How much water does the fashion industry consume?
The fashion industry is the second most water-intensive industry in the world [1], consuming around 79 billion cubic metres of water per year [2]. That statistic is startling considering 2.7 billion people currently experience water scarcity [3].
Water usage in the fashion industry
It's estimated that the fashion industry currently uses around 93 billion cubic metres of water per year, which is four percent of all freshwater extraction globally. On current trends, this amount is set to double by 2030.
It's estimated that around 20% of all global water pollution comes from the dyeing of textiles. Unfortunately, the water used to apply chemicals and dye fabrics is often then dumped back into rivers and other waterways.
Fast fashion is an industry which damages the environment through multiple ways: over-consumption of raw materials –it requires 2,700 liters of water to make just one t-shirt, the amount of water an average person drinks over the course of 900 days!
According to the World Bank, the fast fashion industry creates 17-20% of worldwide wastewater. And UNESCO reports that only 20% of globally produced wastewater receives proper treatment. The massive use of hazardous chemicals for cheap clothing production contaminates large amounts of water.
Agriculture. 70% of the world's freshwater is used for agriculture. In Europe, this sector requires 44% of freshwater resources. This is due to agriculture's water use for irrigation, fertiliser and pesticide application, crop cooling, and frost control.
Whether you're growing cotton plants or processing polyester and viscose, the fibers that make our materials can take more than their fair share of water. Then there's the spinning, dyeing, printing, and finishing of the fabrics, which all contribute to the overall water consumption of a garment.
20% of industrial pollution comes from the textile manufacturing process. Over 8,000 chemicals are used to turn raw materials into clothing. Workers come in direct contact with these chemicals—often without adequate safety protections—and are at risk of contracting deadly diseases.
Fashion production makes up 10% of humanity's carbon emissions, dries up water sources, and pollutes rivers and streams. What's more, 85% of all textiles go to the dump each year (UNECE, 2018), and washing some types of clothes sends significant amount of microplastics into the ocean.
According to EcoWatch, “It is estimated that 70% of rivers and lakes are contaminated by the 2.5 billion gallons of wastewater produced by the textile industry.” Not only does clothing production add waste to waterways, but it also wastes a tremendous amount of water. According to Goodonyou.
Is the fashion industry the biggest polluter?
It's no wonder then that the $3 trillion fashion industry is the second most polluting industry, just behind oil. Uzbekistan, the world's sixth-leading producer of cotton, is a clear example of how cotton can negatively impact a region's environment.
Environmental impact
McKinsey has estimated that the fashion industry is responsible for 4 percent of the world's greenhouse-gas emissions. According to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change, emissions from textile manufacturing alone are projected to skyrocket by 60% by 2030.
Clothing. To create a pair of blue jeans, about 1,800 gallons of water are needed just to grow enough cotton for one pair. To grow enough cotton to create one t-shirt, 400 gallons of water are consumed.
- Recycling Cotton. As previously mentioned, cotton is a huge drain on the world's water supply. ...
- Supply from Sustainable Farms. ...
- Streamline Production Processes. ...
- Dye Clothes Responsibly.
Fashion production makes up 10% of humanity's carbon emissions, dries up water sources, and pollutes rivers and streams. What's more, 85% of all textiles go to the dump each year (UNECE, 2018), and washing some types of clothes sends significant amount of microplastics into the ocean.
According to researchers, a pair of jeans requires 7,600 litres of water to make it through production line. Not surprisingly, across the world, ecologists are looking at jeans — once a symbol of rebellion, and always a youth must-have — with considerable concern.
How widespread is waste in the fashion industry? The short answer is: extremely. The long, and more detailed answer is: it's estimated that 92 million tons of textile waste is created annually by the fashion industry.
