Market Report

Ethical Fashion Statistics

Ethical fashion combats pollution, waste, and labor abuse while growing rapidly.

Key Statistics

67% of consumers consider sustainable materials an important purchasing factor

60% of millennials are willing to pay more for sustainable clothing

The average consumer buys 60% more clothing today than 15 years ago

90% of consumers expect brands to operate responsibly and ethically

62% of Gen Z prefer to buy from sustainable brands

Up to 30% of clothing in Western wardrobes has not been worn in the past year

+68 more statistics in this report

Jannik Lindner
October 13, 2025

Key Insights

Essential data points from our research

The ethical fashion market was valued at approximately $6.35 billion in 2019

The global ethical fashion market is projected to grow to $8.25 billion by 2023

67% of consumers consider sustainable materials an important purchasing factor

60% of millennials are willing to pay more for sustainable clothing

Fashion accounts for 10% of global carbon emissions

Nearly 20% of global wastewater is produced by the fashion industry

92 million tons of textile waste are created annually by the fashion industry

The fast fashion industry is responsible for 35% of microplastics released into the ocean

An estimated 300 million trees are logged each year for clothing

Polyester, a material derived from fossil fuels, accounts for 52% of textile fibers

Ethical fashion can reduce greenhouse gas emissions from the industry by up to 45%

Over 8,000 liters of water are needed to produce one pair of jeans

The average consumer buys 60% more clothing today than 15 years ago

Verified Data Points
Behind every trendy tee and perfectly distressed pair of jeans lies a shocking truth: the fashion industry is responsible for 10% of global carbon emissions, 92 million tons of textile waste annually, and the exploitation of millions of underpaid workers—making the rise of ethical fashion, now a $6.35 billion market projected to hit $8.25 billion by 2023, not just a trend but a global imperative.

Consumer Attitudes & Behavior

  • 67% of consumers consider sustainable materials an important purchasing factor
  • 60% of millennials are willing to pay more for sustainable clothing
  • The average consumer buys 60% more clothing today than 15 years ago
  • 90% of consumers expect brands to operate responsibly and ethically
  • 62% of Gen Z prefer to buy from sustainable brands
  • Up to 30% of clothing in Western wardrobes has not been worn in the past year
  • 1 in 3 people throw away clothes simply because they are bored with them
  • 76% of shoppers want brands to address climate change
  • 8 out of 10 UK consumers think ethical fashion is more important than ever
  • 73% of Gen Zs are willing to pay more for sustainable items
  • 88% of consumers want brands to help them be more sustainable
  • 65% of UK consumers believe ethical fashion should be government regulated

Interpretation

Consumers are piling shopping carts with sustainability slogans while closets overflow with unworn fast fashion, proving that our conscience may shop greener than our habits.

Corporate & Brand Practices

  • 70% of fashion workers are paid below a living wage
  • 93% of fashion brands do not pay their workers a living wage
  • Only 5% of ethical fashion companies verify and audit fair labor practices fully
  • Ethical fashion brands such as Patagonia and Stella McCartney actively promote full transparency
  • Garment workers often work 16-hour days, 7 days a week
  • The majority of garment workers are women, and many face gender-based violence at work
  • 90% of brands do not know where their raw materials come from
  • 85% of factory workers in Bangladesh do not earn enough for basic needs
  • 71% of fashion brands believe circular business models will be important in the future
  • Only 10% of companies disclose full supplier lists
  • Only 24% of brands publish progress on reducing chemicals used
  • Only 12% of clothing brands offer repair services
  • 64% of fashion executive leaders plan to invest more in sustainable materials
  • Garment workers in Ethiopia earn as little as $26 a month
  • 87% of sampled brands score low on human rights policies

Interpretation

In a global industry draped in glamour, the fashion world’s dirty secret is that while execs invest in sustainability slogans, the women stitching their profits often can’t afford dinner—or dignity.

Environmental Impact

  • Fashion accounts for 10% of global carbon emissions
  • Nearly 20% of global wastewater is produced by the fashion industry
  • 92 million tons of textile waste are created annually by the fashion industry
  • The fast fashion industry is responsible for 35% of microplastics released into the ocean
  • An estimated 300 million trees are logged each year for clothing
  • Polyester, a material derived from fossil fuels, accounts for 52% of textile fibers
  • Ethical fashion can reduce greenhouse gas emissions from the industry by up to 45%
  • Over 8,000 liters of water are needed to produce one pair of jeans
  • Only 1% of clothing is recycled into new clothing
  • A single cotton T-shirt requires 2,700 liters of water to produce
  • Only 15% of textile waste is recycled
  • 85% of all textiles go to the dump each year
  • Fashion industry emissions are expected to rise by more than 60% by 2030
  • The fashion industry could use up a quarter of the world’s carbon budget by 2050
  • Organic cotton reduces water consumption by 91% compared to conventional cotton
  • Up to 95% of clothing entering landfills could be recycled
  • 20% of fashion items remain unsold and are often discarded or incinerated
  • 11.3 million tons of textile waste went to landfills in the US in 2018
  • Consumers return $550 billion worth of clothing and footwear each year, much of which is never resold
  • Sustainable fashion could cut fashion-related emissions by 349 million tons by 2030
  • Vegan leather typically has up to a third of the environmental footprint of animal leather
  • Compostable textiles can reduce landfill buildup significantly
  • The fashion industry uses around 93 billion cubic meters of water annually
  • 25% of global chemicals produced are used for textiles
  • Consumers throw away 81 pounds of textiles annually in the U.S.
  • The dyeing process contributes up to 20% of industrial water pollution
  • Renting clothing emits 26% less CO₂ than buying new
  • Leather production leads to deforestation due to cattle grazing
  • A single polyester shirt produces 5.5 kg of CO₂ in production
  • Ethical fashion can prolong garment lifespan by 2X or more
  • Cotton uses 2.5% of the world’s farmland but consumes 16% of insecticides
  • Buying one used item reduces its carbon, water and waste footprints by 82%
  • Jeans made with recycled fibers reduce water use by 95%
  • Making clothes from hemp uses 50% less water than cotton
  • 80% of a garment’s climate impact comes from its production phase

Interpretation

Fashion may be trendy, but with carbon emissions rivaling aviation, forests falling for fabrics, oceans choking on microplastics, and 85% of textiles heading straight to landfills, the industry’s true runway is towards environmental ruin—unless ethical fashion seriously changes the stitch.

Market Size & Growth

  • The ethical fashion market was valued at approximately $6.35 billion in 2019
  • The global ethical fashion market is projected to grow to $8.25 billion by 2023
  • The apparel industry employs 75 million people worldwide
  • Clothing production doubled from 2000 to 2014
  • In 2021, the ethical fashion market grew by 6.4%
  • The resale market is expected to reach $84 billion by 2030
  • The global secondhand clothing market is growing 3 times faster than traditional retail
  • Fair Trade apparel sales have grown 12% annually since 2017
  • The number of 'sustainable' fashion items online increased by 329% in five years
  • Certification programs like GOTS increased by 35% in 2022
  • Eco-conscious fashion startups raised over $3 billion in funding since 2016

Interpretation

As fast fashion races to the bottom, ethical fashion is threading a smarter path forward—stitching together soaring growth, conscious consumers, and serious investment to turn style into a force for good.

Sustainable Materials & Production

  • 94% of ethical fashion brands use organic or recycled materials

Interpretation

When 94% of ethical fashion brands opt for organic or recycled materials, it’s clear that sustainability isn’t just a trend—it’s the new black with a conscience.

References