The clothing industry is an overlooked plastic pollution source
The clothing industry is an overlooked plastic pollution source
Researchers have discovered that waste from the global apparel industry is leaking millions of tons of plastic into the environment each year and may be getting worse over time.
It's hardly overlooked. It's been widely known for many years that cheap fast fashion is one of the worlds worst pollutants. Stop buying from shein, h&m, tkmax, and all the others. Buy quality clothing that will last a few years at least.
This is nothing new, nor overlooked, you are precisely correct. For Example: Aug 2023: 10 Concerning Fast Fashion Waste Statistics https://earth.org/statistics-about-fast-fashion-waste/
Nov 2022: The environmental costs of fast fashion https://www.unep.org/news-and-stories/story/environmental-costs-fast-fashion
Feb 2019: Fashion has a huge waste problem. Here's how it can change https://www.weforum.org/stories/2019/02/how-the-circular-economy-is-redesigning-fashions-future/
Ok I agree with the sentiment about the first two retailers, but tkmax is an outlet store that doesn't produce it's own clothing, suitcases, etc. it resells surplus stock. If anything, it's better for the environment because it stops that stuff from going to landfill.
most of what tj maxx sells is lower quality stuff made specifically for them by major brands. i get where you're coming from on the surface level examination, but as you peel the layers back you find the way the contracts work is they're who most of the worst textile poluters are who's doing their polution through. a better solution is to buy higher quality clothes from smaller brands that don't sell through wholesale models at all
TJ Maxx is a reseller ..lol if anything they keep the factory 2nds out of landfills
They are still part of and support that industry. It's part of how they can overproduce cheap crap. If it doesnt sell at the higher price outlets, throw it over the next level of discount store until it does. They make you feel like you are getting a good deal, but the clothing companies still make profit and still get encouraged to pump out the cheapest garbage possible.
Even the Patagonia polar fleece is a fucking horrible microplastic shredder.
I forgot my bags at the grocery store, so I told the clerk I'd like to buy one of their expensive plastic bags. She denied they had plastic bags anymore. I explained polyester. She was shocked.
People have no clue. Nylon, PVC, PET, spandex, and the most insane, vegan leather. Turns out, polyurethane is not made out of vegans.
"Vegan leather" is just so fucking funny. Especially when vegans praise it, and then you tell them that it's literally just plastic.
Plastic is bad for the environment. Leather is worse. The most sustainable thing to do is to use neither.
I hate polyester. Cotton feels so much nicer
I switched to cotton t-shirts 5-10 years ago, thinking the same thing. However my first set of cotton t-shirts has worn out and needed to be replaced, whereas I still have polyester t-shirts from before that that look much nicer.
Polyester has advantages in durability, stain resistance, wrinkle resistance, and can be much thinner and lighter. I’m not entirely sure cotton is really better
Some studies estimate about a third of microplastic pollution comes from synthetic textiles. Cotton may require more water and land but at least it doesn’t produce more microplastics.
Polyester might look nicer longer but it feels all gross and like… almost slimy on the skin. Plus it stinks.
I literally can't wear it. Along with other artificial fibers (viscose and polyester especially) they cause me to come out in hives where it touches my skin. Cotton and soft wools are pretty much the only thing what I can wear.
Wtf u think polar fleece is?
Like u don't have 15 polar fleece shirts.
What a weird accusation of a stranger 😂 "Don't act like you don't wear POLAR FLEECE!!"
I don't any polar fleece clothing. It doesn't breath at all. Wool is much better.
It was years before I knew that polyester was even a plastic that can give off toxic chemicals or micro plastics.
When was this overlooked? Maybe you overlooked it but there have been articles on it for years.
Ironically one of the few industries who could actually use recycled plastic
While this is slightly off topic, they do, and clothes made with recycled plastic contain even higher levels of BPA and BPS than clothes of virgin plastic. Some-to-most bisphenols are removed after washing (BPS more than BPA) but they still either go into the wastewater stream or get absorbed through the skin when wearing.
Between microplastic shedding, bisphenol leakage, and general cross-contamination, most recycled plastics are just more toxic versions of virgin plastics.
Hmm. I guess we’re just fucked.
Well wtf man
here's another reason why you're all gonna die!
In the pile with the others...
Linen my beloved, polyester can rot in hell.
As someone who follows fashion...the amount of waste in the clothing industry, particularly from "fast fashion", has been a huge topic for decades.