The Dark Side of the Clothing Industry
Written by Moses Yoon
Everyone wears clothes. One could tell a person's personality or status just by a quick glimpse of their clothing. To some, clothes even bring joy. However, do you know the hidden truth behind this mega clothing industry? In this article, I will dive into this industry's not-so-well-known side.
This isn't a widely known fact, but it turns out that the clothing industry contributes to nearly 10% of all global carbon emissions. Not only the carbon emissions, however, but the production of clothes also leaves so much more negatives in our world. To list a few, an unimaginable amount of water is wasted yearly, and a surplus of created waste, leaving a heavy toll on our environment.
Let's begin with the water problem. According to a study by the World Wide Life Organization, it was found that over 1.1 billion people lack access to drinkable water, and nearly 2.7 billion find water scarce for at least one month in a year. This data strongly implies the seriousness of the world's current water problems. Yet, despite the lack of water, the clothing industry continues to pour in and waste water. Water that could have been used to better the lives of millions. Each year, the clothing industry consumes around 93 billion cubic meters of water, sufficient to meet the demands of five million people. Let's use a pair of jeans to illustrate the sheer amount of water used to create clothing.
According to researchers, around 7,600 litres of water is used to produce a single pair of jeans. Not a dozen, or a hundred, but a single pair of jeans. Still not getting an idea of how much water that is? To put in reference, according to the U.S. National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine, a healthy average man and woman, should drink 3.7 L and 2.7 L of water, respectively, summing to a total of approximately 1350 L and 985 L per year. Now comparing that with the amount of water used to produce one single jean, it is clear to ascertain the insane amount of water used.
However, some may say that, although it is a lot of water, clothing is necessary, and a sacrifice must be made. That argument may be valid up to a certain degree. However, the sad truth is that people overconsume and waste many of the clothes made. In fact, the equivalent of one garbage truck full of clothes is burned or dumped every second, according to a 2018 study by the UN Environment Programme (UNEP). This leads to the second problem, the toll on our environment.
The water waste produced by the industry contributes to nearly 20% of global water waste, which is more than other industries believed to be environmentally harmful. On top of that, modern-day clothes are mostly made of plastic - around 60%, according to a study done by the UNEP. Furthermore, 500,000 tons of microfibers - the equivalent of 50 billion plastic bottles - are released into our oceans. Onto the carbon emissions. Currently, the industry is responsible for 8~10% of all carbon emissions and, on its current trajectory, is set to contribute nearly 26% of the world's carbon emissions by the year 2050, when no further measurements are made. For reference, the clothing industry currently releases more carbon than all international flights and maritime shipping combined.
Therefore, it seems like our attitude towards clothing should change significantly and swiftly. Not only for our environment but also for the benefit of the coming generations. We aren't the only ones living on this gift called the Earth. Let's all remember that, and next time, when out shopping for clothes, weigh out whether or not you actually need the clothing.
