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Plastic Fast Fashion Is Driving Industry Emissions Higher

Fashion’s carbon footprint grew nearly 8 percent in 2023, the first year-on-year increase since 2019, according to a new report.
A protester holds up as sign saying "Polyester is made of Oil," while standing next to a banner that reads "Code Red For Fossil Fuel Fashion."
Growing volumes of polyester clothing are driving up fashion's emissions, according to a new report. (Wiktor Szymanowicz/Future Publishing via Getty Images)

The fashion industry’s planet-warming emissions rose by 7.5 percent in 2023, driven by growing volumes of plastic polyester usage, according to a new report from the nonprofit Apparel Impact Institute.

The increase in fashion’s climate impact is the first since 2019, a trend that is likely underpinned by the rise of ultra-fast-fashion businesses, the AII report concludes.

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When Will Fashion Start to Bend the Curve on Its Carbon Footprint?

The sector’s planet-warming emissions inched lower in 2022 thanks to revised data, but they’re still on track to grow by more than 40 percent by 2030, according to a new report.

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