Clothing has a huge impact on the environment from growing raw materials such as cotton to textile waste, pollution, water and land use. According to the UN Environment Programme, clothing is responsible for approximately 10% of global carbon emissions, that’s more than all international flights and maritime shipping combined. In addition, the industry is a huge consumer of water, ranking as the second-largest global water user. But it doesn’t have to be this way. By embracing circular business models, the fashion sector can radically rethink how it operates and reduce its environmental footprint.
The Environmental Crisis of Fast Fashion
A significant driver behind the fashion industry’s environmental impact is the rise in production and overconsumption. Between 2000 and 2015, global clothing production doubled. This explosion in demand has created a vicious cycle of fast fashion, where low-cost, mass-produced garments are consumed at an unsustainable rate, often ending up in landfills shortly after they’ve been worn. With 70% of the industry’s greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions linked to the production of raw materials and manufacturing new clothing, there is a critical need for change.
However, there is a glimmer of hope. Companies and organisations are now looking for ways to reduce these impacts and make the fashion industry more sustainable through repairing, reselling, and recycling clothing, shifting away from the “take-make-dispose” linear model.
The Role of Circular Business Models
Circular business models are at the heart of this transformation. These models aim to keep products and materials in circulation for as long as possible by emphasizing reuse, repair, and resale. Instead of pushing new products to meet ever-growing demand, circular models focus on extending the lifespan of existing items. This not only reduces the consumption of virgin materials but also lowers energy usage, greenhouse gas emissions, and waste generation.
According to WRAP (Waste and Resources Action Programme), one of the leading global environmental action NGOs, businesses in the preloved and repair marketplace, including platforms like Depop, eBay, Vestiaire Collective, The Seam, SOJO, and the brand Finisterre are taking significant strides toward supporting circular fashion. WRAP collaborated with these companies to assess the impact of resale and repair on new sales and carbon emissions.
The Environmental Benefits of Repair and Resale
WRAP’s research found that repairing and reselling clothing can have a profound effect on reducing the need for new garments. For example:
Repairing existing items: For every five repairs made to clothing, four new items are displaced, meaning those new items are not purchased.
Buying second-hand: For every five items purchased second-hand online, three new items are avoided. This reduces demand for newly manufactured clothing.
These findings demonstrate that repair and resale can significantly lower the environmental cost of clothing production. The data shows an 82.2% displacement rate for repairs and 64.6% displacement rate for resale, meaning a considerable reduction in the number of new items bought and the environmental strain caused by their production.
Real-Life Carbon Savings from Circular Fashion
The environmental savings from repair and resale are tangible and impactful. WRAP’s research breaks down the carbon savings for common clothing items:
- Second-hand jeans: Buying a second-hand pair instead of new can save over 30kg CO2e, equivalent to making 600 cups of tea.
- Second-hand trainers: Opting for second-hand trainers saves over 12kg CO2e, the equivalent of streaming TV for almost 10 days.
- Repairing a cotton t-shirt: Repairing a t-shirt instead of replacing it can save over 7.5kg CO2e, or the equivalent of ironing for 25 hours.
- Repairing a wool jumper: Fixing a wool jumper can save over 16kg CO2e, equivalent to keeping a standard lightbulb on for over 50 days.
- Repairing a waterproof jacket: Repairing a jacket instead of purchasing a new one can save over 45kg CO2e, the equivalent of running almost 300 washing cycles.
These examples illustrate just how much carbon dioxide can be saved by choosing repair or resale over new purchases—helping both the environment and your wallet.
The Path Forward: Standardised Data and Adoption
For the circular fashion model to truly take off, it is vital for the industry to embrace standardised methods for measuring the environmental benefits of repair and resale. WRAP’s groundbreaking research provides a methodology that businesses of all sizes can use to measure and demonstrate the impacts of these practices in a clear and comparable way.
As the demand for sustainable fashion grows, it’s essential for brands and retailers to not only invest in repair and resale initiatives but also communicate their environmental benefits with customers. Adopting circular business models enables businesses to generate revenue from services like repairs and second-hand sales, all while reducing the volume of new goods sold and contributing to sustainability goals.
“I have worked in repair for over 7 years and the industry has rapidly changed in this time. It is fundamental WRAP has captured this tangible data to quantitively back up the progressive nature of repair. The industry and brands can now start to build on this influential knowledge to shape future strategy and engagement. I am excited to bring this data back to our Finisterre community and continue threading the needle and patching up our customers kit ready for their next adventure – creating a wave of change.” Amy Brock-Morgan – Finisterre
Conclusion: A Greener Future for Fashion
The fashion industry faces a pressing need to transform its practices, but circular business models offer a promising solution. By focusing on repair, resale, and reducing new production, we can significantly decrease the sector’s environmental impact.
The key takeaway is that every repair and second-hand purchase can make a difference. It’s time to rethink how we consume fashion and embrace a more sustainable, circular future. Whether you’re a business looking to make an impact or a consumer trying to reduce your carbon footprint, adopting circular fashion practices is one of the most effective ways to contribute to a greener planet.
Let’s work together to reshape the future of fashion—one repair, one resale, and one conscious purchase at a time.
