BlogpostThe fashion industry has a big impact on the environment. One part that often goed unnoticed? Its massive water footprint. Each year, the textile sector uses around 93 trillion liters of water. That’s 93 more times than what all Dutch households use for drinking water combined. This excessive use fuels the growing global water crisis.
Water uses in fashion
Most of that water goes into making faberics and dyeing textiles. Think of irrigating cotton fields, washing denim and treating materials with color. It’s not just about quantity – quality matters too. Polluted water from these processes often flows straight into rivers and lakes.
In facts. fashion causes around 20% of all industrial water pollution. Why? Because dyeing and treating fabrics requires chemicals. And many of those chemicals end up in our ecosystem.
Microplastics: a hidden threat
It doesn’t stop there. Clothing made from synthetic fibers. Like polyester sheds microplastics every time you wash it. These tiny particles travel through water systems and end up in our oceans. The results? Serious harm to marine life. Shockingly, 35% of primary microplastics pollution in oceans comes from the fashion industry. That makes fashion a major player in the microplastics crisis.
Climate Change and Water Stress
There’s the bigger picture. With record-breaking temperatures and rising drought risk – like NOS recently reported – water stress is getting worse. This affects farmers, nature and industries everywhere. The message is clear: fashion must act now to reduce its water footprint and overall impact.
The Solution: Responsible Production and Conscious Consumption
The fashion companies have a big responsibility. And that’s where ImpactBuying comes in. We hep brands switch to production methods that use less water and fewer harmful substances. Choosing eco-friendly materials is a key part of this shift.
But production is only half the story. Consumers choices matter too. That’s why we encourage brands to promote conscious consumption – helping shoppers choose better materials and make sustainable fashion the new normal.
Every step toward more responsible production matters. Curious how we can support your brand? Reach out via our contact page.