The climate impact from clothing calls for smaller wardrobes and longer use phases
In the report Promoting climate-friendly consumption of clothing CONCITO points out that the amount of new clothing entering the market, as well as the way and speed at which we use and dispose of our clothes, have a greater effect on the overall climate impact from the textile and clothing industry than factors such as the choice of textile materials and increased recycling of textiles.
“Today there is an increasing focus on material substitution as way of reducing climate impact per kilo clothing. However, what really matters for the overall climate impact is the short amount of time we actually use our clothes and how often we buy new items. We really need to focus on that”, says Charlotte Louise Jensen, Senior Advisor at CONCITO.
Besides having a climate impact, the fashion and textile industry has a large impact on resource and land use. According to CONCITO’s latest report on Denmark’s global consumption-based emissions, consumption of textiles accounts for a total annual emission of just over 2 million tons CO2e, corresponding to 400 kg CO2e per Dane annually. Approximately 310 kg of these emissions come from the consumption of clothing.
Charlotte Louise Jensen points out that many different stakeholders are instrumental in curtailing the climate footprint of textiles and clothing – including policymakers, regulatory bodies, the industry at large, and consumers. The report proposes several strategies for these various actors to mitigate the climate impacts of textiles and clothing.
“As a consumer, you can contribute by buying less new clothes which is often of poor quality– and instead go for good-quality second-hand clothes. In general, you should consider whether your next buy can be your new ‘favorite clothes’. If not, then reconsider if you really want it,” she says.
The authorities must enable a climate-friendly consumption of clothing
Different materials have different climate and environmental impacts, and some materials might have a big climate impact but a small environmental impact, and vice versa. For example, cotton takes a lot of water, pesticides, and area to produce, contrary to synthetic materials which instead are oil-based and energy-intensive. Therefore, the quantity and quality of clothes introduced to the market is a greater driver of the overall climate and environmental impact than the choice of material itself.
The quality and durability of textiles are central – but it is also complex. Technical durability does not equate to emotional and aesthetic durability, and prevailing design and production methodologies predicated on linear and swift turnover of goods lead to fashion items quickly falling out of style.
“That’s why we dispose of our clothes long before they are worn out. This is not only the responsibility of the individual, but primarily the responsibility of the industry and the authorities. The authorities should focus on reducing both the volumes and turnover rates in the textile and clothing sector – for example, by supporting a more climate-friendly clothing consumption with physical spaces that allow for direct reuse, sharing economy, and repair, as well as setting up legislative requirements for companies and the industry,” says Charlotte Louise Jensen.
New EU strategy should introduce a ban on the destruction of unsold clothes
The analysis provides a number of recommendations for the textile and clothing sector. Particular focus is proposed to promoting regulation and legislation that contributes to a reduction in volume as well as extending the use phase, and promotion of measures that ensure strong circularity (direct reuse) rather than weak circularity (solely focusing on recycling).
Overall, CONCITO recommends that EU in the upcoming textile strategy prioritize initiatives that support extended producer responsibility together with targeted producer responsibility, as well as a ban on the destruction of unsold clothes (which has been implemented after the report was published). The Danish government should support these initiatives, supplemented with initiatives that limit the marketing of new and cheap clothes.
Finally, the textile industry is encouraged to transition to strong circular business models that ensure that the production and consumption of clothes does not contribute to exceeding the planetary boundaries.
Hotspot analyses related to Denmark’s global consumption-based emissions
In August 2023 CONCITO published a new status report on Denmark’s global consumption-based emissions, documenting a total emission of 74 million tons, corresponding to a yearly emission of 13 tons CO2e per average-Dane. The emissions are divided into different consumption categories such as food, transport, housing and other goods and services, which is further divided into more detailed sub-categories. This makes it possible to identify the consumption domains that contributes significantly to the total emission – so-called “consumption hotspots”.
Based on the overall inventory, we dive into selected consumption domains in a series of hotspot analyses, where we take a closer look at the extent and causes of emissions, as well as possible reduction measures from regulatory bodies, companies, and citizens. The report Promoting climate-friendly consumption of clothing is one such hotspot analysis.
The hotspot analyses mainly have a Danish scope, but with inclusion of international conditions that have an impact on Danish production, consumption, and climate policy, for example EU-legislation. The hotspot analyses are not exhaustive analyses of entire industries and complex value chains but provide suggestions to which actors have the primary responsibility and related spaces for action, from a Danish perspective.
