As the global population continues to rise, forecasted to reach nearly 10 billion by 2057, the demand for new garments escalates correspondingly. This surge is fueled not only by more individuals needing apparel, but also by the fast fashion industry’s strategy to meet —and frequently exceed—these needs through rapid new releases. Each new consumer adds to the growing water footprint of the industry. Currently, the fashion industry ranks as one of the major global consumers of water. Its water usage is expected to surge by 50% by 2030 if current practices persist.
The production of clothing demands a substantial amount of water, dramatically impacting global freshwater resources. Consider a single cotton shirt. Cotton is a very thirsty crop, so one shirt’s worth of cotton requires approximately 2,700 liters of freshwater to produce. This is enough water to sustain a person for 900 days. Compare that to a single pair of jeans, which can require up to 10,000 liters. Reflecting on this, it’s especially notable that Europeans for instance purchase nearly 26 kilograms of textiles each per year. Collectively, the entire textiles industry consumes about 93 billion cubic meters of water annually. This accounts for 4% of total global freshwater withdrawals.
The textile industry’s significant water consumption poses a critical challenge in the context of global population growth. As the number of people on the planet grows, the strain on freshwater resources becomes more severe. The World Resources Institute highlights that the production of clothing is not only water-intensive but also competes with other critical needs such as drinking water, agriculture, and sanitation. This is particularly concerning in regions already dealing with water scarcity—affecting over 2 billion people worldwide.
The processes within textile industries involve extensive use of chemicals for dyeing and treating fabrics, which leads to severe—and sometimes irreversible—freshwater pollution. This not only damages aquatic ecosystems and poses risks to human health but also results in the degradation of freshwater resources, often rendering them irrecoverable. Additionally, when consumers wash garments made from synthetic fibers, they unknowingly contribute to another environmental hazard: microplastics. These tiny particles are released into water systems during laundry, becoming a major source of freshwater pollution and, in some cases, causing irreversible damage.
The textile industry is notorious for its rampant overproduction, with estimates indicating that between 80 billion and 150 billion garments are produced each year. Alarmingly, up to 40% of these garments are never sold. So, what happens to these unsold clothes? Ideally, they would be donated to those in need or recycled. However, the harsh reality is that many end up in landfills. There, they slowly decompose, leaching potentially harmful substances into the soil and groundwater. Moreover, the growing volume of textile waste occupies valuable space, accounting for approximately 5% of all landfill space.
Annually, the fashion industry floods the market with countless new clothing items. Driven by rising living standards and the expanding global population, this seemingly insatiable demand for new clothing significantly strains freshwater resources, consumes vast tracts of land, and generates substantial waste. Despite these factors, the industry persists in producing far more clothing than is actually needed, contributing to an ongoing cycle of environmental degradation.
As we confront these challenges, it becomes evident that the broader issues of world population growth and increasing living standards are putting too much demand on our planet. Freshwater usage, scarcity, and pollution are pressing issues as this vital resource approaches its limits. For more detailed insights on freshwater, refer to the fourth part of our research, titled ‘Basic Necessity.’
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