The global textile industry, which includes fashion and household textiles, consumes 3.25 billion tonnes of raw materials annually. Of this huge volume, only 0.3% is recycled, mainly from recycled plastic bottles. The use of oil-based synthetic materials is dominant, with 63% of raw materials consumed coming from oil-related fabrics. These findings come from the recent Circularity Gap Report Textiles, presented by Circle Economy and the H&M Foundation. The report highlights that the industry's environmental impact can be significantly reduced by switching to circular principles such as reuse and sustainable fashion.
Photo: Dreamstime.
Overproduction and environmental damage
A major challenge for the textile industry is the overproduction of cheap, synthetic clothing. Mass brands today release up to 24 collections a year, contributing to significant environmental damage. The textile industry is responsible for 3.5% of global greenhouse gas emissions and 5% of global nutrient pollution. The industry also has a significant impact on global water scarcity, accounting for almost 4% of the total.
China and the US contribute most to the environmental impact of the textile industry, with China being the largest producer and the US the largest consumer. The environmental impact per person in the US is five to eight times higher than the world average.
Source: Sustainable Business
Only 0.3% of it is recycled