How Clean Are Your Clothes?
The hidden cost of the clothes we’re buying.
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0 CO21760-1820 The Industrial Revolution initiates the relentless release of greenhouse gas emissions into the atmosphere. Emissions are at 280 parts per million.
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1940s
First use of polyester fibers -
1988
US Senate hears testimony on global warming -
1990s
The rise of fast fashion -
1994
First e-commerce clothing websites -
2002
World produces $1 trillion worth of clothing -
2013
Rana Plaza factory catastrophe -
2015
Clothing production reaches $1.8 trillion -
2022
CO2e at levels more than 150
times higher than in 1850
- 1850
- 1890
- 1930
- 1970
- 1990
- 2010
Call It a Climate Crisis
Half the carbon emitted by burning fossil fuels was released in the past three decades. Releasing carbon dioxide into the air traps heat in the atmosphere, contributing to climate change.
The Industry Is a Waste, And It’s Getting Worse.
Buy. Use. Throw away. Buy more. Fast, disposable fashion is wasteful by design. Consumers buy 60% more items of clothing and keep them for about half as long as they did 15 years ago.*
*According to a 2016 report by McKinsey & Company that looked at consumer spending and clothing production from 2000 to 2014.
The number of tons of textile waste the US generated in 2014, compared to 9.4 million in 2000.
The clothing industry contributes up to 10% of the pollution driving the climate crisis.
Apparel workers are among the lowest-paid laborers in the world.
The Greenwashing Problem
The world’s largest clothing brands hide dirty, irresponsible practices and misuse words like “sustainable,” “green” and “conscious.”
Cut-rate prices, overconsumption and a culture of convenience
Lead to…
pollution, labor abuses and waste.
Together, We Can Change How Clothes Are Made
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We’re Recycling Our Way to Lower Emissions
Recycled material is the greatest input in our gear and allows us to decrease our dependence on oil-based materials, creating more demand in the market so other brands can use it, too.
Demand Recycled -
We Grow Our Cotton Organically
Since 1996, all the virgin cotton in our line has been grown organically, without the use of harmful chemicals (and we make clothes with recycled cotton, too). By using organic cotton fiber, we save water and reduce CO₂ emissions by 48% per kilogram compared to conventional cotton fiber, based on the Higg Materials Sustainability Index, version 3.6.
Demand Organic -
We’re Changing How We Grow Food and Fiber
We are investing in and testing ways to improve soil health through Regenerative Organic farming practices.
Learn More -
We Care for Our Workers
We are dedicated to improving conditions for our workers. Over 85% of our product line was made in a Fair Trade Certified™ factory, impacting more than 85,000 workers.
Demand Fair Trade -
We Keep Gear In Play
The best thing we can do for the planet is to stop buying new clothes and get more use out of the stuff we already own, cutting down on consumption. Our Worn Wear® program does just that.
Buy Used
Know How Your
Clothes Are Made.
Informed buyers will force the clothing industry to drop their dirty practices. Demand better practices—what you buy is what the industry will become.
