards the degradation of the environment.

Answer 5

This claim is true, as fast fashion is incredibly harmful to our environment. The original source comes from from an article published by Nature Reviews Earth and Environment which goes into detail about the harms of waste from fast fashion, CO2 emissions and the amount of water used to produce this clothing. Similar to the Nature Reviews Earth and Environment article, one by Earth Org goes into detail about the same issues which allowed me to see a trend in the reliability of this claim. 

Source:

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

Answer 6

Fast fashion increases waste, pollution, and emissions because clothing is produced quickly, used briefly, and thrown away. This claim is broad, but it’s supported by consistent evidence across many credible sources.

Answer 7

After reading the post and reviewing sources, I can say that this claim is true. Fast fashion relies on manufacturing, frequent consumption, and garments with short lifespan. Materials such as polyester also known as plastic or fossil fuel doesn't decompose. Due to the shorter lifespan, it usually ends up in the landfill or waterways. Impacts of the fashion industry includes 92 million of waste produced per year and 79 trillion litters of water consumed.

Links I used:

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

https://sustain.ucla.edu/2024/02/16/the-fast-fashion-epidemic/

Answer 8

The claim of fast fashion being bad for the environment is true. According to Earth.org and business insider, “fashion production comprises 10% of total global carbon emissions, as much as the emissions generated by the European Union. The industry dries up water resources and pollutes rivers and streams, while 85% of all textiles go to dumps each year.” Fast fashion is hurting the environment by how much water they consume, how much energy it takes, and how much microplastic they use to make any sort of clothing. Fast fashion/clothing is generates about 82 tons of waste per year. These companies are using low cost materials to profit off of people, all while hurting our environment. Because of the poor material being used like polyester, these clothes are not holding up as long they should and end up in landfills and or waterways. 

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

https://www.businessinsider.com/fast-fashion-environmental-impact-pollution-emissions-waste-water-2019-10 

Answer 9

The claim is true itself, fast fashion is bad for the environment. There are many reasons why fast fashion is bad. Not including the reason for over consumption etc. It is also because of the workers. They are conducting a cycle of exploitation of workers, including enduring long hours, lack job security, face exploitation, and earn shockingly low wages ( some even work for free). A study shows “Research from the Clean Clothes Campaign showed that in 2014, 85% of the top 20 clothing brands said wages should meet workers' basic needs, but in 2019 the same brands could not prove any garment workers were being paid a living wage”(Wild life). They are also living in hazardous working conditions, while also making only women work often called gender-based discrimination. The same article also talks about the problem it has on our ecosystem. Especially our aquatic ecosystem,  microplastic pollution, from synthetic fibers, and polyester is what harms it terribly. So I believe that this is very true and should be stopped. 

https://www.wildlifeandwelfare.org/news-blog/fast-fashion?gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=22913788547&gbraid=0AAAAAo4wE3Ww8sZ8coiqjdCox3xZLRChE&gclid=Cj0KCQiAnJHMBhDAARIsABr7b86oEHZ_wjLAoKfNfbVJo3RttK60tsdDXsA4T1B_pkEHgOi9sEMWE9caAiuSEALw_wcB

Answer 10

Fast fashion is very bad for the enviroment this is due to its links to heavy water use, high emissions and massive waste. The production of cheap clothes uses a massive amount of water. THis is becasue the use of cotton in most clothing items and cotton is a crop that requires massive amount of water in order to grow. Furthermore, with trends and styles chaning so fast all of the clothes from the last trend usually goes to waste in order to mkae room for the new style.

According to the UN enviromental programs the fashion industry alone accounts for about 8-10% of total global emissions each year.