On February 19th, the President of Climate Council of Greater Kansas City, Bob Grove, presented an event at the Kansas City Central Library about Fast Fashion and the environmental impact of what we wear. Fast Fashion is the term used to describe new clothing trends that quickly move into stores multiple times in one week. The rapid increase and mass production of fashion inclines consumers to buy more which causes previous clothing to become “out of style” and irrelevant. This continuous cycle means older clothing is getting thrown in the trash and the environment is suffering the consequences. Fashion is now one of those most polluting industries in the world.
Industries that manufacture and produce consumer goods such as textiles, make up 21% of global greenhouse gas emissions. Cheap textiles like Polyester, a material that most clothes are now made of, requires large amounts of fossil fuels for manufacturing. Additionally, clothing materials such as Polyester, Nylon, and Acrylic, are made of synthetic plastic fibers. When these materials are washed, the microfibers break-up and are released all over the world, especially in our oceans. Another area that is significantly impacted by the fashion industry is our landfills. The United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) estimates that the average American throws away 81 pounds of clothing each year and it is ending up in our landfills. Even if you think you are doing a good deed by donating or recycling clothes, only 20% are reused or recycled (McCarthy, 2018). The number of problems that Fast Fashion causes are endless. Fortunately, there are solutions.
A major solution to our shopping habits is to be conscious and mindful. Think of the long-term as opposed to the short-term fashion view. An article of clothing that has great quality and durability is going to hold more permanence in your closet than something that can easily be discarded. Educate yourself on the connection between textiles and the environmental impact. Choose sustainable textiles such as Linen, Hemp, and Organic Cotton and avoid the synthetics (Polyester, Acrylic, Nylon, etc.). Most importantly, avoid fast fashion brands and shop secondhand at thrift stores or even swap clothing with friends and family. The less we choose to consume, the healthier our planet will be.
For more information, visit www.ClimateGKC.org and sign up for the Climate Digest, a weekly email digest of local climate events and news.
https://www.epa.gov/sites/production/files/2016-11/documents/2014_smmfactsheet_508.pdf
