Clothing is an essential part of our daily lives, but have you ever stopped considering the environmental impact of your clothes? The fashion industry is one of the largest polluters in the world. The carbon footprint of clothes is a significant portion of the global carbon footprint. There are many ways that sustainable fashion can help the environment. By understanding the impact of our clothing choices on the environment, we can take steps toward a more sustainable and responsible future.
Our Clothes' Carbon Footprint
Determining the fashion industry's carbon footprint is difficult because some disinformation is floating around the business. Yet even if exact figures vary between sources, one thing is certain: the sector has a significant influence.
The worldwide fashion business generated over 2.1 billion metric tons of GHG emissions in 2018. According to the most recent credible estimates, this equals 4% of the global total. Upstream operations like material production, preparation, and processing accounted for around 70% of the emissions produced by the apparel sector. The remaining 30% were related to the usage phase, end-of-use, and downstream retail operations.
In this article, we will explore the carbon footprint of clothes and the factors that contribute to it. We will also discuss reducing our carbon footprint regarding our clothing choices. Once we recognize that we influence citizens and consumers, we can all work together to bring the systemic change required for a healthier planet.
Rekindle your love for your old clothes and reduce the carbon footprint of clothes that way.
1. Welcome the dry air
Reducing your dependency on your dryer is an essential first step. Let the sun and breeze naturally dry your clothing by hanging them outside. Turn colorful goods inside out and delicates inside out to prevent fading.
2. Wear What You Already Have
You can reduce your emissions and cost per wear by just wearing your garments more frequently rather than tossing them away. Rekindle your love for your old clothes. Try accessorizing your current wardrobe with new items, giving them a DIY makeover.
3. Time to Say Goodbye
It's time to consider where your garments will go after they end their useful lives. If your clothing is in decent shape, you can sell or donate it.
Don't worry if you discover that your garments are too worn to sell or donate. They might still be useful in another way. Many shops will accept your used clothing to turn it into industrial rags. Contact your local charity shop to find out if they take damaged clothing.
4. Upcycling
The exact opposite of recycling is upcycling, as the name implies. Upcycling takes abandoned things and repurposes them into new products of a higher worth or quality than the original instead of disassembling an old object into its component materials to subsequently reuse them. According to Vogue, upcycling for sustainability is one of the most significant fashion trends.
For instance, the clothing brand Reformation uses recycled vintage clothing. Likewise, they are using deadstock textiles once destined for landfills and low-impact materials to create their collections.
5. Second-Hand Shopping
Instead of buying brand new things, could you consider another option? Why not browse a nearby charity shop, buy used items online, or steal from a friend's closet? For bargain-hunting fashion enthusiasts who value expertly constructed antique pieces and distinctive pre-owned things, thrift stores are a gold mine.
Instead of buying brand new things, browse a nearby thrift shop.
6. Do the Research
Take a moment to learn about the environmental impact of your favorite companies' products or what they are doing to lower their carbon footprint before you purchase from them actively. If you've discovered unfavorable or inconsistent with your principles, look for a more environmentally friendly substitute or ask yourself, "Do I need this?".
No matter how environmentally friendly a fashion company may be, there's a good chance that articles of clothing have crossed the world at some point and in some form, and each step of the supply chain has an effect on the environment in some way.
By far, the most significant impact is noticed in the shipping process. For example, the carbon footprint of international maritime commerce is comparable to that of a mid-sized country because it only accounts for around 3% of global carbon dioxide emissions. Luckily, there are steps we can take now to achieve zero carbon shipping, and that is possible with the right technology and regulations advancements.
Investing in somewhat more expensive textiles extends garments' lifecycle.
7. Choose Plant-Based Materials
Compared to less expensive materials like nylon and polyester, which are of poor quality and contribute to water contamination, textiles like organic cotton, linen, and hemp last longer with proper care. Somewhat more expensive, higher-quality fabrics extend garments' lifecycle, allowing them to be worn longer. This way, we may reduce the carbon footprint of clothes associated with landfill waste.
On the other hand, our earth may be negatively impacted by the creation of the cloth and the fabric itself. Use cotton as an example. Although plant-based material, typical cotton cultivation uses a lot of pesticides and fertilizers. Additionally, leading to a high carbon footprint. Buying goods made of certified organic cotton is a more sustainable alternative if you're worried about these effects on the global climate and ecosystems. In addition to using less water and energy to grow, certified organic cotton uses more environmentally friendly fertilizing techniques.
Conclusion
Although it is not the only answer, behavior change will go a long way toward addressing the fashion industry's expanding carbon footprint of clothes. Wise, informed decisions are essential to achieving these carbon savings because how, how much, and what we consume have a significant impact. We can keep our clothing selections eco-friendly and sustainable by being conscious of fashion's environmental impact.
