GITNUXREPORT 2026

Sustainability In The Apparel Industry Statistics

The apparel industry's environmental and social impacts are vast and deeply troubling.

Min-ji Park

Research Analyst focused on sustainability and consumer trends.

First published: Feb 13, 2026

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Statistic 1

The global apparel and footwear industry accounts for 10% of global carbon emissions, more than all international flights and maritime shipping combined.

Statistic 2

Apparel manufacturing consumes 116 million tons of coal equivalent energy annually, projected to rise 63% by 2030.

Statistic 3

Fast fashion contributes 4-5% of global methane emissions from landfills where 60% of clothes decompose.

Statistic 4

Apparel supply chains emit 1.2 billion tons of CO2e yearly, with 50% from raw material production.

Statistic 5

Scope 3 emissions from apparel brands average 97% of total footprint, mainly from fiber production.

Statistic 6

Knitting and weaving in apparel uses 1,000 kWh per ton of fabric, contributing to 5% of global electricity use.

Statistic 7

Fast fashion brands emit 0.5-1 kg CO2 per t-shirt produced, totaling 1.8 billion tons yearly industry-wide.

Statistic 8

Apparel logistics emit 16% of industry GHG, with air freight for fast fashion at 500g CO2 per t-shirt.

Statistic 9

Consumer use phase accounts for 55% of apparel GHG emissions due to washing and drying.

Statistic 10

Global apparel energy demand equals 96 power plants of 1GW each running full-time.

Statistic 11

Synthetic fiber production doubled to 75 million tons since 2000, emitting 700 million tons CO2 yearly.

Statistic 12

Retail operations emit 1.4% of apparel GHG, with store lighting at 25 kWh/sq m daily.

Statistic 13

E-commerce packaging for apparel adds 800 million tons CO2e yearly from cardboard production.

Statistic 14

Global apparel Scope 1&2 emissions are 190 million tCO2e, with fossil fuels at 70%.

Statistic 15

Washing machines for apparel use 6 billion kWh yearly in EU, 2.5% of household energy.

Statistic 16

Apparel ironing and steaming consume 15% of factory energy, often from coal.

Statistic 17

Global apparel transport emits 200 million tCO2e, 20% from road freight.

Statistic 18

Dry cleaning solvents emit 1 million tons VOCs yearly, 5% from apparel maintenance.

Statistic 19

Apparel store HVAC systems consume 40% of retail energy, emitting 50 million tCO2e.

Statistic 20

Polyester production, dominant in apparel at 52% of fibers, emits 32 kg CO2 per kg compared to 19 kg for cotton.

Statistic 21

Cotton farming uses 16% of the world's insecticides and 7% of pesticides, despite occupying only 2.4% of arable land.

Statistic 22

Viscose production from wood pulp releases 70% of its fibers as waste, with chemical pollution from carbon disulfide.

Statistic 23

Recycled polyester saves 59% energy and reduces CO2 by 32% compared to virgin polyester in apparel.

Statistic 24

Organic cotton uses 71% less water and 62% less energy than conventional cotton for apparel.

Statistic 25

Lyocell from sustainable sources emits 65% less CO2 than polyester and uses closed-loop production.

Statistic 26

Wool production emits 25 kg CO2e per kg, higher than polyester due to methane from sheep.

Statistic 27

Hemp requires 50% less water than cotton and no pesticides for apparel fiber production.

Statistic 28

Recycled cotton saves 20,000 liters of water per ton compared to virgin cotton.

Statistic 29

Bamboo viscose processing emits CS2, neurotoxic, with 300,000 tons produced for apparel annually.

Statistic 30

Linen production uses 80% less water than cotton, with no irrigation needed in Europe.

Statistic 31

Tencel lyocell recycles 99% of solvents, reducing energy by 50% vs. viscose for apparel.

Statistic 32

Piñatex from pineapple leaves saves 99% water vs. leather, no chemicals needed.

Statistic 33

Modal fabric uses 10x less water than cotton, biodegradable unlike synthetics.

Statistic 34

Seawool from oyster shells sequesters 1.5 tons CO2 per ton produced for apparel.

Statistic 35

Orange Fiber from citrus peels diverts 50,000 tons agricultural waste for silk-like apparel.

Statistic 36

Alginate fibers from seaweed use ocean nutrients, zero freshwater for apparel.

Statistic 37

Spinnova fiber from wood pulp uses 99% less water, no chemicals vs. cotton.

Statistic 38

Mylo mushroom leather grows in 14 days, uses 99% less water than cowhide.

Statistic 39

Garment workers in Bangladesh earn an average of $113 per month, below the living wage of $218 needed for basic needs.

Statistic 40

80% of apparel factories in India lack proper ventilation, leading to health issues for 4 million workers.

Statistic 41

In Vietnam, 75% of garment workers are women facing 75-hour workweeks without overtime pay.

Statistic 42

Child labor affects 170,000 apparel workers in Bangladesh, with 4% of factories employing children under 14.

Statistic 43

Cambodian garment factories see 60% worker turnover yearly due to unsafe conditions and low wages.

Statistic 44

Ethiopian apparel workers earn $26 monthly, half the poverty line, with 90% being female migrants.

Statistic 45

Pakistan's garment sector has 2 million child laborers stitching soccer balls and clothes.

Statistic 46

Indonesian garment factories expose workers to 14-hour shifts, with 40% unpaid overtime.

Statistic 47

Myanmar's 700,000 garment workers face military crackdowns, with wages at $3.50 daily.

Statistic 48

Turkish apparel workers strike over $450 monthly wages insufficient for inflation-hit living costs.

Statistic 49

Sri Lankan apparel employs 350,000, but 60% women earn below $100/month amid economic crisis.

Statistic 50

Haitian garment factories pay $5/day, leading to malnutrition in 70% of 60,000 workers.

Statistic 51

Lesotho's 40,000 apparel workers earn $100/month, sparking 2023 riots for living wage.

Statistic 52

Bangladesh Rana Plaza collapse killed 1,134 workers, exposing 4,000 factories' safety risks.

Statistic 53

Madagascar's garment workers, 70% women, face sexual harassment in 90% factories.

Statistic 54

Nicaragua's 50,000 apparel workers earn $180/month, union busting in 80% factories.

Statistic 55

Guatemala's maquilas employ 100,000 at $250/month, with violence against union leaders.

Statistic 56

El Salvador's 80,000 garment workers protest $365 minimum wage insufficient for families.

Statistic 57

Honduras factories have 120,000 workers earning $190/month, post-hurricane debt traps.

Statistic 58

The apparel sector produces 92 million tons of textile waste annually, with less than 1% recycled into new garments.

Statistic 59

85% of unwanted clothing ends up in landfills or incinerated, totaling 11 million tons in the EU alone yearly.

Statistic 60

Global textile waste reached 109 million tons in 2019, expected to increase to 148 million tons by 2030 without intervention.

Statistic 61

Americans discard 81 pounds of clothing per person annually, totaling 17 million tons nationwide.

Statistic 62

99% of clothing is not recycled, leading to 92 million tons of waste dumped globally each year.

Statistic 63

UK households throw away 1 million tons of textiles yearly, with 300,000 tons still usable.

Statistic 64

Global apparel waste could be reduced by 30% if second-hand sales doubled to 8% market share.

Statistic 65

70% of clothes in landfills are synthetic, taking 200 years to decompose and leaching microplastics.

Statistic 66

Europe discards 5.8 million tons of textiles yearly, only 1% collected for fiber recycling.

Statistic 67

US landfills receive 13.1 million tons of textiles yearly, 5.8% of municipal solid waste.

Statistic 68

France bans destruction of unsold clothes, targeting 700,000 tons wasted yearly by luxury brands.

Statistic 69

India generates 1 million tons of textile waste yearly, with 90% openly burned releasing toxins.

Statistic 70

Australia sends 150,000 tons of clothes to landfill yearly, 44 kg per capita.

Statistic 71

Japan recycles only 13% of 900,000 tons textile waste, incinerating 70% for energy.

Statistic 72

Chile imports 80,000 tons fast fashion waste yearly, overwhelming local landfills.

Statistic 73

Netherlands buries 47 kg clothing per person yearly, total 800,000 tons nationally.

Statistic 74

Sweden's textile waste is 8 kg per capita, with 50% incinerated for district heating.

Statistic 75

Germany produces 400,000 tons textile waste yearly, recycling rate stagnant at 40%.

Statistic 76

Canada discards 500,000 tons clothing yearly, only 15% diverted from landfill.

Statistic 77

Fashion production makes up 10% of carbon emissions, with a single cotton t-shirt requiring 2,700 liters of water during its lifecycle.

Statistic 78

Washing synthetic clothes releases 0.5 million tons of microfibers into oceans yearly, equivalent to 50 billion plastic bottles.

Statistic 79

Dyeing processes in apparel use 200 liters of water per kg of fabric, polluting rivers with untreated effluents.

Statistic 80

Leather tanning in apparel uses chromium, contaminating 20% of India's rivers with heavy metals from tanneries.

Statistic 81

Wet processing in apparel consumes 200-300 liters of water per kg of textile, 20% lost as effluent.

Statistic 82

Apparel industry discharges 20% of global industrial water pollution, with 500,000 tons of dyes yearly.

Statistic 83

Finishing processes pollute with 125 million kg of dyes and chemicals annually in apparel production.

Statistic 84

Textile wet processing generates 93 billion cubic meters of wastewater yearly, mostly untreated.

Statistic 85

Bleaching in apparel uses 1.5 million tons of chlorine yearly, causing 10% of industrial dioxin pollution.

Statistic 86

Apparel dyeing effluents contain azo dyes carcinogenic to 15 million people via contaminated water.

Statistic 87

Finishing wastewater in China pollutes Yangtze River, killing 50% fish in affected sections.

Statistic 88

Global apparel scouring process uses 100 billion liters of caustic soda solution yearly, polluting groundwater.

Statistic 89

Mercerizing cotton uses 1 kg NaOH per kg fabric, with 50% discharged untreated.

Statistic 90

Printing inks release 100,000 tons of VOCs yearly into air from apparel decoration.

Statistic 91

Desizing removes 50-70% of fabric weight as wastewater sludge in apparel prep.

Statistic 92

Effluents from apparel contain PFAS, found in 80% of global rivers near factories.

Statistic 93

Sanforizing cotton shrinks fabric using 150 liters water per meter, mostly polluted runoff.

Statistic 94

Apparel effluent BOD loads total 2.5 billion kg oxygen demand yearly, eutrophying waters.

Statistic 95

Reactive dyeing fixes only 60% color, discharging 40% dyes into waterways.

1/95

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If you think your international flight has a hefty carbon footprint, consider that the global apparel industry generates a far greater impact, accounting for a staggering 10% of the world's carbon emissions, more than all flights and maritime shipping combined.

Key Takeaways

The global apparel and footwear industry accounts for 10% of global carbon emissions, more than all international flights and maritime shipping combined.
Apparel manufacturing consumes 116 million tons of coal equivalent energy annually, projected to rise 63% by 2030.
Fast fashion contributes 4-5% of global methane emissions from landfills where 60% of clothes decompose.
Fashion production makes up 10% of carbon emissions, with a single cotton t-shirt requiring 2,700 liters of water during its lifecycle.
Washing synthetic clothes releases 0.5 million tons of microfibers into oceans yearly, equivalent to 50 billion plastic bottles.
Dyeing processes in apparel use 200 liters of water per kg of fabric, polluting rivers with untreated effluents.
The apparel sector produces 92 million tons of textile waste annually, with less than 1% recycled into new garments.
85% of unwanted clothing ends up in landfills or incinerated, totaling 11 million tons in the EU alone yearly.
Global textile waste reached 109 million tons in 2019, expected to increase to 148 million tons by 2030 without intervention.
Polyester production, dominant in apparel at 52% of fibers, emits 32 kg CO2 per kg compared to 19 kg for cotton.
Cotton farming uses 16% of the world's insecticides and 7% of pesticides, despite occupying only 2.4% of arable land.
Viscose production from wood pulp releases 70% of its fibers as waste, with chemical pollution from carbon disulfide.
Garment workers in Bangladesh earn an average of $113 per month, below the living wage of $218 needed for basic needs.
80% of apparel factories in India lack proper ventilation, leading to health issues for 4 million workers.
In Vietnam, 75% of garment workers are women facing 75-hour workweeks without overtime pay.

The apparel industry's environmental and social impacts are vast and deeply troubling.

Emissions and Energy

The global apparel and footwear industry accounts for 10% of global carbon emissions, more than all international flights and maritime shipping combined.
Apparel manufacturing consumes 116 million tons of coal equivalent energy annually, projected to rise 63% by 2030.
Fast fashion contributes 4-5% of global methane emissions from landfills where 60% of clothes decompose.
Apparel supply chains emit 1.2 billion tons of CO2e yearly, with 50% from raw material production.
Scope 3 emissions from apparel brands average 97% of total footprint, mainly from fiber production.
Knitting and weaving in apparel uses 1,000 kWh per ton of fabric, contributing to 5% of global electricity use.
Fast fashion brands emit 0.5-1 kg CO2 per t-shirt produced, totaling 1.8 billion tons yearly industry-wide.
Apparel logistics emit 16% of industry GHG, with air freight for fast fashion at 500g CO2 per t-shirt.
Consumer use phase accounts for 55% of apparel GHG emissions due to washing and drying.
Global apparel energy demand equals 96 power plants of 1GW each running full-time.
Synthetic fiber production doubled to 75 million tons since 2000, emitting 700 million tons CO2 yearly.
Retail operations emit 1.4% of apparel GHG, with store lighting at 25 kWh/sq m daily.
E-commerce packaging for apparel adds 800 million tons CO2e yearly from cardboard production.
Global apparel Scope 1&2 emissions are 190 million tCO2e, with fossil fuels at 70%.
Washing machines for apparel use 6 billion kWh yearly in EU, 2.5% of household energy.
Apparel ironing and steaming consume 15% of factory energy, often from coal.
Global apparel transport emits 200 million tCO2e, 20% from road freight.
Dry cleaning solvents emit 1 million tons VOCs yearly, 5% from apparel maintenance.
Apparel store HVAC systems consume 40% of retail energy, emitting 50 million tCO2e.

Emissions and Energy Interpretation

While our collective closet has become a planetary furnace—powered by coal and belching methane, from the polyester fields to the landfill graves—the most sobering thread is that this entire polluting tapestry is ultimately stitched to our own daily habits of buying, washing, and discarding.

Materials and Fibers

Polyester production, dominant in apparel at 52% of fibers, emits 32 kg CO2 per kg compared to 19 kg for cotton.
Cotton farming uses 16% of the world's insecticides and 7% of pesticides, despite occupying only 2.4% of arable land.
Viscose production from wood pulp releases 70% of its fibers as waste, with chemical pollution from carbon disulfide.
Recycled polyester saves 59% energy and reduces CO2 by 32% compared to virgin polyester in apparel.
Organic cotton uses 71% less water and 62% less energy than conventional cotton for apparel.
Lyocell from sustainable sources emits 65% less CO2 than polyester and uses closed-loop production.
Wool production emits 25 kg CO2e per kg, higher than polyester due to methane from sheep.
Hemp requires 50% less water than cotton and no pesticides for apparel fiber production.
Recycled cotton saves 20,000 liters of water per ton compared to virgin cotton.
Bamboo viscose processing emits CS2, neurotoxic, with 300,000 tons produced for apparel annually.
Linen production uses 80% less water than cotton, with no irrigation needed in Europe.
Tencel lyocell recycles 99% of solvents, reducing energy by 50% vs. viscose for apparel.
Piñatex from pineapple leaves saves 99% water vs. leather, no chemicals needed.
Modal fabric uses 10x less water than cotton, biodegradable unlike synthetics.
Seawool from oyster shells sequesters 1.5 tons CO2 per ton produced for apparel.
Orange Fiber from citrus peels diverts 50,000 tons agricultural waste for silk-like apparel.
Alginate fibers from seaweed use ocean nutrients, zero freshwater for apparel.
Spinnova fiber from wood pulp uses 99% less water, no chemicals vs. cotton.
Mylo mushroom leather grows in 14 days, uses 99% less water than cowhide.

Materials and Fibers Interpretation

The statistics show that while fashion’s most common fibers are deeply problematic—drenching fields in chemicals or saturating the atmosphere in carbon—the industry is also sewing together a surprisingly clever patchwork of solutions, from reincarnated plastic bottles to leather grown from mushrooms.

Social and Ethical

Garment workers in Bangladesh earn an average of $113 per month, below the living wage of $218 needed for basic needs.
80% of apparel factories in India lack proper ventilation, leading to health issues for 4 million workers.
In Vietnam, 75% of garment workers are women facing 75-hour workweeks without overtime pay.
Child labor affects 170,000 apparel workers in Bangladesh, with 4% of factories employing children under 14.
Cambodian garment factories see 60% worker turnover yearly due to unsafe conditions and low wages.
Ethiopian apparel workers earn $26 monthly, half the poverty line, with 90% being female migrants.
Pakistan's garment sector has 2 million child laborers stitching soccer balls and clothes.
Indonesian garment factories expose workers to 14-hour shifts, with 40% unpaid overtime.
Myanmar's 700,000 garment workers face military crackdowns, with wages at $3.50 daily.
Turkish apparel workers strike over $450 monthly wages insufficient for inflation-hit living costs.
Sri Lankan apparel employs 350,000, but 60% women earn below $100/month amid economic crisis.
Haitian garment factories pay $5/day, leading to malnutrition in 70% of 60,000 workers.
Lesotho's 40,000 apparel workers earn $100/month, sparking 2023 riots for living wage.
Bangladesh Rana Plaza collapse killed 1,134 workers, exposing 4,000 factories' safety risks.
Madagascar's garment workers, 70% women, face sexual harassment in 90% factories.
Nicaragua's 50,000 apparel workers earn $180/month, union busting in 80% factories.
Guatemala's maquilas employ 100,000 at $250/month, with violence against union leaders.
El Salvador's 80,000 garment workers protest $365 minimum wage insufficient for families.
Honduras factories have 120,000 workers earning $190/month, post-hurricane debt traps.

Social and Ethical Interpretation

Behind every cheap tag lies a pyramid of exploited humanity, built on the broken promises of a living wage, safe conditions, and basic dignity.

Waste and Landfill

The apparel sector produces 92 million tons of textile waste annually, with less than 1% recycled into new garments.
85% of unwanted clothing ends up in landfills or incinerated, totaling 11 million tons in the EU alone yearly.
Global textile waste reached 109 million tons in 2019, expected to increase to 148 million tons by 2030 without intervention.
Americans discard 81 pounds of clothing per person annually, totaling 17 million tons nationwide.
99% of clothing is not recycled, leading to 92 million tons of waste dumped globally each year.
UK households throw away 1 million tons of textiles yearly, with 300,000 tons still usable.
Global apparel waste could be reduced by 30% if second-hand sales doubled to 8% market share.
70% of clothes in landfills are synthetic, taking 200 years to decompose and leaching microplastics.
Europe discards 5.8 million tons of textiles yearly, only 1% collected for fiber recycling.
US landfills receive 13.1 million tons of textiles yearly, 5.8% of municipal solid waste.
France bans destruction of unsold clothes, targeting 700,000 tons wasted yearly by luxury brands.
India generates 1 million tons of textile waste yearly, with 90% openly burned releasing toxins.
Australia sends 150,000 tons of clothes to landfill yearly, 44 kg per capita.
Japan recycles only 13% of 900,000 tons textile waste, incinerating 70% for energy.
Chile imports 80,000 tons fast fashion waste yearly, overwhelming local landfills.
Netherlands buries 47 kg clothing per person yearly, total 800,000 tons nationally.
Sweden's textile waste is 8 kg per capita, with 50% incinerated for district heating.
Germany produces 400,000 tons textile waste yearly, recycling rate stagnant at 40%.
Canada discards 500,000 tons clothing yearly, only 15% diverted from landfill.

Waste and Landfill Interpretation

Our closets are hemorrhaging fabric into landfills at a geologic scale, creating a slow-motion disaster where polyester outlives civilizations and our fleeting trends are literally etched into the earth's crust.

Water and Pollution

Fashion production makes up 10% of carbon emissions, with a single cotton t-shirt requiring 2,700 liters of water during its lifecycle.
Washing synthetic clothes releases 0.5 million tons of microfibers into oceans yearly, equivalent to 50 billion plastic bottles.
Dyeing processes in apparel use 200 liters of water per kg of fabric, polluting rivers with untreated effluents.
Leather tanning in apparel uses chromium, contaminating 20% of India's rivers with heavy metals from tanneries.
Wet processing in apparel consumes 200-300 liters of water per kg of textile, 20% lost as effluent.
Apparel industry discharges 20% of global industrial water pollution, with 500,000 tons of dyes yearly.
Finishing processes pollute with 125 million kg of dyes and chemicals annually in apparel production.
Textile wet processing generates 93 billion cubic meters of wastewater yearly, mostly untreated.
Bleaching in apparel uses 1.5 million tons of chlorine yearly, causing 10% of industrial dioxin pollution.
Apparel dyeing effluents contain azo dyes carcinogenic to 15 million people via contaminated water.
Finishing wastewater in China pollutes Yangtze River, killing 50% fish in affected sections.
Global apparel scouring process uses 100 billion liters of caustic soda solution yearly, polluting groundwater.
Mercerizing cotton uses 1 kg NaOH per kg fabric, with 50% discharged untreated.
Printing inks release 100,000 tons of VOCs yearly into air from apparel decoration.
Desizing removes 50-70% of fabric weight as wastewater sludge in apparel prep.
Effluents from apparel contain PFAS, found in 80% of global rivers near factories.
Sanforizing cotton shrinks fabric using 150 liters water per meter, mostly polluted runoff.
Apparel effluent BOD loads total 2.5 billion kg oxygen demand yearly, eutrophying waters.
Reactive dyeing fixes only 60% color, discharging 40% dyes into waterways.

Water and Pollution Interpretation

Every statistic tells the same grim story: that the apparel industry’s thirst for new looks has made it a world leader in poisoning the very water we need to survive.