Facts: How Fashion Impacts All Earthly Elements Globally

The fashion industry is responsible for a significant amount of global carbon emissions, contributing to climate change and other environmental issues:

In addition, the fashion industry especially, fast fashion, which produces clothing quickly and cheaply, is a major contributor to the industry’s carbon footprint and has been linked to both deforestation and wildfires in several ways. [“]

AIR

Greenhouse Gas Emissions: Fashion accounts for roughly 10% of global carbon emissions—more than aviation and shipping combined [“] [“] [“].
Microplastics: Synthetic fibers like polyester shed microplastics, which can enter the air and harm human health.
Agriculture Emissions: Cotton farming uses pesticides and fertilizers that release greenhouse gases and impact air quality.
Chemical Emissions: Dyeing and finishing fabrics release volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and toxins, reducing air quality and causing respiratory issues.

WATER

Water usage: The industry consumes 93 billion tons of water annually (4% of the world’s freshwater). Producing one pair of jeans requires about 1500-1800 gallons of water. Produce 1 cotton T-shirt roughly 700–800 gallons of water. [“] [“]
Waste: Up to 20% of industrial wastewater globally comes from fashion, especially through dyeing processes [“].
Microplastics: Synthetic fibers like polyester are a major source of microplastics in oceans. Polyester can take anywhere from 200-500 years to biodegrade.
Pollution: The fashion industry pollutes water and soil near tanneries. About 85% of all textiles thrown away are ultimately either dumped into landfills or incinerated (imagine a garage truck full of textiles being sent to a landfill every second.

FIRE

Deforestation & Wildfires: The fashion industry, especially fast fashion, drives deforestation and increases the risk of wildfires due to land degradation and resource extraction for materials like leather and fabric production. [“]

Deforestation for Leather: Many brands source leather from Brazil, contributing to Amazon deforestation (Teen Vogue on Amazon Fires).
Deforestation for Fabrics: Fabrics like rayon and viscose, often made from old-growth trees, have doubled production in the past decade [“]
Slash-and-Burn Agriculture: Used in some rural areas, this technique fuels longer, hotter fires (Earth Day).
Infrastructure Development: Production infrastructure fragments and destroys forest habitats (Forest 50/50).
Weather Patterns: Wildfire smoke affects weather patterns, reducing rainfall and worsening drought conditions (NowThisEarth YouTube).
Unprepared Regions: Introducing fire to areas that don’t naturally experience it severely impacts ecosystems.

ECO-SYSTEMS

Pesticides & Herbicides: Overuse of chemicals to protect crops reduces soil fertility and biodiversity.
Toxic Chemicals: Textile processes release harmful chemicals into the environment.

Brands Addressing Deforestation:

H&M and VF Corporation: These brands have committed to stopping leather sourcing from Brazil until it’s proven to be sustainable (Teen Vogue on Amazon Fires). [“]

CanopyStyle: Over 250 companies have signed up to ensure that the cellulosic fibers they produce and procure are sustainable.
Stella McCartney: This brand focuses on environmental stewardship, especially tree conservation. [“]

SOURCES

World Economic Forum [“]
UNEP – Fashion’s Environmental Impact [“]
Common Objective – Water Usage and Waste [“]
Stella McCartney [“]

Additional Resources:

Ways to Get Involved:

Here are additional ways someone can get involved in promoting sustainable fashion and reducing the environmental impact of the fashion industry:

Support Sustainable Brands: Buy clothing from brands committed to ethical production, eco-friendly materials, and responsible sourcing. Look for certifications like Fair Trade, GOTS (Global Organic Textile Standard), or OEKO-TEX®.
Host Clothing Swaps: Organize local clothing swaps to encourage reuse and recycling among communities. It reduces waste and helps extend the lifecycle of garments.
Engage in Upcycling Projects: Participate in or lead upcycling initiatives where old or unused clothing is repurposed into new, creative pieces. This helps reduce textile waste.
Advocate for Policy Change: Support campaigns and petitions that advocate for sustainable policies within the fashion industry, such as extended producer responsibility and stricter regulations on textile waste and carbon emissions.
Spread Awareness: Use your social media platforms or community gatherings to educate others about the harmful environmental impact of fast fashion and the importance of sustainable fashion practices.
Volunteer for Environmental Nonprofits: Offer your time and expertise to nonprofits focused on sustainability, circular fashion, or reducing the carbon footprint of industries.
Take a Fashion Detox Challenge: Commit to not buying new clothing for a set period (e.g., a month or a year) and instead focus on making the most of what you already own through styling and repairing.
Work with Schools and Educational Programs: Partner with schools or community organizations to teach younger generations about sustainable fashion, eco-friendly practices, and responsible consumerism.
Shop Secondhand: Visit thrift stores or online resale platforms like Poshmark, Depop, or ThredUp. Shopping secondhand is an excellent way to reduce demand for new production while extending the life of existing garments.
Donate or Recycle Textiles: Instead of throwing away old clothes, donate them to local charities, thrift stores, or textile recycling programs.

These actions can help reduce waste, promote sustainability, and encourage more mindful fashion consumption.

“EarthSmart: Rethinking Fashion” 🌍🌱

TrinaMarie Shaw’s passion and a save-our-planet driven platform is called “EarthSmart: Rethinking Fashion” 🌍🌱

TrinaMarie Shaw, Mrs. Nevada Elemental USA 2024, is a passionate advocate for sustainability and the visionary behind EarthSmart: Rethinking Fashion. Driven by a deep love for the planet and a commitment to change, she has dedicated her platform to addressing the urgent need for sustainable fashion. TrinaMarie believes that upcycling, repurposing, and reusing can become the new standard in fashion, transforming an industry that is often wasteful and environmentally harmful.

Through EarthSmart, she educates communities and inspires action by leading initiatives that challenge the “throwaway culture” and promote eco-conscious choices. TrinaMarie has spent countless hours collaborating with students, educators, and community partners to make sustainable fashion accessible, creative, and impactful. Her mission? To show that fashion can be both fabulous and responsible, and to inspire a movement where we all play a role in protecting the Earth—one choice at a time. 🌍💚