"People in the U.S. throw away at least 17 million tons of textiles every yearabout 100 pounds of clothing per person. At the same time, unsold blouses, jackets, and other fashion-industry leftovers end up in dumps such as the one in Chile's Atacama Desert, so vast as to be visible from space. Many of these items are fast fashionmade quickly, sold cheaply, and in style for too short a time because the industry relies on novelty to keep consumers buying."
"Fashion poses more than an aesthetic problem, however. Every year the global garment industry emits up to 10 percent of the world's greenhouse gas output and uses enough water to fill at least 37 million Olympic-size swimming pools, as an article in this magazine noted this past July. Cotton farming can involve massive quantities of pesticides, and yarn dyeing pollutes waterways with toxic chemicals. Synthetic polymers such as nylon are made with fossil fuels and shed microfibers with every wash."
People in the U.S. discard at least 17 million tons of textiles annually, roughly 100 pounds of clothing per person. Unsold garments and industry leftovers accumulate in massive dumps, including sites visible from space. Fast fashion produces clothing quickly, cheaply, and with short lifespans, driving overproduction and waste. The global garment industry contributes up to 10 percent of greenhouse-gas emissions and consumes water equivalent to at least 37 million Olympic-size swimming pools. Cotton farming uses large quantities of pesticides, dyeing releases toxic chemicals into waterways, and synthetic fibers from fossil fuels shed microfibers. Embracing a circular economy with reuse, recycling, and low-impact materials can reduce these harms, and consumer choices influence demand and environmental outcomes.
Read at www.scientificamerican.com
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