Fast fashion: the impact it has on the environment, and how you can make a difference

Reading time: 4 minutes

With more of us taking the environmental impact of our lifestyle in to account, it’s a good time to consider our clothes shopping habits. In this article, we’ll cover the fast fashion industry, the effect it’s having on the planet, and what shoppers who are both fashion and eco conscious can do to make a difference.

Fast fashion explained

Take a walk down any high street or search for clothes online and you’ll find plenty of retailers all selling you the latest looks from Instagram, the catwalks and lookbooks. These mass-produced pieces that emulate current trends make up the fast fashion industry, and it has a seriously harmful effect on the environment. Here’s a few stats to highlight this:

• Fast fashion is the second biggest cause of pollution worldwide, after oil and gas
• It also creates 10% of total greenhouse gas emissions
• An amount equal to a truck full of clothes is dumped in a landfill or burned – every second. This ends up being around 350,000 tonnes a year in the UK alone

The fast fashion industry does a good job at convincing us that we need to regularly switch up our look to stay on trend, but it comes at a huge cost to our planet.

The impact on the environment

All of this pollution changes the natural world for the worse, harming both the environment and the people and animals who inhabit it. Being the second biggest cause of pollution worldwide means that the effect of the fast fashion industry is too vast to completely cover in this article, but we can highlight some of the main issues;

Water usage

The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change estimates that 1.5 trillion litres of water are used by the fast fashion industry every year. Water waste increases carbon emissions and contributes to the global issue of water shortages.

Throwing clothes away

A massive issue with our clothing habits is how much of it we throw in the bin. Around three quarters of Britons chuck their old clothes away, where they end up in a landfill, rather than recycling or donating them.

Polluting fabrics and dyes

Polyester is one of the most popular – and cheapest – textiles used in fast fashion garments. It also has a terrible effect on the environment, with around 70 million barrels of oil used to make these fibres every year. As well as this huge use of fossil fuels in its creation, polyester doesn’t decay like a natural fibre, and it’s one of the leading causes of microfibre pollution in the ocean. The dyes used in colourful clothing can also be toxic, polluting rivers and oceans. Because of this, the fast fashion industry is the second largest water polluter after the agricultural industry.

So, what can you do?

So, we can see that fast fashion is having a toxic effect on the planet. You might be wondering what you can do to make a difference. We all know about recycling, and using public transport or walking instead of driving everywhere. But the products we buy, especially our clothing, is a massively overlooked factor in our carbon footprint.

Buying second-hand clothing is the simplest and most significant step you can take to do your bit in reducing the impact of fast fashion. By shopping for second hand clothes, you’re one less customer who is buying in to the harmful fast fashion cycle. Whether you’re looking for vintage clothing or newer pieces that still have plenty of life left, you can find clothing to suit your style that’s already been produced and worn by another customer.

Enjoy shopping sustainably with Messina Hembry

If you’re keen to take a different approach to how you source your wardrobe, you’re in luck; at Messina Hembry, we stock all kinds of quality clothing from your favourite brands at huge discounts from their original price. We source clothing, nearly-new and vintage, that was headed for landfill. We check each item for quality and authenticity, deep clean and steam everything and stock it all across our various online stores. When you shop with us, you’ll be reducing the impact your shopping decisions have on the environment and spending less than you would for the same clothing when brand new.

To take the first step in helping both the planet and your bank balance, have a browse of our stores today.

For all general preloved clothing, check out Messina Hembry.

For vintage sportswear and streetwear, visit our ASOS Marketplace boutique.