Buy 75% Less Clothing to Help the Planet, Per Report

If we don’t change the way and how many new clothes we are buying, the consequences for the Earth will be devastating.

According to a report from the Stockholm Resilience Center and Stockholm University, if we don’t change our ways quickly, the fashion industry could use the remaining global carbon budget by 2050 and even use 35 percent more land to produce fibers by 2030.

Source: DW Documentary/Youtube

Our global carbon budget determines the input of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere from human activities. We need to keep it below a certain level if we can hope to keep the global warming below 1.5 degrees Celcius from preindustrial times.

Over the last 15 years, clothing production has doubled, and the length of time we wear the clothes has fallen 40 percent. What is happening is not sustainable, and we won’t be able to help stop climate change if we keep up with these same practices.

The Conversation reported that in a Fashion Action Research Plan, changing our ways could be reducing the number of clothes we buy by 75 percent. It’s also important to choose clothes that are made to last and remember to recycle clothes when you’re done with them.

Fashion is accelerating, and we are buying more clothes than ever. We’re living in an ultra-fast fashion world, and big fashion companies are launching new styles like never before. Shein has risen in popularity in recent years and has released hundreds of thousands of styles. This creates so much waste, and the planet can’t take much more of this.

Source: FRANCE 24 English/Youtube

Many companies have made plans to use more sustainable fibers and textiles and offer eco-friendly options. This is good and still needs to be done, but it does not solve all of our problems. It’s time for the consumers to step up and decrease the number of clothes they buy.

As long as there is a demand, these companies will keep producing more and more clothes because, in reality, what matters to them is profit. The less of a demand there is, the fewer clothes will be produced, which in turn, would help out the planet so much.

Another reason to cut down on clothes purchasing is the issue of child labor, discrimination, and even forced labor in the industry. Many manufacturing counties like Myanmar, Cambodia, Bangladesh, and Vietnam are at extreme risk for modern slavery.

The Conversation reported four things we can do to tackle the issue.

1. Limit resource use and consumption. This means communication between industry, consumers, and governments about limiting resources used in the fashion industry. It also means purchasing fewer clothes and considering where the clothes come from. Always choose secondhand and thrift store options when possible.
2. Expand the slow fashion movement. This would mean that companies would focus on quality over quantity and make clothes that actually will last. Fast fashion means they can make clothes that won’t last so that the consumer will buy new clothes more frequently.
3. A new system of exchange. Many new systems are coming to light like clothing exchanges, co-operatives, or even renting clothing services. This could be a great way to not focus on the money and treat clothes as more of a necessity than a want.
4. Diversity in clothing cultures. This means nurturing diversity in clothing cultures and respecting the environment. We need to rebuild emotional connections with clothing and Support long-term use.

If we want to save the planet and slow Climate change, we need to make changes to every part of our lives. Purchasing less clothing is a great place to start. Thrift shopping and second-hand stores are great options, and you can give a piece of clothing a whole new life!

Related Content:

• How the Fast Fashion Industry Destroys the Environment
• From Factory Farming to Fast Fashion: Important Environmental Issues to Learn About This Earth Day!
• Fast-Fashion Influencers and their Environmental Impact
• Fashion Week’s Impact on the Planet
• How to Buy Fast Fashion More Ethically

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