The industry is backsliding on its emissions reduction goals due to increased usage of synthetic materials like polyester.

The apparel sector’s greenhouse gas emissions increased to 944 million metric tons in 2023, up by 7.5% compared to 2022, ...

High Carbon Footprint of Production Fast fashion brands aim to quickly bring the latest trends from the runway to retail outlets at a low cost. This rush results in energy-intensive production ...

Apparel companies’ climate impact is rising sharply, courtesy of the ultrafast retail boom.

“Controlling the carbon emissions in the fashion industry is a really complex process,” Lu said, adding that many brands use AI to make their operations more efficient.

By 2019, the fashion industry was producing an estimated 1.7 billion metric tonnes of CO2 per year or 10 percent of all man-made carbon emissions.

The statistics are truly alarming. The industry accounts for 10% of global carbon emissions, surpassing the environmental toll of all international flights and maritime shipping combined.

This means that, if the fashion industry were a country, it would rank as the third-largest emitter of carbon emissions globally, following China and the United States.