According to the Ellen MacArthur Foundation, “the $1.3 trillion clothing industry employs more than 300 million people across its value chain,” and “in some low-income countries, cotton production alone accounts for nearly seventy percent of total employment.” %.”
Global clothing production has “doubled since 2000” and the average item of clothing is “worn only seven to 10 times before being thrown away.” According to Earth.org, “Clothing sales have doubled from 100 billion to 200 billion pieces a year, but the average number of times an item is worn overall has decreased by 36%.” Today, clothing accounts for “more than 60% of all textiles used” and, according to UNECE, 85% of all textile products are thrown away each year.
Overconsumption of resources and goods
Consumer demands and behavior have changed dramatically over the past half century. According to the Ellen MacArthur Foundation, there is a direct relationship between the growth of the global middle class and the doubling of clothing production over the past 15 years. This demand ushered in fast fashion in the ’90s, and many fashion companies have been striving to go even faster and make more for less ever since. In addition to the advent of social media, the demand for newness is higher than ever, introducing a new concept of “ultra-fast fashion” where changes occur at a “blink-and-you-miss-it” speed.
The industry’s significant impact on the environment extends beyond the consumption of raw materials. The textile industry is highly dependent on non-renewable resources, using approximately 98 million tonnes each year. This includes petroleum to make synthetic fibers, fertilizers to grow cotton, and chemicals to process, dye, and finish fibers. Current inefficient linear systems are characterized by low utilization rates and poor recycling practices, which are the main reasons for the increasing pressure on these resources.
Cost of not implementing reverse logistics
Lower prices can lead to higher costs. If the fashion industry continues on its current trajectory, it could consume more than 26% of the carbon budget needed to limit global warming to 2°C by 2050. A shift away from the current wasteful, linear textile model is essential to ensuring we reach 2°C globally. Warming thresholds remain achievable.
The textile waste challenge not only poses environmental problems but can also exacerbate poverty and social injustice. According to ClimateAction.Africa, Africa is “at the center of a growing textile waste problem”, noting that “millions of tonnes of discarded clothing and textiles arrive on the continent every year”. Greenpeace further states:[…]”Fashion waste from fashion brands and imported second-hand clothes are causing a water pollution crisis in many African countries,” he said, adding, “The link between improper disposal of fashion waste and water pollution in Africa cannot be denied.” Ta. In some cases, fishermen have said, “I use my nets to catch clothing rather than to catch fish.”
Similarly, many Asian countries where clothing is produced are also feeling the impact, such as in Cambodia, where workers fell ill due to improper disposal of discarded textiles. In both of these examples, there are ways to avoid further problems like this.
Reverse logistics and circular economy
Adopting circular systems could create a US$560 billion economic opportunity for the industry. To achieve this, the Ellen MacArthur Foundation points out, it is important to innovate with new business models and foster seamless collaboration across the value chain.
However, currently, fashion supply chains tend to mainly move in one direction. Move forward. They follow the traditional pattern of textile to clothing production, warehousing, and storage to the consumer, after which the supply chain typically ends, leaving a huge footprint.
Reverse logistics, used in multiple industries, focuses on the return flow of products from consumers to producers. It is the process of returning goods from their final destination to the manufacturer or other point in the supply chain for return, repair, remanufacturing, recycling, or disposal. Similarly, circular systems ensure that produced products remain intact (e.g. for resellers) or in disassembled parts, reducing overall textile waste, reducing environmental impact, and sustaining Possible measures will be taken.
The fashion industry is already making changes. From using recycled materials to reducing production, we’re seeing this in most fashion companies. McKinsey argues that the change is also being felt among consumers, noting that Millennials and Gen Z consumers are more “mindful shoppers.” Similarly, this year’s Global Fashion Summit focused on sustainability as a strategy for industry resilience, rather than an afterthought or bonus that can be offered to customers, to “unlock the next level.” focused.
The industry is already starting to gain momentum in this area, with companies such as Oncemore and Sark entering the used clothing recycling space, breaking down fibers manually and chemically. Companies like TexAid take textiles of all kinds and give them new life by repairing, recycling, remanufacturing, and more. Similarly, the industry is expanding, with companies such as The Hurd, which uses agricultural waste to make textile products, and Recyctex, which uses discarded plastic bottles from remote locations such as mountain ranges and oceans to create new polyester fabrics. Beyond that, solutions-oriented companies are emerging. This is just to name a few of the many solutions the fashion industry is considering.
5R of reverse logistics
The five “R’s” of reverse logistics are return, resale, repair, repackaging, and recycling. Simply put, these five areas act as red threads that create equal responsibility between consumers, producers, and sellers. Everyone must act as stewards of impact. And supporting this union needs to be a logistics partner. 5R helps transport products in any direction possible.
A prime example of this is VF Corporation, which has implemented multiple solutions that enable products to be repaired, repackaged, resold, and recycled. For example, backpacks from wool socks that can be broken down into threads and reused to repairing and reselling socks. Another example of this is H&M’s clothing collection program. The program allows customers to drop off unwanted clothing in-store, where it can be broken down into fibers and reused. Additionally, in 2019, the company launched a rental option in Stockholm that allows consumers to rent items they want to use. This is a program focused on reducing overall waste.
Collaborations like the New Cotton Project enable a circular model of commercial clothing production, where textile waste is collected, separated, and recycled into man-made cellulose fibers that feel like cotton. Twelve brands (including H&M Group and Adidas) are participating in the Expanded Textile Recycling Project, acting as manufacturers, suppliers and research institutes for the project.
What lies ahead?
The world continues to face increasing consumerism and massive waste. As new ultra-fast fashion brands emerge to pre-empt fast fashion, the amount of textile waste generated is likely to increase even further, exacerbating an already problematic situation.
Meanwhile, many in the fashion industry are already considering alternatives and implementing changes where possible. Changes can be visible, or they can be less visible.
Collaboration is at the core of the solution. Consumers need to understand these options and be willing to pay for them. Otherwise, fashion brands will not be able to continue implementing it in the future. Additionally, fashion brands need to work closely with logistics partners for successful reverse logistics, from product movement to warehousing options.
Many different models can work, but reverse logistics has the best chance of success if your logistics partner can provide agility, reach, and reliability. When logistics can work together to deliver solutions across land, sea and air, fashion companies can focus on changing their models and making consumers more interested in and understanding them. Is your brand ready to take the next step? Click here to learn how.
