Surprising conclusions on the carbon footprint of jeans, a global wardrobe staple, have been revealed by recent study that illuminates the environmental effect of jeans. Researchers at the Guangdong University of Technology carried out a thorough examination of the whole lifetime of a pair of Levi’s jeans, from cotton cultivation to final disposal. Their research highlights the serious environmental consequences of fast-fashion jeans, which are often only worn a few times.
According to the research, only one fast-fashion pair of jeans may produce 2.5 kg of CO2 emissions, which is the same as 6.4 miles of driving. Given that some of the jeans in this category are only worn seven times, this startling discovery emphasizes the substantial carbon impact linked to fast fashion goods. The CO2 emissions from these fast-fashion jeans are eleven times higher per wear than from their more traditionally worn counterparts, which are worn more often over the course of their lifetime.
The main factor influencing how fast fashion and traditional fashion jeans differ environmentally from one another is how they are used and disposed of. Fast fashion products have a larger carbon impact since they are often sent faster and thrown away sooner. The study team found that compared to conventional fashion jeans, which are worn an average of 120 times, fast fashion jeans have a carbon footprint that is 95–99% bigger.
The study’s primary author, Dr. Ya Zhou, highlighted the unexpected environmental effect of a typical wardrobe item like jeans. According to the report, 70% of the emissions in the fast fashion industry come from the manufacture of the fiber and jeans themselves. Furthermore, a significant portion of emissions are caused by the delivery of goods from manufacturers to customers, particularly in the case of fast fashion, which favors expedient logistical techniques like air travel over sea travel.
The fast fashion sector is expected to reach $95 billion by 2030, from its estimated $64.5 billion global value in 2020. The fashion industry is thought to be responsible for 10% of all worldwide emissions and produces 92 million tons of garbage yearly due to its rapid growth. A large portion of this trash is exported to nations where it poses serious environmental and socioeconomic problems.
Nonetheless, the report offers a number of methods for drastically cutting the carbon footprint of the sector. Buying clothes from thrift stores may reduce emissions from a pair of pants by ninety percent. Jeans exchanged via second-hand retailers are believed to have been worn 127 times on average, according to data from American apparel reseller Buffalo Exchange. Moreover, renting clothes or recycling jeans might cut the carbon footprint per wear by 89% and 85%, respectively.
This study emphasizes how critical it is that customers and the fashion industry reevaluate how their decisions about clothing affect the environment, especially in the context of rapid fashion. The garment sector may lessen its environmental effect on the earth by implementing more sustainable methods, such recycling and encouraging second-hand marketplaces.