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Clothing made of cheap polyester is driving up fashion’s emissions

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By illuminem briefings

· 2 min read


illuminem summarises for you the essential news of the day. Read the full piece on The Wall Street Journal or enjoy below:

🗞️ Driving the news: Greenhouse gas emissions from the apparel industry rose 7.5% in 2023—the first annual increase since 2019—reaching 944 million metric tons, according to a new report by the Apparel Impact Institute (Aii)
The surge is attributed to rapid production growth and increased reliance on virgin polyester, a fossil-fuel-derived plastic, as ultrafast fashion accelerates globally

🔭 The context: Polyester now accounts for 57% of global fiber production, with usage of recycled alternatives declining due to higher costs and complex recycling processes
Fast fashion giants, known for low-cost, trend-driven garments, are driving high emissions across the supply chain, from raw material extraction to assembly
Meanwhile, mounting evidence links synthetic textiles to microplastic pollution and harmful chemical residues

🌍 Why it matters for the planet: The apparel sector contributes roughly 2% of global emissions, with significant additional impacts from waste, pollution, and resource use
Without swift action, growing consumer demand—especially for cheap synthetic clothing—risks locking in high-emission production models
Shifting to lower-impact materials, innovative recycling, and demand-led production could offer scalable solutions but remain underfunded and underutilized

⏭️ What's next: Governments are stepping in: France has passed a law to tax fast fashion items €5 per piece by 2030, while U.S. lawmakers are supporting secondhand markets to reduce textile waste
Industry leaders like Tapestry and Reju are piloting advanced recycling and material innovation
Yet the sector remains dependent on low-cost fossil-based inputs, especially in regions reliant on coal-powered manufacturing
Broader adoption of decarbonized sourcing, inventory management, and long-term supplier contracts will be essential for structural change

💬 One quote: “One of my pet peeves in the sector is when people say ‘it’s not scale ready, or it’s not scalable.’” – Lewis Perkins, President, Apparel Impact Institute

📈 One stat: Apparel industry emissions reached 944 million metric tons in 2023—equivalent to 2% of global emissions

Explore carbon credit purchases, total emissions, and climate targets of thousands of companies on Data Hub™ — the first platform designed to help sustainability providers generate sales leads!

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