SUSTAINABLE FASHION: KEY TO AVOID TEXTILE WASTES

Three out of five pieces of clothing end up in landfills in just a year's time

We have started to wear our clothes 40 percent less than we used to do a decade ago. Three out of five pieces of clothing end up in landfills in just a year's time. The annual monetary value of textile wastes is calculated in billions of dollars.

Vendors and consumers hand in hand for a better future

Textile landfills can be avoided through the use of recycled materials and eco-packaging, and by boosting second hand purchasing. While the focus of famous clothing brands is already on sustainable fashion technologies and responsible sourcing partners, the concept of sustainable fashion is also becoming a significant factor in the purchasing decisions of consumers. Technologies such as vegan leathers, 3D samples, virtual try-on experiences and on-demand production will be indispensable for the clothing industry in the years to come.

Technologies such as vegan leathers, 3D samples, virtual try-on experiences and on-demand production will be indispensable for the clothing industry in the years to come.

Pointing out the urging impact of climate crisis on the evolution of fashion industry, Ecehan Ersöz, Founder of Hanersman Consultancy and Author, provides the following highlights about the huge amounts of wastes generated by the industry across the globe:

Global Fashion Agenda estimates 63 percent increase in apparel consumption by 2030.
In its relevant report, Ellen MacArthur Foundation states that clothing use has declined by almost 40 percent in the last 10 years, and emphasizes the ‘fast fashion’ phenomenon that promotes overconsumption. According to the Foundation, underutilized clothing and insufficient recycling lead to more than 500 billion dollars of economic loss every year.
According to BBC Earth, 100 billion garments are manufactured worldwide using thousands of different chemicals, and three out of five items end up in landfills in just one year.

Sixty-six percent of consumers are willing to pay more for sustainable products.

On the other hand, Ersöz shares the good news that despite the existing waste problem in the textile industry, awareness of consumers keeps rising, leading in increased demand for sustainable fashion products as well as items manufactured by vendors bearing the vision of ethical fashion. She provides the following evidence regarding the said positive development:

Pulse of the Fashion Industry Report states that one-third of the respondents have switched their apparel brand preferences, opting for those that adopt eco-responsible fashion trend.
According to McKinsey, more than 60 percent of consumers consider environmental impact to be an important purchasing factor.
According to Nielsen, 66 percent of consumers are willing to pay more for sustainable products.