According to the UN, the fashion industry accounts for 8-10% of global emissions, which is more than the aviation and shipping industries combined. Consumers ' overconsumption of clothing and textile goods is the biggest contributor to these statistics. I came across an insightful article on Earth.org by Martina Igini titled:

"10 Concerning Fast Fashion Waste Statistics":

https://earth.org/statistics-about-fast-fashion-waste/

In her article, she sites staggering facts such as; of the one billion garments produced each year, 92 million tons end up in landfills, the average US consumer throws away 81.5 lbs. of clothing each year, an estimated 11.3 million tons of textile waste, equal to 85% of all textiles globally, end up in landfills yearly, it takes 2,700 liters of water to produce one t-shirt (this amount of water could sustain a human for 900 days).

She goes on to state that; 10% of microplastic waste dispersed in the ocean is from textiles made of Nylon or Polyester, and 9.2 million tons of returned clothes, in the US alone, ended up in landfills in 2020 (it costs more money for companies to put returned items back into circulation than it does to destroy them). Lastly and most disconcerting is the fact that Fast Fashion brands are producing twice the amount of clothing today with no regard for the environmental impact they're having on the planet and future generations.

The awareness of our throw-away culture to recognize quality over quantity, the responsibility of each consumer to buy organically grown fibers, and support ethical labor laws and fair pay, is a step in the right direction. We have a long way to go but understanding that we all play a part, no matter how small, makes a difference in the future of our planet and the next generation.