Water pollution and microplastics

Textile production is estimated to be responsible for about 20% of global clean water pollution mainly from the dyeing process.

A single laundry load of polyester clothes can discharge 700,000 microplastic fibres that can end up in the food chain.

The majority of microplastics from textiles are released during the first few washes. Fast fashion is based on mass production, low prices and high sales volumes that promote many first washes.

Washing synthetic fabrics leads to the accumulation of more than half a million tonnes of microplastics on the bottom of the oceans every year. In addition to this global problem, the water pollution generated by garment production has a devastating impact on the health of local people, animals and ecosystems where the factories are located.