German Federal Ministry Of Environment: How To Avoid The Social Consequences And Global Environmental Impact Of Fast Fashion

Cherish rather than discard

When we no longer need something, we throw it away.

Results: according to the United Nations Environment Programme, more than 7 billion tons of garbage are produced every year, including more than 2 billion tons of urban waste.

For us - whether it's a country, a company or a citizen - it means we have to open up new horizons. Many deeply rooted structures and cherished behaviors must be tested. How can companies produce more sustainably? Do we need disposable items, such as coffee cups or plastic plates?

Everyone can contribute through their actions. Of course, there are countless ways to avoid waste. Waste prevention is a process that affects the whole society, not just a single plan or a package of government measures. Many things cannot be enforced by law - because who is willing to decide what is "right" and "wrong" needs. up to you!

Clothing and fashion are the embodiment of personality and personal style.

This is not a new discovery,

Fashion was and has always been a reflection of the times,

It is also a reflection of social and national conditions.

　　 textile

What's new, however, are global trends in the textile and fashion industry, which are summed up as the word "fast fashion.". New trends and new series enter the market at shorter intervals, and the speed of spiral development is faster and faster. Many clothes are bought only one season, and the quality produced is relatively poor. German consumers buy an average of 60 pieces of clothing a year, and the rapid growth of online shopping has further strengthened this trend. Fast fashion is usually cheap and can meet the needs of consumers in the short term. Almost every five pieces of clothing are not worn. Since the turn of the century, the global garment production has more than doubled. The study predicts that the textile industry will further intensive growth in the coming decades. Meet all signs of excessive, unsustainable development. Cherish rather than discard

　　 Social consequences, global environmental impacts

　 Seamstress in Southeast Asia

Fast fashion has a price, even if it's not on the price tag. People's understanding of the environmental and social impact of clothing production is still very low, and these aspects have little role in purchasing decisions. Growing cotton requires a lot of water, especially in water deficient areas. It takes about 200 bathtubs full of water to produce a kilogram of cotton. Pesticides and fertilizers are a problem, especially in traditional cotton cultivation. About 14% of the global pesticide market and about 5% of the pesticide market are in this area.

Paint and other chemicals contaminate wastewater in producing countries, where there is usually no proper sewage treatment plant. In addition, many tailors in producing countries work under inhumane conditions.

The use of chemical fibers - such as polyester or elastane - can also lead to the release of microplastics into water and the ocean during the washing process. They are cheap and widely used synthetic fibers and are often mixed in. So far, there is no reliable information on how many fibers are released in this way. It is estimated that in Germany, 80 to 400 tons of particles are released through clothing each year.

In fact, high quality recycling in the sense of closed material recycling does not occur today. Globally, less than one percent of textile production materials are reused for clothing. About 80 percent of the world's old clothes are burned or eventually landfilled. About 20% of clothing goes through a process called a "degradation cycle" - which means, for example, the production of cleaning rags or insulation from old clothes.

　　 How to avoid fast fashion?

In Germany, more and more clothing is produced in a sustainable way and at the same time fashionable. There are several ways to avoid fast fashion. Here are some tips for buying and using clothes in an environmentally responsible way:

When buying textiles, look for seals that guarantee environmental and social standards.

Buy organic quality cotton textiles ("organic cotton").

Buy used clothes or exchange clothes.

Rent clothes for weddings, parties and other celebrations.

Dress as long as possible.

If the clothes are worn or defective, have them repaired by a tailor or cobbler.

Transfer or dispose of unused clothing.

Questioning fashion trends and criticizing fast fashion.

These practical tips come from the Federal Environment Agency's procurement guidelines. Federal Environment Agency Procurement Guide

Say no to disposable society - yes to high quality and durable clothes. 40% of clothes have never been worn or rarely worn.

What do you do in the German Federal Ministry of environment?

The Federal Ministry of environment is strengthening the development and production of sustainable fashion. These include the promotion of environmentally friendly textile fibers, textile blue angel or newly introduced products.

Clothing is produced worldwide and is geared to the global market, especially in Asia. Germany can not impose ecological design requirements on textiles alone, which will become the so-called "non-tariff trade barrier" in the EU internal market.

Within the federal government, the Federal Ministry of environment and the Federal Ministry of economy are jointly responsible. The textile strategy is closely related to the sustainable products Initiative (SPI), which will replace the EU eco design directive. Textiles is one of the first new product groups for SPI and digital product passes.

Like washing machines and other energy consuming products, the EU internal market will formulate binding norms for the ecological design of textiles in the future. For example, the use of recycled fibers or the durability of textiles. The Federal Ministry of environment and the Federal Department of economic affairs work closely together to implement the EU textile strategy in an ambitious manner. Against destruction of usable items

We want to prevent the destruction of new goods that are available - especially in the textile industry. That's why we introduce a duty of care to trading companies and the entire logistics chain of products.

This means that manufacturers and distributors are obliged to destroy returned or overproduced goods only when necessary for safety or health reasons. For example, slightly damaged goods can be sold at reduced prices or donated. This is already a common practice in many companies. The transportation and storage of new goods should also be designed in a way that can be used for a long time.

New and available goods cannot be simply discarded for economic reasons. To do this, production must also be closer to demand from the beginning, so that production in the fashion industry will no longer exceed actual demand.

We also engage in dialogue with associations and companies to increase transparency about the scale and causes of commodity destruction. Once we have this foundation, we can plan further steps. This is a problem for the whole society, and consumers can also contribute to solving this problem.