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The apparel industry is considered one of the worst polluting industries, generating huge volumes of greenhouse gas emissions. It was calculated that in 2022, the apparel industry emitted approximately *** million metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalents into the atmosphere. This is estimated to increase to over *** billion metric tons by 2030 if no drastic action is taken. The source notes that the primary data necessary to give a completely accurate total is either incomplete or does not exist, and so these numbers are an estimate based on the data that is available.

The fashion industry’s answer

Many apparel brands are now taking steps to reduce their carbon footprint and increase transparency. For instance, H&M reported approximately * tonnes of Scope 1 and Scope 2 greenhouse gas emissions in the 2023 financial year, showcasing the industry's efforts to measure and disclose their environmental impact. Scope 1 refers to a company’s direct emissions such as fuel combustion. Scope to 2 refers to energy-related indirect emissions, and Scope 3 includes operational emissions associated with the value chain, e.g. transport and delivery processes. 

Sustainable fashion trends

As consumers become more environmentally conscious on a global scale, the second-hand fashion market is expected to grow significantly. Projections indicate that the value of this market will increase by over *** billion U.S. dollars from 2024 to 2028, reaching approximately *** billion dollars.