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Sources: Elizabeth Cline, Environmental Protection Agency, Ellen MacArthur Foundation and True Cost How global textile waste is taking a toll on the environment Clothing is one of the fastest-growing categories of waste to landfills. of clothes is dumped every in the U.S. Clothing is one of the leading drivers of climate change, responsible for 8% of all carbon emissions, more than all international flights combined. At last count, the global textile industry emitted 1.2 BILLION TONS of greenhouse gas emissions a year, a quantity that rivals that of the automobile industry. Textile waste has increased 811% SINCE 1960 and the vast majority of this is heading to the landfill. Textile waste totaled more than 1.7 MILLION TONS in 1960 and grew to more than 16 MILLION TONS as of 2015. The utilization of clothing — the average number of times a piece of clothing is worn before being discarded — has decreased 36% IN THE LAST 15 YEARS 82 POUNDS The world now consumes about new pieces of clothing every year. This is 400% 80 BILLION more than the amount we consumed just two decades ago. The average American now generates of textile waste each year. That adds up to more than 11 MILLION TONS of textile waste from the U.S. alone. 1960 36% 2015 = 10 Billion 1 GARBAGE TRUCK 2 MINUTES TEXTILE INDUSTRY AUTOMOBILE INDUSTRY 82lbs
