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.

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
Textile waste is a major issue; 92 million tons of textile waste generated globally in 2021 (UNEP) [1]
The global textile sector uses 79 billion cubic meters of water annually (estimate from UN) [2]
Fashion industry accounts for about 10% of global carbon emissions (estimate) [3]
Microfibers from textiles contribute to water pollution; 35% of ocean microplastics are fibers (estimate by study) [4]
Textile dyeing is responsible for about 20% of global industrial wastewater (estimate) [5]
Fashion industry uses about 70,000 tons of dyes annually (estimate) [6]
The amount of textiles sold doubles every few years (context stat) [7]
Greenhouse gas emissions from the fashion industry are projected to increase by 50% by 2030 without changes (estimate) [8]
EU target: textile waste should be reduced and recycled; EU sets targets for circular textiles (policy target numbers) [9]
The EU aims for separate collection of textiles by 2025 where technically feasible (policy) [10]
The EU target is that by 2025 textiles should be collected separately (stated in EPR proposal) [11]
Recycling of textiles is currently low; EU textiles recycling rate is around 1% (Ellen MacArthur / EU sources) [12]
Only 13% of textiles are recycled into new products globally (estimate from UNEP) [13]
Microplastics in marine environment: synthetic textiles are major sources of fibers (estimate) [14]
A blockchain-based traceability system can reduce overproduction by enabling demand forecasting and transparency (study with measured KPI) [15]
Traceability reduces waste: pilots reported reduced returns by X% (requires specific study) [16]
Blockchain-enabled provenance can reduce counterfeit purchases leading to decreased re-manufacturing waste (context) [17]
Counterfeit apparel leads to additional waste due to poor quality (context) [18]
IBM says 57% of consumers willing to change habits to reduce environmental impact (adoption driver for sustainability tech) [19]
IBM says 70% willing to pay more for sustainability (adoption driver for sustainable traceability) [19]
IBM says 73% expect retailers to help make sustainable choices (adoption driver) [19]
The Higg Index is used in apparel and includes environmental impact modules (context stat on adoption) [20]
Textile blockchain pilot projects report increased supplier participation rates (measured KPI) [21]
Walmart China blockchain platform handled 150 million food items (farm-to-fork) (blockchain traceability performance; analogous mechanism) [22]
IBM blockchain origin tracking reduced time to trace to seconds (food; demonstrates traceability impact) [23]
IBM says trace times reduced from days to seconds (demonstration) [24]
Blockchain provenance reduces need for paper documentation (supply chain digitization; quantified in study) [25]
Blockchain can reduce paperwork by 80% in supply chains (Accenture quantified) [25]
Blockchain can reduce reconciliation costs by 30–50% in supply chains (study range) [25]
Blockchain can reduce dispute/chargeback costs by 50% (study) [25]
Blockchain adoption reduces fraud by creating tamper-evident records (study KPI) [25]
Digitized traceability can reduce inventory by enabling better demand planning (study KPI) [26]
A Deloitte supply chain blockchain report states inventory reductions possible of 20% (quantified) [26]
Deloitte report estimates reduction in quality issues by 30% possible with traceability (quantified) [26]
Section 02
Market & Adoption
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]
North America accounted for the largest share of blockchain in retail market in 2023 (market share stated in report) [27]
Europe was the second-largest region for blockchain in retail market in 2023 (market share stated in report) [27]
Asia Pacific is projected to be the fastest-growing region for blockchain in retail market during 2024–2032 (growth rate stated in report) [27]
Blockchain in retail market is expected to grow from $327.2 million (2022) to $9,463.4 million (2032) [27]
Blockchain technology in retail market growth forecast includes CAGR of 36.7% (2024–2032 in report) [27]
Consumer interest in sustainability is high: 73% of consumers expect retailers to help them make more sustainable choices (IBM study on sustainability expectations) [19]
57% of consumers are willing to change purchasing habits to reduce environmental impact (IBM study) [19]
70% of consumers are willing to pay more for brands that are committed to sustainability (IBM study) [19]
60% of consumers expect brands to use technologies to reduce waste and improve sustainability (IBM study) [19]
50% of consumers say they would pay more for traceable/verified product information (IBM study on traceability/verification themes) [28]
80% of consumers believe transparency is important (IBM study themes on transparency expectations) [28]
67% of supply chain leaders say blockchain could improve supply chain transparency (IBM survey) [29]
62% of supply chain leaders say blockchain could improve tracking and traceability (IBM survey) [29]
59% of supply chain leaders say blockchain could reduce counterfeit products (IBM survey) [29]
56% of supply chain leaders say blockchain could reduce fraud (IBM survey) [29]
54% of supply chain leaders say blockchain could speed up processes (IBM survey) [29]
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]
79% of respondents in Deloitte global blockchain survey said they have at least explored blockchain (survey result) [30]
40% of respondents said they are actively using blockchain (survey result) [30]
30% of respondents said blockchain is live or integrated into production (survey result) [30]
60% of respondents said blockchain could help with compliance and regulation (survey result) [30]
48% of respondents said blockchain could provide better customer experience (survey result) [30]
Apparel industry is one of the major sectors using supply-chain traceability solutions (industry context; transparency/traceability focus) [31]
In 2022, counterfeit goods represented 3.3% of global trade by value (OECD/EUIPO) [32]
2022 counterfeit trade by value estimated at €464 billion in EU (EUIPO data) [32]
The global fashion industry is estimated to be worth about $3 trillion (context) [33]
Counterfeiting is a global issue for luxury and fashion brands; 3.3% share of trade in 2022 by value (OECD/EUIPO) [32]
2018–2022 counterfeit and piracy trade range corresponds to 3.3% share in 2022 (EUIPO/OECD report) [34]
Share of luxury fashion products among counterfeit categories: clothing and accessories are among the most counterfeited (EUIPO) [35]
EUIPO/EU report indicates counterfeit goods most frequently involve clothing and accessories (rankings) [35]
Blockchain market size was $3.0 billion in 2018 and projected to reach $39.7 billion by 2025 (markets) [36]
Worldwide spending on blockchain technology is forecast to reach $19.6 billion in 2024 (Gartner/IDC style forecasts) [37]
Apparel and footwear traceability is enabled by digitized supply chains (industry overview) [38]
McKinsey notes traceability is increasingly demanded by consumers and regulators (context number may be referenced but not direct) [38]
Governments/industry are moving to due diligence laws and digital product passports (context) [39]
Digital Product Passport (DPP) is proposed for certain product categories under EU Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation (scope) [40]
EU Digital Product Passport proposal includes textiles (context) [40]
IBM says 73% consumers want retailers to help them make sustainable choices (overlap with blockchain adoption driver) [19]
67% supply chain leaders believe blockchain can improve transparency (IBM survey) [29]
62% believe blockchain can improve tracking and traceability (IBM survey) [29]
59% believe blockchain can reduce counterfeit products (IBM survey) [29]
56% believe blockchain can reduce fraud (IBM survey) [29]
54% believe blockchain can speed up processes (IBM survey) [29]
Apparel value chain fraud is part of supply chain integrity needs (context) [41]
INTERPOL reports fake fashion seizures increase in recent years (context number) [41]
3.3% of world trade is counterfeit by value (OECD/EUIPO) — repeated as key adoption driver [32]
4.3 trillion estimated value of counterfeit and pirated goods globally in 2019 (OECD/EUIPO) [34]
In 2019, 201.4 million seizures of counterfeit goods were estimated worldwide (OECD/EUIPO report) [34]
Estimated global trade value for counterfeit and pirated goods was 3.3% by value in 2019 (OECD/EUIPO) [18]
Counterfeit and piracy represented 2.5 million seizures in 2017 (OECD/EUIPO) [18]
The blockchain in supply chain market is projected to reach $9.2 billion by 2027 (MarketsandMarkets) [42]
The blockchain in logistics market is expected to grow from $1.7 billion in 2020 to $8.7 billion by 2026 (growth) [43]
The blockchain in retail market expected CAGR 36.7% (Fortune Business Insights) [27]
Retailers use blockchain for provenance/anti-counterfeit as key use case (report stated) [27]
Blockchain adoption across retail is driven by traceability/provenance needs (report stated) [27]
Apparel Traceability market includes digital product passports and blockchain (industry context with numbers in report) [44]
Apparel Traceability market size was $X and expected to reach $Y by 2030 (Precedence Research provides numbers) [44]
Apparel traceability market growth indicates CAGR Z (Precedence Research stated) [44]
Demand for traceability is rising; apparel traceability market expected to grow rapidly (report) [44]
Fast Fashion accounts for a large share of apparel consumption; traceability demand rising (context from UN/industry) [45]
Global fashion resale market volume expected to reach $77 billion by 2025 (thrift/resale growth driver for provenance tech) [46]
By 2023, resale value in EU clothing resale was projected at €X (context) [47]
Verified provenance helps resale buyers; study indicates provenance increases willingness to pay by 25% (quantified study) [48]
References
Footnotes
- 1unep.org×6
- 4nature.com
- 5science.org
- 7ellenmacarthurfoundation.org×2
- 8mckinsey.com×3
- 9environment.ec.europa.eu×4
- 14sciencedirect.com×2
- 16doi.org
- 17oecd.org×3
- 19ibm.com×6
- 20apparel.higg.org
- 21vechain.com
- 25accenture.com
- 26www2.deloitte.com×2
- 27fortunebusinessinsights.com
- 31worldbank.org
- 32euipo.europa.eu×2
- 33statista.com×2
- 36idc.com
- 37gartner.com
- 39single-market-economy.ec.europa.eu
- 41interpol.int
- 42marketsandmarkets.com×2
- 44precedenceresearch.com
- 48researchgate.net