Clothing waste is one of the biggest contributors to the climate change crisis, only second to the oil industry. Annually, the fashion industry creates 92 million tons of textile waste, and 85% of textiles that are thrown away end up in landfills.
The average American throws away about 81 pounds of clothing per year, and 60% of this clothing is not recyclable. Many clothes are made with synthetic fibers made from crude oil, making them impossible to reuse. When these clothes are burned after they are thrown out, they release harmful plastic fumes into the atmosphere. Most of the clothing waste comes from manufacturers themselves, about 13 million tons each year. Manufacturers overproduce the supply of clothing by about 30-40% each season, meaning that retailers become overstocked and throw away the excess to landfills. Plastic fibers in clothing also contribute to microplastics in our oceans, harming marine life. Fast fashion has caused retailers to produce clothes as quickly as possible so that shoppers can buy them when they’re trendy, then discard them as soon as they are out of fashion. This leads to a cycle of overproduction and consumption that damages our environment. Though donating clothes may seem like a solution, about 25% of this clothing goes to the landfill, while an additional 40-50% is exported to the global secondhand clothing trade in third world countries, where it ends up in landfills anyway. Luxury fashion brands are to blame as well. Brands such as Burberry and Louis Vuitton have been exposed for burning and destroying unsold stock. Some efforts that brands can make to reduce waste include using recycled materials, reselling second hand products, or minimizing blends of fibers. Additionally, consumers can support a circular economy by shopping secondhand, renting clothing, and supporting ethical fashion.