1 day Ago By Janet Ogundepo
Janet Ogundepo Fast fashion is accelerating an environmental catastrophe, with the equivalent of one garbage truck’s worth of clothing either incinerated or sent to landfill every second, the United Nations chief, António Guterres, has warned. He further called for urgent action to curb the textile industry’s devastating impact on the planet, stressing, “Dressing to kill could kill the planet.” The UN states that the fashion industry is one of the world’s most polluting sectors, responsible for up to eight per cent of global greenhouse gas emissions.
“It consumes vast amounts of water – 215 trillion litres annually, equivalent to 86 million Olympic-sized swimming pools, and relies on thousands of chemicals, many of them harmful to human health and ecosystems. “Despite these staggering figures, clothing is being produced and discarded at an unprecedented rate, driven by business models that prioritise speed and disposability over sustainability,” it noted. PUNCH Healthwise earlier reported that fast fashion and the availability of low-cost clothes have increased clothing waste in Nigeria.
Bloomberg further noted that the rise of fast fashion has led to mountains of textile waste piling up in many developing countries. It added that with less than one per cent of used clothing recycled into new garments, castoffs from Europe and America are regularly dumped in African countries. Consequently, these countries, where second-hand clothes are sold cheaply, are now grappling with a growing environmental waste crisis.
An environmental blog, Treehugger, describes fast fashion as the mass production of cheap, stylish clothes, resulting in significant environmental and labour issues. Speaking further, Guterres cautioned that the waste crisis in fashion is only a symptom of a much larger global problem. “Humans globally generate more than two billion tonnes of waste each year – enough to wrap around the planet 25 times if packed into standard shipping containers – polluting land, air, and water, disproportionately affecting the poorest communities.
“The rich world is flooding the Global South with garbage, from obsolete computers to single-use plastics,” he said. The UN chief further noted that many countries lack the infrastructure to process even a fraction of what is dumped on their shores, leading to increased pollution and hazardous working conditions for waste pickers. The UN highlighted that the fashion industry has a high level of resource consumption and pollution, stating that rapidly changing trends make garments often discarded after being worn a handful of times.
Experts estimate that doubling the lifespan of clothing could reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 44 per cent. However, it is also an industry with exciting opportunities to transform lives and livelihoods for the better. “Designers are experimenting with recycled materials.
Consumers are increasingly demanding sustainability. In many countries, resale markets are booming,” Guterres said. He called for a collective effort, urging everyone to join the fight against waste.
The UN boss urged governments to enact policies and regulations that promote sustainability and zero-waste initiatives. “There is no space for greenwashing. Businesses must increase circularity, waste reduction, and resource efficiency across their supply chains.
“Consumers, in turn, can play a crucial role by making environmentally responsible choices, valuing durable products, reducing excessive consumption, and embracing resale markets,” he said. Guterres also noted that beyond the fashion industry, the broader fight against waste requires global coordination. “More than a billion people live in slums or informal settlements without proper waste management, leading to severe health risks.
Unregulated dumping and poor waste disposal practices are exacerbating pollution and biodiversity loss worldwide. “Let us commit to doing our part to clean up our act and build a healthier, more sustainable world for us all,” he concluded. Copyright PUNCH All rights reserved.
This material, and other digital content on this website, may not be reproduced, published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed in whole or in part without prior express written permission from PUNCH. Contact: [email protected] Tags #Climate change Dressing to kill Environment Fast fashion Global South greenhouse gas greenwashing Guterres low cost clothes textile industry Textile waste waste crisis zero-waste.
