A study by Professor Alice Payne from RMIT’s School of Fashion & Textiles shows a staggering 93% of clothing waste in Australia never makes it to recycling.
Payne’s research, which was funded by the Queensland Government and Kmart Group, is shedding light on the impact of fast fashion on the environment.
The high clothing disposal rate of the fast fashion industry is in the spotlight. Let’s take a look at how it impacts the environment.
Fast fashion’s recycling rates
Payne conducted interviews with stakeholders, and followed up with a survey of more than 3000 participants.
The findings? Only 7% of discarded clothing is recycled. The rest of it – 93% – ends up in landfills, and puts the spotlight on fast fashion’s high disposal rates.
Fast fashion brands have ‘taught’ consumers to view cheap clothing as something disposable. This is a practice that has caused a massive environmental challenge.
How? Because consumers are encouraged to buy fast and discard even faster, contributing to excessive waste and the increased use of energy and chemicals in production.
Earlier this year, independent fashion watchdog Remake assessed major clothing companies on their environmental, human rights, and equitability practices. The report showed llittle accountability among the best-known brands.
The group gave Shein (whose online marketplace consists of approximately 6,000 Chinese clothing factories) just 6 out of a possible 150 points.
Temu scored zero…
NOW READ: Fast fashion’s dirty secret: How Shein became a climate villain
Consumer behavior and challenges
The research shows that young Australians have “a disconnect” from sustainable practices. They buy into trends and discard items without thinking twice – habits driven by the constant churn of fast fashion cycles.
Consumers thus need to change their thinking. There needs to be a societal shift towards valuing quality over quantity, educating shoppers about sustainable choices.
Circular economy and waste program director at the Australia Institute, Nina Gbor, says drastic action is needed to achieve this. She not only calls for educating consumers, but also penalizing brands that mass produce low-quality clothing.
“Australians are the world’s biggest consumer of clothes, shoes, and bags per capita,” Gbor says. “We’re addicted to stuff that is harming our health and the environment.”
How to fix the wardrobe-to-waste dilemma
So, how can we keep fast fashion items out of landfills?
Professor Payne’s research reveals the critical need for systemic change in the fashion industry. She says further analysis of the data by industry, government, and other interested organizations should be encouraged.
“By fostering collaboration, we hope to leverage these findings to drive systemic change. Over time, we aim to track Australia’s progress toward a more circular economy by continuing to measure and analyze changes in consumer behavior.”
On November 20, 2024, Payne will be joined by industry experts at the Global Sourcing Expo for the panel discussion titled ‘How do Australians acquire, use, and dispose of their clothing?’
Share this article
About the author
Cheryl has contributed to various international publications, with a fervor for data and technology. She explores the intersection of emerging tech trends with logistics, focusing on how digital innovations are reshaping industries on a global scale. When she's not dissecting the latest developments in AI-driven innovation and digital solutions, Cheryl can be found gaming, kickboxing, or navigating the novel niches of consumer gadgetry.
