The denim industry is considered to be one of the most polluting in the fashion sector, particularly for its intensive consumption of water, use of chemicals and greenhouse gas emissions at every stage, from cotton growing to manufacturing. A new study of TheGuangdong University of Technology (China) has been done on fast fashion jeans. According to the research carried out by the university’s team of climatologists, these jeans, symbols of ephemeral consumption, are responsible for alarming levels of pollution.
A catastrophic carbon footprint
The report reveals that the life cycle of a pair of fast fashion jeans emits as much CO2 as that of a petrol vehicle travelling more than 10 kilometres. This striking comparison highlights the heavy ecological footprint of this type of garment, which is worn on average just seven times by the consumer before being discarded.
The researchers found that these jeans, which are often attractive because of their price and immediate availability, hide a much less attractive reality: they produce around 11 times more CO2 emissions than traditional jeans, which are worn around 120 times. « This is a troubling paradox when you consider that each pair of traditional jeans has a carbon footprint that is not negligible, but much smaller », explains Ya Zhou, lead author of the study.
Production, transport and rapid consumption: the guilty trio
The study points the finger not only at mass production and rapid international transport, but also at the programmed obsolescence of these garments. These aspects are exacerbated by consumer habits that encourage frequent wardrobe changes, thereby contributing to an escalation in environmental impact.
The report also highlights the impact of post-purchase activities such as washing, drying and ironing, which account for almost half of the total carbon footprint of jeans. For fast fashion jeans, however, the bulk of emissions come from the production and transport phases, underlining the urgent need to review our production and distribution systems.
Faced with this problem, researchers are calling for a change in consumer habits. They recommend buying second-hand or sustainably sourced clothing, which could reduce carbon emissions by up to 90 per cent. As well as minimising environmental impact, this solution would promote the circular economy and extend the life of products.
Photo : Pexels
