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The global apparel industry is a significant yet overlooked source of plastic leakage

Author

Listed:
  • Anna Kounina

    (Quantis Switzerland)

  • Jesse Daystar

    (Cotton Incorporated
    Duke University)

  • Sophie Chalumeau

    (Quantis Switzerland)

  • Jon Devine

    (Cotton Incorporated)

  • Roland Geyer

    (University of California)

  • Steven T. Pires

    (Cotton Incorporated
    North Carolina State University)

  • Shreya Uday Sonar

    (Quantis United States)

  • Richard A. Venditti

    (North Carolina State University)

  • Julien Boucher

    (EA - Earth Action)

Abstract

Plastic pollution is a global environmental threat with potentially irreversible impacts on aquatic life, ecosystems, and human health. This study is a comprehensive assessment of the global apparel industry’s contribution to plastic pollution. It includes plastic leakage of packaging and end-of-life apparel waste in addition to fiber emissions during apparel production and use. We estimate that the apparel industry generated 8.3 [4.8–12.3] million tons (Mt) of plastic pollution in 2019, corresponding to 14% [5.5%–30%] of the estimated 60 Mt from all sectors. In this study, we demonstrate that the main source of plastic pollution from the apparel supply chain is synthetic clothing as mismanaged waste either in the country of its original use or in the countries receiving used apparel exports. A fundamental transformation of the apparel economy towards a circular framework and decreased synthetic apparel consumption is needed to tackle apparel-related plastic pollution.

Suggested Citation

  • Anna Kounina & Jesse Daystar & Sophie Chalumeau & Jon Devine & Roland Geyer & Steven T. Pires & Shreya Uday Sonar & Richard A. Venditti & Julien Boucher, 2024. "The global apparel industry is a significant yet overlooked source of plastic leakage," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 15(1), pages 1-8, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:15:y:2024:i:1:d:10.1038_s41467-024-49441-4
    DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-49441-4
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