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The global apparel industry: a significant, yet overlooked source of plastic leakage
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This study provides the first comprehensive estimate of the global apparel industry's total contribution to plastic pollution, including microfiber shedding during washing, packaging waste, and end-of-life textile disposal. The apparel sector is identified as a major and largely underestimated source of plastic entering the environment.
Abstract This study is the first comprehensive assessment of the global apparel industry’s contribution to plastic pollution. It includes leakage of packaging and end-of-life apparel waste in addition to fiber emissions during apparel production and use. We estimate that the apparel industry generated 9.2 [5.5 – 13] million tons (Mt) of plastic pollution in 2019, corresponding to 15% [6.3% – 31%] of the estimated 61 Mt from all sectors. The main source of plastic pollution from the apparel supply chain is synthetic clothing as mismanaged waste either in the country of its original use or in the countries receiving used apparel exports. A fundamental transformation of the apparel economy towards a circular framework along with decreased synthetic apparel consumption is needed to tackle apparel-related plastic pollution.
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The global apparel industry is a significant yet overlooked source of plastic leakage
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This comprehensive assessment estimated that the global apparel industry generated 8.3 million tons of plastic pollution in 2019—representing 14% of estimated total global plastic pollution—with synthetic clothing as mismanaged waste being the dominant source rather than production-stage fiber emissions. The authors conclude that a fundamental transformation toward circular apparel economies and decreased synthetic clothing consumption is essential to address apparel-related plastic pollution.
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