Clothing isn’t just a way to look stylish and feel comfortable; it’s also a way to express ourselves. But did you know that the fashion choices you make can also have a significant environmental impact? “Fashion Footprint: Understanding and Reducing Your Clothing’s Impact” will help you understand the effects of your wardrobe so you can make wiser choices for yourself and the planet.
1. What Is a Fashion Footprint?
Fashion footprints are the eco-friendly equivalent of the old concept of carbon footprints. Just as carbon footprints measure the environmental impact of an individual’s or a company’s energy usage on the environment, fashion footprints measure the effect of the fashion industry on the environment.
The fashion industry overall generates an impressive amount of fabric waste and environmental pollution—it accounts for around 8 percent of yearly global carbon emissions. While this number may not seem large in and of itself, when combined with all other emissions a huge negative impact is created.
The fashion footprint measures the effects of:
- The number of clothing items produced annually
- The energy used during the production process
- The amount of water consumed and polluted
- The amount and type of chemicals used
- The number of vegan and unethical materials used
Fashion footprints establish a standard for measurement of the fashion industry’s environmental impact, and then assess which fashion brands are doing the most to reduce them. By measuring the fashion footprint, brands and consumers alike can be held accountable for the decisions they make—from selecting materials to the amount of garments produced.
Various initiatives such as the Sustainable Apparel Coalition and Fashion for Good are working to reduce the fashion industry’s impact on the environment by encouraging brands to adopt more eco-friendly practices. This can include using more sustainable materials, reducing water and energy consumption, and reducing or eliminating as many chemical processes as possible.
2. The Impact of Clothing on the Environment
Clothing has an undeniable impact on our environment. Its production puts a huge strain on ecosystems around the world, consuming both water and energy, and releasing pollutants that can damage the air we breathe and the water we drink.
Water Consumption: The production of an average T-shirt requires over 2,700 liters of water. That’s enough to fill a standard bathtub four times over! Cotton farming alone is heavily water-intensive, as plants require an adequate amount of hydration to survive. In addition, wastewater from dyeing processes are released into local water sources, toxic to fish and other aquatic life.
Climate Change: Most fabrics used by the fashion industry today are petroleum-based, manufactured through an intensive chemical process. This process emits large quantities of carbon dioxide and nitrogen oxide, two major contributors to climate change. On top of that, synthetic fibers take over 400 years to decompose, giving us further reason to worry about their presence in landfills.
Solutions: Fortunately, there are easy ways to make more responsible clothing choices. Here are a few tips:
- Look for items made of organic and recycled materials
- Support brands that are transparent about their production practices
- Donate old clothes instead of disposing of them
- Choose natural and non-toxic detergents when washing your garments
Making little changes to our wardrobe can go a long way towards preserving our environment. With the right approach, we can still look fashionable while helping to reduce our environmental impact.
3. Lowering Your Clothing’s Carbon Footprint
As a conscious consumer, you’re probably mindful of the carbon footprint of the food you buy and the transportation you use. But you may not realize that your clothing contributes too. Here are a few lifestyles changes you can make to reduce your clothing’s carbon footprint.
Look for Brands That Minimize Environmental Impact
When you buy new clothing, opt for brands that take the environment seriously. Not only might the apparel itself be made of sustainable materials, but the company may also be making a pledge to use only recycled packaging or to lower the amount of water used in the production process. Even the way they ship their merchandise can make a difference, like relying on a freight tracking system to optimize routing.
Repurpose and Repair
Clothing that has lived a long and useful life can be repurposed instead of tossed aside and replaced. For instance, that old college t-shirt can be cut up and sewn into a unique doorstop or a bandana. Taking your own repair kit with you when you travel also helps extend your clothing’s life. You can sew on a button or patch when needed, and with a few minutes’ work, your favorite shirt is as good as new.
Recycle and Donate
When clothing is no longer wearable, there are multiple ways to recycle it. Look for a local collection point to drop off your old items. Many communities also have clothing drives where you can drop off items people in need. Even better, some charities will come right to your door to pick up the items. Finally, look for brands that provide recycling services. Patagonia and H&M are two companies that come to mind that provide this type of service. By recycling, you can keep clothing out of the trash and reduce your carbon footprint.
- Choose brands that prioritize the environment.
- Repurpose and repair when possible.
- Invest in sustainable materials.
- Recycle and donate old items.
Making lifestyle changes such as these can have a big impact on the environment. The best part is that you can get creative with the solutions you come up with. No longer do you have to toss your old clothing in the trash the second a stitch comes undone. You now have the power to become an environmentalist by following a few simple steps.
4. Strategies for Reducing Your Fashion Footprint
Shopping Consciously
One simple way to reduce your fashion footprint is by becoming an informed shopper. Instead of buying whatever strikes your fancy, take the time to research brands that have eco-friendly practices. Shop from those companies that are making an effort to reduce their production of textile waste. Consider investing in high-quality items that will last for years instead of buying a bunch of low-quality items.
Upcycle and Repurpose Clothing
When it comes to reducing your fashion footprint, don’t underestimate the power of upcycling and repurposing clothing. Instead of throwing away your old clothes, experiment with different ways to give them a new life. You can give your old garments a makeover by sewing them into something new and unexpected. Or, you can donate them to charity. Donating your clothes not only helps to reduce the amount of textile waste you produce but it can also be a great way to help those who are in need.
Rent or Buy Second-Hand Clothing
Another great way to reduce your fashion footprint is to rent or buy second-hand clothes. Financially, this is often much more sustainable compared to buying new clothes from a major fast fashion retailer. Thrift shopping also ensures that you are giving someone else’s gently-used clothing a second chance at life. If you’re not keen on rummaging through piles of clothes, there are plenty of online second-hand stores that offer quality garments at a fraction of the price.
Choose Natural Fabrics
Whenever possible, try to opt for fabrics made of natural materials such as organic cotton, linen and hemp. Not only are these fabrics much better for the environment, they’re also more breathable and comfortable. By choosing fabrics like these, you’ll be helping to reduce the amount of synthetic materials like nylon and polyester that are polluting our oceans. Plus, most natural fabrics look and feel better than their synthetic counterparts.
We often take for granted the clothing that we wear and how it can have an outsized impact on the planet. It’s important to take a look at your fashion footprint and make conscious decisions that support sustainable fashion. With the right lifestyle adjustments, we can take important steps to reduce the environmental, social, and economic impact of our clothing choices. It’s time to start being mindful of our fashion footprint and take positive action to build toward a better future, for ourselves and the planet.