Throwaway fashion trends are one of the leading causes of sustainability issues on the planet, with more clothes than ever being dumped after a short period of owning them. According to statistics, the US throws away more than 11.3 million tons of textile waste each year, amounting to 2,150 pieces of clothing each second.

While the fashion industry isn’t the first that comes to mind when we consider the larger players contributing to global warming such as the fossil fuel industry, travel and tourism, and the global shipping industry, the fashion industry plays a larger part than we realize.

As citizens across the world become more globally aware and conscious of their carbon footprint, more and more consumers are looking for ways to reduce their impact on the earth, in which there are multiple ways to introduce sustainability through fashion. Let’s take a look at some of the top ways you can do this below.

Instead of purchasing a brand-new product, buying second-hand, swapping, or borrowing clothing can help to reduce your carbon footprint.

Click To Tweet

Buy Less

In today’s world, we’re surrounded by a consumer society that supports us to buy new things every day. Yet often, we don’t need the material possessions we come to own and much of it can even negatively affect our wellbeing.

Consumers wanting to be more conscious of their carbon footprint can look into how to live a more minimalist lifestyle in which some tips for this include regular decluttering of your home and closet and donating unwanted goods to charity, limiting accessories to only meaningful items, resisting the temptation to buy the latest trends and most importantly finding your inner purpose, which will bring peace to yourself and your minimalist lifestyle.

Buy Better Quality

Today’s fashion trends are easy to follow thanks to lower-end retailers like Primark and New Look that offer the latest trends at low prices. However, retailers like this often don’t offer the same quality that higher-end brands provide, meaning clothes need to be thrown out and replaced much more regularly.

Environmentally conscious consumers can opt-out of throw-away fashion by opting to buy higher quality items that are made to last longer. If more consumers did this, the impact of the fashion industry would be far more friendly on the planet thanks to less waste and less shipping.

Trade, Swap and Rent Clothing

In need of a new outfit? Why not consider an alternative option to hitting the shops such as borrowing from a friend’s wardrobe or renting an outfit from a rental store? Instead of purchasing a brand-new product, buying second-hand, swapping or borrowing clothing can help to reduce your personal carbon footprint on the earth, as well as also having significant benefits for your bank account.

There are also some great second-hand shopping apps around today that make it easier than ever to find great deals from other people’s unwanted treasures. Some great second-hand fashion apps include FLYP, Depop and Vinted.

Consider wearing clothes more than once if they’re clean, as well as waiting until you have a full load to do the laundry.

Click To Tweet

Change Your Washing Habits

Used to wearing something once and chucking it straight in the laundry basket? This behavior could be having a detrimental impact on the earth. Many of us are guilty of cutting corners to save precious time in today’s non-stop society, yet if we slow down and consider our actions then we can have a significant effect on the earth.

Consider wearing clothes more than once if they’re clean, as well as waiting until you have a full load to do the laundry. In addition, try washing your clothes in cold water. Many laundry detergent brands out there now cater to this option, which can be just as efficient as washing in hot water.

Overall, throwaway fashion has become a huge issue in today’s society, with heart-breaking scenes of clothing going straight to landfills. Yet, by following the above suggestions, you as the consumer can have a much greater impact on the planet than you thought possible.