"Even Just Reducing Clothes Worn for One Season" ... Small Efforts to Slow Climate Change

Increase in Clothing Production and Consumption Due to Fast Fashion... Environmental Pollution in Production, Distribution, and Disposal Processes
Expansion of Recycled Fashion Clothing Production and Secondhand Trade Also Helps Protect the Environment

[Image source=Pixabay]

[Asia Economy Intern Reporter Lee Gyehwa] The so-called "fast fashion"?characterized by mass production, low prices, designs reflecting the latest trends, and rapid turnover?continues to enjoy steady popularity. However, the entire process of fast fashion production, distribution, and disposal impacts environmental pollution. There is a proposal that simply reducing clothing consumption and wearing purchased clothes longer can help prevent climate change.

The amount of clothing consumption is steadily increasing. Nowadays, consumers tend to think that they buy the most trendy clothes cheaply and wear them for only one season before discarding them. Fast fashion is what encourages this consumption pattern. According to data from the Korea Institute for Industrial Economics and Trade, global clothing production and consumption approximately doubled between 2000 and 2015. Future projections indicate that clothing consumption will increase at an average annual rate of 3.4%, from 62 million tons in 2015 to 102 million tons in 2030. Clothing consumption expenditure is also expected to grow at an average annual rate of 5.7%, from $1.3191 trillion in 2016 to $1.6527 trillion in 2020.

It is no news that environmental problems arise from the large amounts of energy, water, chemicals, and pesticides used in the clothing manufacturing process, resulting in greenhouse gas emissions, water pollution, waste, and marine microplastics. The textile and fashion industry accounts for 6?10% of global greenhouse gas emissions, 20?35% of marine microplastic emissions, and 10?25% of pesticide usage, making it a major source of environmental pollutants.

However, globally, the clothing utilization rate (the average number of times clothes are worn before being discarded) has decreased by 36% compared to 15 years ago. This is analyzed to be because consumers purchase more clothing than they need and quickly discard clothes that are still wearable after use. As clothing utilization rates decline and clothing consumption surges, the amount of clothing waste (discarded clothes) is expected to increase. Global clothing waste is projected to rise from 92 million tons in 2015 to 148 million tons in 2030, growing at an average annual rate of 3.2%.

Due to these impacts, awareness of environmental pollution has heightened amid abnormal climate events such as this summer’s heatwaves and heavy rains, last month’s early typhoon, and recent unseasonal cold spells. Consequently, not only fast fashion brands but also fashion companies are expanding the production of recycled fashion garments using eco-friendly and recycled fibers to fulfill social and ethical responsibilities while minimizing environmental burdens. Recently, the number of companies using eco-friendly methods and materials has increased. Purchasing products from such brands can help these companies grow and indirectly protect the environment.

A better solution is to buy only the clothes you need and reduce consumption. Before buying clothes, check what clothes you currently have and what you actually need. When purchasing new clothes, carefully consider how often you will wear them, and for clothes you no longer wear, it is effective to use secondhand markets or share them with those in need.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.