December 23, 2024 – The global apparel industry is confronting a severe environmental challenge, as new research reveals that millions of tons of plastic waste are being discharged into the environment annually due to clothing consumption, with this figure projected to climb over time. A study conducted by North Carolina State University (NCSU) has shed light on the gravity of this issue, indicating that global apparel consumption generated over 20 million tons of plastic waste in 2019, approximately 40% of which may have become sources of environmental pollution due to improper management—a phenomenon termed “plastic leakage.”
Textile waste originates primarily from two sources: clothing made of synthetic materials such as polyester, nylon, and acrylic, and clothing made of cotton and other natural fibers. To comprehensively analyze the issue of plastic waste within the “value chain” of apparel products, researchers delved into every stage from production to consumption and ultimate disposal. Richard Venditti, a professor of Paper Science and Engineering at NCSU and a co-author of the study, stated, “We conducted a comprehensive analysis of global apparel import-export and production data, comparing it with existing information at each stage of the value chain to accurately estimate how much plastic leaks into the environment at each stage.”
AsiaMB has learned that the study found that discarded clothing, especially synthetic fiber apparel, is the primary source of plastic waste leakage. Additionally, waste generated during manufacturing, packaging, and even transportation, as well as microplastics produced during laundry, are also significant pollution sources that cannot be ignored. Specifically, synthetic fiber apparel accounted for 18 million tons of plastic waste in 2019, constituting 89% of the total plastic waste produced by the global apparel industry that year, with about 8.3 million tons potentially leaked into the environment. In contrast, cotton apparel generated 1.9 million tons of plastic waste, while fibers other than synthetic textiles and cotton produced 0.31 million tons. Notably, unlike synthetic apparel, the plastic waste generated by cotton and other fibers almost entirely stems from plastics used in packaging processes.
This research serves as another wake-up call for environmental protection, reminding the global apparel industry to take effective measures to reduce the generation and leakage of plastic waste and to jointly safeguard our planet.