Fast fashion, which chases the latest trends, is producing a significant amount of waste globally. An AP report on Wednesday states that over 57.3 million pounds (26 million metric tons) of clothing are thrown away annually, with the majority ending up in landfills, particularly in China, the world’s largest producer and consumer of textiles.
According to the non-profit Ellen MacArthur Foundation, only 12% of textile waste is recycled globally. Few examples exist of old clothing being recycled into new ones; most are used to make low-cost items like insulation or mattress stuffing.
Discarded clothes cannot be recycled to create new garments because the fibers used in fast fashion are mostly synthetic, not cotton. Synthetic fibers, which contribute to the climate crisis and air and water pollution, are made from petrochemicals, accounting for 70% of the clothing materials sold in China.
Making clothes from recyclable natural fibers would be more expensive than buying them from fast-fashion brands, discouraging businesses and consumers from purchasing them.
The problem was exacerbated as low-cost, fast-fashion products from China are sold in over 150 countries through e-commerce giants like Shein and Temu. “Circular sustainability is necessary for major Chinese clothing brands. Recycling should start with recyclable fibers. Then, all waste textiles will be reused,” fashion advisor Shaway Yeh explained.
According to AP, China set a goal to become carbon neutral by 2060. However, efforts to recycle textiles and promote sustainable fashion have been put on the back burner. China is a global leader in electric vehicles and public transportation. Yet, the textile waste issue has not been solved because many Chinese consumers have no interest in purchasing used goods.
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