The Impact of the Apparel Industry on Climate Change

The Impact of the Apparel Industry on Climate Change

What is the apparel industry?

The apparel industry, also known as the fashion industry, consists of companies specializing in designing and selling different clothing, footwear, and accessories such as bags, jewelry, dresses, jackets, jeans, rubber shoes, and many more. This industry has been consistently growing, and it is continually evolving as time passes by. Still, sadly, as the apparel industry evolves and grows more prominent in the market, it contributes to more air and water pollution all around the earth.

Climate Change and the Apparel Industry

Clothing businesses process raw materials, like cotton, silk, cow skin, into fabrics like cotton, silk, and leather to produce clothing. These processes significantly contribute to the overall greenhouse emissions in the atmosphere. According to a study, the manufacturing of clothing has contributed substantially to climate change and significantly impacted the earth. According to the McKinsey Global Institute and their research, the apparel industry section was partially responsible for the 2.1 billion metric tons of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere in 2018. Greenhouse gases trap heat inside the earth. Its abundance in the atmosphere can hasten global warming and can cause irreversible effects on the planet.

The apparel industry is known as the second-largest polluter in the world, right after the oil industry. With the increasing demand for clothes, the apparel industry continually makes various clothes from different materials, such as synthetics, cotton, and denim. Turning these raw materials into clothes is the main reason for greenhouse gas emissions in the atmosphere. A fabric type that is common in the industry is polyester. Polyester is a plastic fiber made from oil. All the process involved in producing polyester contributes to greenhouse gas emissions.

Furthermore, producing polyester consumes a lot of energy and harms the environment. Besides contributing to greenhouse gas emissions, manufacturing fabrics also contribute to water pollution by contaminating it with production wastes and chemicals. When these fabrics/clothes are produced, untreated production wastes get dumped into the rivers. Production waste contains lead and mercury, which is significantly dangerous to aquatic life and people's overall health. Furthermore, the dumping of production wastes into bodies of water can also cause air pollution. When contaminated water evaporates into the atmosphere, the chemicals in the water are carried over into the atmosphere. The more chemicals in the air, the more concentrated it will be. When it rains, the chemicals suspended in the air are transformed into rainwater, creating acid rain. Acid rain causes harm to everyone, including the environment.

Another way the apparel industry contributes to climate change is through the transportation, packaging, and distribution of its products. The vehicles and machines used in the industry produce carbon, which is a greenhouse gas.

To reduce these effects, here are things that you can do as a consumer:

• Spread awareness - By spreading awareness about the apparel industry's impact on the environment, we can force companies to adopt greener methods. Additionally, we can use our voice to have the government intervene in the industry's harmful practices.

• Reuse - Instead of throwing away old clothes in the garbage can. You can repurpose them into cleaning rags or as stuffing.

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