Shocking* Fashion Industry Waste Statistics
FASHION INDUSTRY STATISTICS
The global apparel market is valued at 3 TRILLION DOLLARS, 3,000 billion, and accounts for 2 percent of the world’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP).
Second to oil, THE CLOTHING AND TEXTILE INDUSTRY IS THE LARGEST POLLUTER IN THE WORLD.
The US is the largest importer of garments in the world; NEARLY 40% OF APPAREL PRODUCTS SOLD IN THE US ARE IMPORTED FROM CHINA.
WASTE
It takes more than 5,000 GALLONS OF WATER TO MANUFACTURE JUST A T-SHIRT and a pair of jeans.
Textile industry is one of the top 3 water wasting industry in China, discharging over 2.5 BILLION TONS OF WATER WASTE EVERY YEAR.
About 15% OF FABRIC INTENDED FOR CLOTHING ENDS UP ON THE CUTTING ROOM FLOORS. This waste rate has been tolerated industry-wide for decades.
Daily in Hong Kong, there are 253 TONS OF TEXTILES SENT TO LANDFILLS.
RECYCLE
Consumers throw away shoes and clothing [versus recycle], an average of 70 POUNDS PER PERSON, annually.
A few communities have textile recycling programs, about 85% OF THIS WASTE GOES TO LANDFILLS WHERE IT OCCUPIES ABOUT 5% OF LANDFILL SPACE and the amount is growing.
Up to 95% of the textiles that are land filled each year could be recycled.
USED CLOTHING
The U. S. is the largest exporter of second hand clothing. It exports OVER A BILLION POUNDS of used clothing every year
Over 70% of the world’s population use second hand clothes.
Consumers in the United Kingdom have an estimated $46.7 BILLION WORTH OF UNWORN CLOTHES IN THEIR CLOSETS.
Article Source: https://edgexpo.com/fashion-industry-waste-statistics/