Plastic pollution is a global environmental threat with potentially irreversible impacts on aquatic life, ecosystems, and human health – and recognized as urgent to address across all industries. If the fashion industry is to play its part, understanding the root causes of plastic leakage within the sector is critical.
Quantis’ Anna Kounina, Principal Sustainability Expert, co-authored research aiming to pinpoint just that, newly published in Nature. The study offers a comprehensive assessment of the global apparel industry’s contribution to plastic pollution, including the plastic leakage of packaging and end-of-life apparel waste, in addition to fiber emissions during apparel production and use.
Key findings:
- The authors estimate that the apparel industry generated 8.3 [4.8 – 12.3] million tons (Mt) of plastic pollution in 2019, corresponding to 14% [5.5% – 30%] of the estimated 60 Mt from all sectors.
- The study demonstrates that the main source of plastic pollution from the apparel supply chain is synthetic clothing as mismanaged waste either in the country of its original use or in the countries receiving used apparel exports.
- The authors call for a fundamental transformation of the apparel economy towards a circular framework and reduced consumption.
