The world’s total CO 2 emissions 9 are shown on the basis of two axes: the height of the bar (y-axis) is the average per capita CO 2 emissions and the length of the box (x-axis) is the total population. Around 20 % of wastewater worldwide comes from fabric dyeing and treatment. Emission Database for Global Atmospheric Research ( EDGAR ): HFC gas emissions (thousand metric tons of CO2 equivalent), Nitrous oxide emissions (thousand metric tons of CO2 equivalent), Agricultural methane emissions (thousand metric tons of CO2 equivalent), Methane emissions in energy sector (thousand metric tons of CO2 equivalent), Agricultural methane emissions (% of total), International Comparison Program & Purchasing Power Parity, International Household Survey Network (IHSN), Trust Fund for Statistical Capacity Building. Designers are exploring possibilities to use the region’s biodiversity in marketing sustainable brands. HFC gas emissions (thousand metric tons of CO2 equivalent) Methane emissions (kt of CO2 equivalent) Nitrous oxide emissions (thousand metric tons of CO2 equivalent) Technology and research are playing a key role in making the industry more sustainable. If you continue to navigate this website beyond this page, cookies will be placed on your browser. To make the garment industry more sustainable, all actors must get involved, from designers to manufacturers, critics, and consumers. Collection launches are no longer seasonal; the replacement of clothing inventories has become much more frequent. Initiatives such as Hilo Sagrado and Evea, which received World Bank support through competitions organized by the Young Americas Business Trust, are working on this. Less than 1 % of used clothing is recycled into new garments. Find Out The Ellen MacArthur Foundation estimates that every year some USD 500 billion in value is lost due to clothing that is barely worn, not donated, recycled, or ends up in a landfill. It is the world’s third-largest manufacturing sector after the automobile and technology industries. At this pace, the fashion industry’s greenhouse gas emissions will surge more than 50 % by 2030. They must become aware of what they buy. If you have the receipts, you can calculate this.
Some mid-sized and large companies have made strides, but half of the market has done little to become more sustainable in production. Learn how the World Bank Group is helping countries with COVID-19 (coronavirus). The dizzying pace of apparel manufacturing has also accelerated consumption: the average person today buys 60 % more clothing than in 2000, the data show. To help us understand the global distribution of per capita emissions and population, we have visualized global CO 2 emissions by (1) World Bank income group and (2) by world region. We face big challenges to help the world’s poorest people and ensure that everyone sees benefits from economic growth. KEY STATISTICS ON REGIONAL, NATIONAL AND SUBNATIONAL CARBON PRICING INITIATIVE(S) Carbon Pricing initiatives implemented or scheduled for implementation Every year a half a million tons of plastic microfibers are dumped into the ocean, the equivalent of 50 billion plastic bottles. Some companies have a return policy so they can recycle the consumers’ garments after they have worn out. Before buying, ask if the manufacturers used sustainable criteria to make the clothing. How much did you pay for the clothes in your closet? The following statistics, published by the UNEP and the Ellen MacArthur Foundation, give us an idea: The fashion industry’s operating model is exacerbating the problem by stepping up the pace of design and production. And not only do they buy more, they also discard more as a result. Cheap clothing often doesn't survive the wash cycle, meaning that in the long run you don’t save money compared with buying better quality garments? We provide a wide array of financial products and technical assistance, and we help countries share and apply innovative knowledge and solutions to the challenges they face. Many low-cost clothing stores offer new designs every week. Athletic shoes and attire are getting made out of materials extracted from the plastic dumped into the ocean. While a lot still needs to be done, it is encouraging that some companies are becoming involved when a decade ago there was little talk of sustainable fashion. If that is for just one pair of jeans, imagine the environmental cost for everything in our wardrobes. This site uses cookies to optimize functionality and give you the best possible experience. This makes it a challenge for clothing makers to grow without being an enemy of the environment, to become allies of the climate while also promoting better conditions for workers in the sector. Buy only what you need. This site uses cookies to optimize functionality and give you the best possible experience. However, there is a cost behind each dress, pair of jeans, shirt, and sock that goes unnoticed by most people: the cost to the environment. Of the total fiber input used for clothing, 87 % is incinerated or disposed of in a landfill. Consider quality over quantity. The danger? Some leading brands have answered this call and are working to identify fiber alternatives and develop more eco-friendly processes. CO2 emissions (metric tons per capita) Carbon Dioxide Information Analysis Center, Environmental Sciences Division, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Tennessee, United States. Total greenhouse gas emissions (kt of CO2 equivalent) from The World Bank: Data Learn how the World Bank Group is helping countries with COVID-19 (coronavirus). With a score of just 32 over 100, the management consulting firm found that the industry is slow to improve its sustainability.

License : CC BY-4.0 At this pace, the fashion industry’s greenhouse gas emissions will surge more than 50 % by 2030. If you continue to navigate this website beyond this page, cookies will be placed on your browser. Every additional year a garment is worn means less pollution. In some countries, 40 % of purchased clothing is never used. Find Out, Online tool for visualization and analysis. Be creative in combining garments and recycle them after they wear out. Data and research help us understand these challenges and set priorities, share knowledge of what works, and measure progress. How? European Commission, Joint Research Centre ( JRC )/Netherlands Environmental Assessment Agency ( PBL ). To learn more about cookies, click here. Emission Database for Global Atmospheric Research ( EDGAR ), EDGARv4.2 FT2012: Total greenhouse gas emissions (% change from 1990), Nitrous oxide emissions (thousand metric tons of CO2 equivalent), Agricultural methane emissions (thousand metric tons of CO2 equivalent), Methane emissions in energy sector (thousand metric tons of CO2 equivalent), Agricultural nitrous oxide emissions (thousand metric tons of CO2 equivalent), CO2 emissions from liquid fuel consumption (kt), SF6 gas emissions (thousand metric tons of CO2 equivalent), Nitrous oxide emissions (% change from 1990), International Comparison Program & Purchasing Power Parity, International Household Survey Network (IHSN), Trust Fund for Statistical Capacity Building. The fashion industry is key for economic development: it is valued at some USD 2.4 billion globally and directly employees 75 million people throughout its value chain. Microfibers cannot be extracted from the water and they can spread throughout the food chain. Events are being organized and alliances formed to promote the purchase of eco-friendly clothing and accessories. Find Out, Online tool for visualization and analysis.