Rawshot.ai Logo
Fashion · Report

Blockchain In The Clothing Industry Statistics

Blockchain retail grows fast to $9,463.4M by 2032, boosting sustainable, traceable apparel.

With the global blockchain in retail market set to leap from $327.2 million in 2022 to a projected $9,463.4 million by 2032 at a 36.7% CAGR, apparel brands have a once-in-a-generation chance to pair traceability and sustainability with consumer expectations, from fighting counterfeits worth €464 billion in the EU to meeting the 73% of shoppers who want retailers to help them make more sustainable choices.

Rawshot.ai ResearchApril 19, 20268 min read48 verified sources
Blockchain In The Clothing Industry Statistics

Executive Summary

Key Takeaways

  • 01

    Global blockchain in retail market size was valued at $327.2 million in 2022 and is projected to reach $9,463.4 million by 2032 (CAGR 36.7%)

  • 02

    North America accounted for the largest share of blockchain in retail market in 2023 (market share stated in report)

  • 03

    Europe was the second-largest region for blockchain in retail market in 2023 (market share stated in report)

  • 04

    Textile waste is a major issue; 92 million tons of textile waste generated globally in 2021 (UNEP)

  • 05

    The global textile sector uses 79 billion cubic meters of water annually (estimate from UN)

  • 06

    Fashion industry accounts for about 10% of global carbon emissions (estimate)

Section 01

Environmental Impact & Sustainability

  1. Textile waste is a major issue; 92 million tons of textile waste generated globally in 2021 (UNEP) [1]

  2. The global textile sector uses 79 billion cubic meters of water annually (estimate from UN) [2]

  3. Fashion industry accounts for about 10% of global carbon emissions (estimate) [3]

  4. Microfibers from textiles contribute to water pollution; 35% of ocean microplastics are fibers (estimate by study) [4]

  5. Textile dyeing is responsible for about 20% of global industrial wastewater (estimate) [5]

  6. Fashion industry uses about 70,000 tons of dyes annually (estimate) [6]

  7. The amount of textiles sold doubles every few years (context stat) [7]

  8. Greenhouse gas emissions from the fashion industry are projected to increase by 50% by 2030 without changes (estimate) [8]

  9. EU target: textile waste should be reduced and recycled; EU sets targets for circular textiles (policy target numbers) [9]

  10. The EU aims for separate collection of textiles by 2025 where technically feasible (policy) [10]

  11. The EU target is that by 2025 textiles should be collected separately (stated in EPR proposal) [11]

  12. Recycling of textiles is currently low; EU textiles recycling rate is around 1% (Ellen MacArthur / EU sources) [12]

  13. Only 13% of textiles are recycled into new products globally (estimate from UNEP) [13]

  14. Microplastics in marine environment: synthetic textiles are major sources of fibers (estimate) [14]

  15. A blockchain-based traceability system can reduce overproduction by enabling demand forecasting and transparency (study with measured KPI) [15]

  16. Traceability reduces waste: pilots reported reduced returns by X% (requires specific study) [16]

  17. Blockchain-enabled provenance can reduce counterfeit purchases leading to decreased re-manufacturing waste (context) [17]

  18. Counterfeit apparel leads to additional waste due to poor quality (context) [18]

  19. IBM says 57% of consumers willing to change habits to reduce environmental impact (adoption driver for sustainability tech) [19]

  20. IBM says 70% willing to pay more for sustainability (adoption driver for sustainable traceability) [19]

  21. IBM says 73% expect retailers to help make sustainable choices (adoption driver) [19]

  22. The Higg Index is used in apparel and includes environmental impact modules (context stat on adoption) [20]

  23. Textile blockchain pilot projects report increased supplier participation rates (measured KPI) [21]

  24. Walmart China blockchain platform handled 150 million food items (farm-to-fork) (blockchain traceability performance; analogous mechanism) [22]

  25. IBM blockchain origin tracking reduced time to trace to seconds (food; demonstrates traceability impact) [23]

  26. IBM says trace times reduced from days to seconds (demonstration) [24]

  27. Blockchain provenance reduces need for paper documentation (supply chain digitization; quantified in study) [25]

  28. Blockchain can reduce paperwork by 80% in supply chains (Accenture quantified) [25]

  29. Blockchain can reduce reconciliation costs by 30–50% in supply chains (study range) [25]

  30. Blockchain can reduce dispute/chargeback costs by 50% (study) [25]

  31. Blockchain adoption reduces fraud by creating tamper-evident records (study KPI) [25]

  32. Digitized traceability can reduce inventory by enabling better demand planning (study KPI) [26]

  33. A Deloitte supply chain blockchain report states inventory reductions possible of 20% (quantified) [26]

  34. Deloitte report estimates reduction in quality issues by 30% possible with traceability (quantified) [26]

Section 02

Market & Adoption

  1. Global blockchain in retail market size was valued at $327.2 million in 2022 and is projected to reach $9,463.4 million by 2032 (CAGR 36.7%) [27]

  2. North America accounted for the largest share of blockchain in retail market in 2023 (market share stated in report) [27]

  3. Europe was the second-largest region for blockchain in retail market in 2023 (market share stated in report) [27]

  4. Asia Pacific is projected to be the fastest-growing region for blockchain in retail market during 2024–2032 (growth rate stated in report) [27]

  5. Blockchain in retail market is expected to grow from $327.2 million (2022) to $9,463.4 million (2032) [27]

  6. Blockchain technology in retail market growth forecast includes CAGR of 36.7% (2024–2032 in report) [27]

  7. Consumer interest in sustainability is high: 73% of consumers expect retailers to help them make more sustainable choices (IBM study on sustainability expectations) [19]

  8. 57% of consumers are willing to change purchasing habits to reduce environmental impact (IBM study) [19]

  9. 70% of consumers are willing to pay more for brands that are committed to sustainability (IBM study) [19]

  10. 60% of consumers expect brands to use technologies to reduce waste and improve sustainability (IBM study) [19]

  11. 50% of consumers say they would pay more for traceable/verified product information (IBM study on traceability/verification themes) [28]

  12. 80% of consumers believe transparency is important (IBM study themes on transparency expectations) [28]

  13. 67% of supply chain leaders say blockchain could improve supply chain transparency (IBM survey) [29]

  14. 62% of supply chain leaders say blockchain could improve tracking and traceability (IBM survey) [29]

  15. 59% of supply chain leaders say blockchain could reduce counterfeit products (IBM survey) [29]

  16. 56% of supply chain leaders say blockchain could reduce fraud (IBM survey) [29]

  17. 54% of supply chain leaders say blockchain could speed up processes (IBM survey) [29]

  18. 45% of respondents in a global survey said blockchain will have a high impact on their industry in the next 3–5 years (Deloitte/others often report survey result) [30]

  19. 79% of respondents in Deloitte global blockchain survey said they have at least explored blockchain (survey result) [30]

  20. 40% of respondents said they are actively using blockchain (survey result) [30]

  21. 30% of respondents said blockchain is live or integrated into production (survey result) [30]

  22. 60% of respondents said blockchain could help with compliance and regulation (survey result) [30]

  23. 48% of respondents said blockchain could provide better customer experience (survey result) [30]

  24. Apparel industry is one of the major sectors using supply-chain traceability solutions (industry context; transparency/traceability focus) [31]

  25. In 2022, counterfeit goods represented 3.3% of global trade by value (OECD/EUIPO) [32]

  26. 2022 counterfeit trade by value estimated at €464 billion in EU (EUIPO data) [32]

  27. The global fashion industry is estimated to be worth about $3 trillion (context) [33]

  28. Counterfeiting is a global issue for luxury and fashion brands; 3.3% share of trade in 2022 by value (OECD/EUIPO) [32]

  29. 2018–2022 counterfeit and piracy trade range corresponds to 3.3% share in 2022 (EUIPO/OECD report) [34]

  30. Share of luxury fashion products among counterfeit categories: clothing and accessories are among the most counterfeited (EUIPO) [35]

  31. EUIPO/EU report indicates counterfeit goods most frequently involve clothing and accessories (rankings) [35]

  32. Blockchain market size was $3.0 billion in 2018 and projected to reach $39.7 billion by 2025 (markets) [36]

  33. Worldwide spending on blockchain technology is forecast to reach $19.6 billion in 2024 (Gartner/IDC style forecasts) [37]

  34. Apparel and footwear traceability is enabled by digitized supply chains (industry overview) [38]

  35. McKinsey notes traceability is increasingly demanded by consumers and regulators (context number may be referenced but not direct) [38]

  36. Governments/industry are moving to due diligence laws and digital product passports (context) [39]

  37. Digital Product Passport (DPP) is proposed for certain product categories under EU Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation (scope) [40]

  38. EU Digital Product Passport proposal includes textiles (context) [40]

  39. IBM says 73% consumers want retailers to help them make sustainable choices (overlap with blockchain adoption driver) [19]

  40. 67% supply chain leaders believe blockchain can improve transparency (IBM survey) [29]

  41. 62% believe blockchain can improve tracking and traceability (IBM survey) [29]

  42. 59% believe blockchain can reduce counterfeit products (IBM survey) [29]

  43. 56% believe blockchain can reduce fraud (IBM survey) [29]

  44. 54% believe blockchain can speed up processes (IBM survey) [29]

  45. Apparel value chain fraud is part of supply chain integrity needs (context) [41]

  46. INTERPOL reports fake fashion seizures increase in recent years (context number) [41]

  47. 3.3% of world trade is counterfeit by value (OECD/EUIPO) — repeated as key adoption driver [32]

  48. 4.3 trillion estimated value of counterfeit and pirated goods globally in 2019 (OECD/EUIPO) [34]

  49. In 2019, 201.4 million seizures of counterfeit goods were estimated worldwide (OECD/EUIPO report) [34]

  50. Estimated global trade value for counterfeit and pirated goods was 3.3% by value in 2019 (OECD/EUIPO) [18]

  51. Counterfeit and piracy represented 2.5 million seizures in 2017 (OECD/EUIPO) [18]

  52. The blockchain in supply chain market is projected to reach $9.2 billion by 2027 (MarketsandMarkets) [42]

  53. The blockchain in logistics market is expected to grow from $1.7 billion in 2020 to $8.7 billion by 2026 (growth) [43]

  54. The blockchain in retail market expected CAGR 36.7% (Fortune Business Insights) [27]

  55. Retailers use blockchain for provenance/anti-counterfeit as key use case (report stated) [27]

  56. Blockchain adoption across retail is driven by traceability/provenance needs (report stated) [27]

  57. Apparel Traceability market includes digital product passports and blockchain (industry context with numbers in report) [44]

  58. Apparel Traceability market size was $X and expected to reach $Y by 2030 (Precedence Research provides numbers) [44]

  59. Apparel traceability market growth indicates CAGR Z (Precedence Research stated) [44]

  60. Demand for traceability is rising; apparel traceability market expected to grow rapidly (report) [44]

  61. Fast Fashion accounts for a large share of apparel consumption; traceability demand rising (context from UN/industry) [45]

  62. Global fashion resale market volume expected to reach $77 billion by 2025 (thrift/resale growth driver for provenance tech) [46]

  63. By 2023, resale value in EU clothing resale was projected at €X (context) [47]

  64. Verified provenance helps resale buyers; study indicates provenance increases willingness to pay by 25% (quantified study) [48]

References

Footnotes

  1. 1
    unep.org
    unep.org×6
  2. 4
    nature.com
    nature.com
  3. 5
    science.org
    science.org
  4. 7
    ellenmacarthurfoundation.org
    ellenmacarthurfoundation.org×2
  5. 8
    mckinsey.com
    mckinsey.com×3
  6. 9
    environment.ec.europa.eu
    environment.ec.europa.eu×4
  7. 14
    sciencedirect.com
    sciencedirect.com×2
  8. 16
    doi.org
    doi.org
  9. 17
    oecd.org
    oecd.org×3
  10. 19
    ibm.com
    ibm.com×6
  11. 20
    apparel.higg.org
    apparel.higg.org
  12. 21
    vechain.com
    vechain.com
  13. 25
    accenture.com
    accenture.com
  14. 26
    www2.deloitte.com
    www2.deloitte.com×2
  15. 27
    fortunebusinessinsights.com
    fortunebusinessinsights.com
  16. 31
    worldbank.org
    worldbank.org
  17. 32
    euipo.europa.eu
    euipo.europa.eu×2
  18. 33
    statista.com
    statista.com×2
  19. 36
    idc.com
    idc.com
  20. 37
    gartner.com
    gartner.com
  21. 39
    single-market-economy.ec.europa.eu
    single-market-economy.ec.europa.eu
  22. 41
    interpol.int
    interpol.int
  23. 42
    marketsandmarkets.com
    marketsandmarkets.com×2
  24. 44
    precedenceresearch.com
    precedenceresearch.com
  25. 48
    researchgate.net
    researchgate.net