The Environmental Impact of Fast Fashion and Sustainable Solutions Assignment Sample

How Fast Fashion Affects the Environment and Ways to Improve Sustainability

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Introduction: The Environmental Impact of Fast Fashion and Sustainable Solutions

The term "fast fashion" pertains to the rapid replication and commercialization of low-cost clothing styles that are produced in large volumes to match current fashion fads (Roosterman and Hietanen, 2021). The idea is to provide cost-effective, single-use clothing items that can be easily swapped for current fashion trends, leading to a swift turnover of apparel (Faerm, 2023).

Fast fashion is connected to the Environment and it's impact

The adverse environmental effects of fast fashion have been recognised to be detrimental during both the manufacturing and utilisation phases. The production of low-cost clothing involves significant utilisation of resources such as water, energy, and materials. The exacerbation of environmental pollution, production of refuse, and discharge of carbon are also consequences.

The disposal of fast fashion clothing items in landfills or incinerators is a significant contributor to the negative impacts of climate change and environmental degradation. The utilisation of synthetic fibres in the production of fast fashion apparel is a contributing factor to the contamination of marine ecosystems and surroundings through the dissemination of micro plastics in the vicinity (Abbate, et.al, 2023). The fast fashion industry is commonly acknowledged for its adverse impact on the environment and its contribution to the depletion of natural resources.

Figure 1: Climate Change: How Fast Fashion Hurts the Environment

Rationales

The fashion industry has the potential to adopt ethical and sustainable practises that mitigate waste and pollution, conserve natural resources, and protect the environment in response to these environmental challenges. The fashion industry is the second-largest consumer of water, with a single shirt and a pair of trousers necessitating 700 and 2000 gallons of water, respectively. The urgency of implementing sustainable fashion practises is underscored by forecasts indicating that the fashion industry's failure to change its current trajectory would result in a 50% surge in greenhouse gas emissions within a decade (Faerm, 2023).

The thesis statement

Purpose of fast fashion and the environmental effects with recommendations on sustainability

The fast fashion sector is distinguished by its rapid, economical, and extensive manufacturing of clothing. This measure is a reaction to the most recent patterns. The primary objectives of fast fashion are to provide consumers with fashionable merchandise at affordable prices and to encourage frequent purchasing in response to swiftly evolving fashion trends (Choi and Chan, 2021). Addressing the negative effects of this specific business model on the surrounding ecosystem is crucial to ensure the long-term success of the fashion industry and the overall well-being of the planet.

The environmental implications of fast fashion

The production of fast fashion garments requires a significant amount of natural resources, water, and energy. The procurement, refinement, and conveyance of primary resources such as cotton and polyester entail substantial amounts of energy and water. The aforementioned phenomenon results in an increase in both the release of carbon emissions and the pollution of water sources. In addition, fast fashion corporations frequently prioritise speed and cost-effectiveness over environmental concerns, leading to production techniques that have adverse effects on the ecosystem. The production techniques employed entail the use of substances and pigments that have the capacity to cause harm, resulting in the contamination of aquatic ecosystems and the disturbance of ecological equilibrium.

Moreover, the fast fashion trend has been linked to the increase in textile waste generation, as individuals tend to acquire a larger number of garments and discard them quickly. The act of disposing waste materials in landfills has the potential to produce perilous greenhouse gases, including methane that can endure for multiple centuries before undergoing full decomposition (Long, 2022). The aforementioned gaseous substances play a crucial role in the occurrence of the climate change phenomenon. The emission of micro plastics into the environment is a consequence of the disposal of synthetic materials, such as polyester. This phenomenon intensifies the level of pollution in the oceans and leads to the death of marine organisms.

Proposals Regarding the Environmental Impacts of the Fashion Sector

The implementation of various measures can be undertaken by the fashion industry to improve its sustainability and reduce its environmental footprint.

• Encourage the adoption of sustainable materials: The prioritisation of sustainable materials utilisation is of utmost importance for the fashion industry. Various materials, including organic cotton, hemp, and recycled polyester, have been found to have a reduced environmental impact in comparison to traditional materials. In addition, it is advisable for corporations to encourage the adoption of environmentally sustainable materials that have minimal carbon footprint, such as upcycled ocean plastic, leather derived from pineapples, or leather made from mycelium.
• The objective is to reduce the amount of textile waste produced: The advocacy for circular economy paradigms in the fashion sector holds promise in addressing the issue of textile waste generation. The models mentioned above comprise of rental and resale programmes that encourage individuals to participate in the recycling and reusing of garments. Through the utilisation of technological advancements, it is possible for brands to innovate new techniques for recycling and up cycling waste materials, thereby extracting value from them (Pérez-Bou, 2023).
• Improve methods of production: The implementation of environmentally sustainable practises, such as the use of eco-friendly colours and chemicals, waste reduction, and water conservation, holds promise for improving the manufacturing processes of the fashion industry (Fan, 2023). In addition, corporations possess the capability to alleviate the negative effects of their production processes on the environment through the implementation of environmentally sustainable production methods, such as closed-loop systems and zero-waste manufacturing.

Advocate for the implementation of the fundamental values of transparency and traceability. The fashion sector possesses the capacity to advance transparency and traceability by furnishing consumers with details pertaining to the constituent components, manufacturing techniques, and the social and environmental implications of their purchases. The goal of facilitating informed decision-making among consumers can be accomplished through diverse methods, including certification, labelling, and digital platforms that provide pertinent data. Encourage responsible consumption, minimise unnecessary consumption, and educate consumers on the environmental and social implications of their purchasing decisions. Educating customers about the environmental and social impacts of their purchasing decisions is a feasible undertaking (Ozturkcan, 2023). The fashion sector has the potential to assume a crucial function in enlightening consumers, promoting responsible consumption, and preventing overconsumption. The implementation of take-back programmes provides an opportunity for companies to educate their clientele on ecologically responsible maintenance and repair practises, while also promoting ethical disposal of used clothing.

The production of fast fashion requires a significant allocation of resources and results in significant levels of waste, environmental pollution, and carbon emissions. The fashion sector possesses the capacity to ameliorate its deleterious effects on the natural world and promote a sustainable tomorrow through the adoption of sustainable methodologies and the promotion of ecologically sound merchandise. The advocacy for environmentally conscious merchandise and sustainable methodologies can aid in the attainment of this goal (Hidayat, 2023). The advancement of sustainability can be enhanced by consumers who exercise discretion in their purchasing decisions and exhibit loyalty towards businesses that implement sustainable practises. The fashion sector possesses the capacity to shift towards sustainable methodologies, culminating in the creation of an ethically accountable and ecologically sustainable enterprise that is also economically prosperous.

Conclusion

The report comes to the conclusion that the fast fashion industry has exerted a substantial adverse impact on the natural environment, leading to amplified utilisation of resources, contamination, refuse, and greenhouse gas emissions. Through the adoption of sustainable practises and the promotion of environmentally friendly materials, the fashion industry has the potential to mitigate its adverse impact on the environment. The enhancement of ethical and eco-friendly practises within the industry can lead to a more prosperous future.

References

Abbate, S., Centobelli, P., Cerchione, R., Nadeem, S.P. and Riccio, E., 2023. Sustainability trends and gaps in the textile, apparel, and fashion industries.Environment, Development and Sustainability, pp.1-28.

Choi, T. M., & Chan, N. H. (2021). Understanding the Fast Fashion Supply Chain: Social and Environmental Sustainability in the Apparel Industry. Sustainability, 13(14), 7936. https://doi.org/10.3390/su13147936

Faerm, S., 2023. A Study of the Fashion Industry as a Model of Widespread Systemic Change. InIntroduction to Design Education(pp. 11-26). Routledge.

Fan, K.K. and Chang, Y.T., 2023. Exploring the Key Elements of Sustainable Design from a Social Responsibility Perspective: A Case Study of Fast Fashion Consumers’ Evaluation of Green Projects.Sustainability,15(2), p.995.

Flavia Lopes, 2021, Climate Change: How Fast Fashion Hurts The Environment (online) <https://www.google.com/search?q=fast+fashion+environmental+issues&rlz=1C1YTUH_enIN1013IN1013&sxsrf=APwXEdfobmWQoq5RFv7zl80UiyUVr9Iw2g:1682318446334&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwiN7ZHL9MHAhUJXWwGHSMcBpsQ_AUoAXoECAEQAw&biw=762&bih=690&dpr=1.25#imgrc=rsTaF5VvEKTwGM>accessed on 24.04.2023

Hidayat, Y.A., 2023. Influence of Environmental Knowledge and Fashion Consciousness on Green Purchase Intention of Sustainable Fashion Products.Admisi dan Bisnis,23(3), pp.221-232.

Long, X. and Nasiry, J., 2022. Sustainability in the fast fashion industry.Manufacturing & Service Operations Management,24(3), pp.1276-1293.

Ozturkcan, S., 2023. Sustainable Branding in Global Fast-Fashion: Consumers’ and Distant Supply Chain Stakeholders’ Solidarity via Social Media. InDealing with Socially Responsible Consumers: Studies in Marketing(pp. 299-314). Singapore: Springer Nature Singapore.

Pérez-Bou, S. and Cantista, I., 2023. Politics, sustainability, and innovation in fast fashion and luxury fashion groups.International Journal of Fashion Design, Technology and Education,16(1), pp.46-56.

Roosterman, L., & Hietanen, J. (2021). Addressing fashion industry's sustainability challenges with emerging technologies. Journal of Cleaner Production, 315, 128218. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2021.128218