Key Insights
Essential data points from our research
The fashion industry is responsible for 20% of global industrial water pollution
Textile dyeing is the second-largest polluter of water globally
Around 200 tons of water are used to dye just one ton of fabric
1.5 trillion liters of water are used by the fashion industry annually
The textile industry generates 20% of the world's wastewater
Wastewater from textile dyeing can contain over 2,000 different chemicals, including heavy metals
More than 8,000 synthetic chemicals are used to turn raw materials into textiles, many of which end up in water systems
72 toxic chemicals have been identified in European water solely from textile dyeing
20% of freshwater pollution comes from textile dyeing and treatment
90% of wastewater in developing countries is discharged untreated into rivers and streams, often from textile factories
In China’s textile industry, more than 70% of rivers are contaminated with toxic waste from dyeing processes
One cotton shirt can require more than 700 gallons of water to produce, contributing to water-depleting practices
The Aral Sea shrunk by 90% in large part due to cotton farming, driven by fashion demand
Chemical Usage and Toxicity
- More than 8,000 synthetic chemicals are used to turn raw materials into textiles, many of which end up in water systems
- Pollution from textile production contributes to the presence of endocrine disruptors in freshwater systems
- Hazardous azo dyes in textile effluents are carcinogenic and banned in many countries, yet still found in water supplies
- Up to 40% of chemical inputs from fashion production are lost to the environment during wet processing
- The ZDHC initiative aims to eliminate hazardous chemicals in the textile sector by 2030
- Oeko-Tex certification restricts 100+ hazardous chemicals in textile production to reduce effluent pollution
- Chromium VI in textile waste has been linked to skin ulcers and respiratory issues for communities near factories
Interpretation
Behind fashion’s glamorous façade lies a toxic truth: the same industry that dazzles the runway is quietly dyeing our waterways with a cocktail of carcinogens and endocrine disruptors, proving that what’s trending on the catwalk can be devastating downstream.
Consumer Awareness and Behavior
- 60% of shoppers are unaware of fashion’s contribution to water pollution from textile dyeing
Interpretation
While most shoppers obsess over colors on the runway, 60% remain oblivious to the fact that those hues are staining our waterways, not just our wardrobes.
Environmental Footprint and Emissions
- Less than 5% of used clothing is recycled back into new garments, increasing demand for virgin material and dye processing
- 85% of the world’s clothing ends up in landfills or is incinerated, wasting water used in production and dyeing
Interpretation
In fashion’s toxic cycle, we buy fast, toss faster, and dye the planet slowly — with less than 5% recycled and 85% burned or buried, style is becoming a wasteful statement.
Wastewater and Dyeing Impact
- The fashion industry is responsible for 20% of global industrial water pollution
- Textile dyeing is the second-largest polluter of water globally
- The textile industry generates 20% of the world's wastewater
- Wastewater from textile dyeing can contain over 2,000 different chemicals, including heavy metals
- 72 toxic chemicals have been identified in European water solely from textile dyeing
- 20% of freshwater pollution comes from textile dyeing and treatment
- 90% of wastewater in developing countries is discharged untreated into rivers and streams, often from textile factories
- In China’s textile industry, more than 70% of rivers are contaminated with toxic waste from dyeing processes
- Dye pollutants from the fashion industry contribute to increased biological oxygen demand (BOD) in rivers, harming aquatic life
- About 20 billion garments are made each year, significantly increasing textile wastewater output
- Indigo dye used in denim production is a major source of water pollution in textile regions
- Up to 50% of treated dyeing wastewater is still released untreated into freshwater bodies in some regions
- In Bangladesh, 21 billion liters of wastewater from textile dyeing is dumped into rivers annually
- A single mill in China can discharge up to 200 tons of dyeing wastewater per day
- Heavy metals like chromium, lead, and mercury are commonly found in textile wastewater, leading to bioaccumulation
- In India, textile industries rank third in generating polluted wastewater across various industrial sectors
- Over 70 million tons of textile fibers are produced annually, contributing to wastewater generation
- Garment factories in Cambodia release untreated dye water into local lakes, contaminating drinking water and food sources
- Mexico’s textile hub discharges nearly 500 million gallons of wastewater per year into local ecosystems
- Over 60% of textile wastewater is released without any form of treatment
- Up to 95% of textile wastewater could be reused if properly treated
- Approximately 750 million people lack access to safe drinking water, yet fashion wastewater frequently contaminates water sources
- 100 million gallons of contaminated water can be produced each day by a single dyeing mill
- Large fashion retailers generate over 32 billion pieces of clothing annually, with significant wastewater outputs
- Water pollution from textiles is linked to increased rates of cancer and other health issues among factory workers
- Dissolved oxygen levels in waters near garment factories are often too low to support aquatic life due to textile effluent
- Traditional dye houses in Indonesia dump dye waste directly into the Citarum River, one of the most polluted rivers on Earth
- Toxic dyes from the textile industry frequently exceed legal pH, COD, and heavy metal discharge limits
- Accumulated fashion wastewater pollutants affect soil health and agriculture quality near discharge zones
- Rivers in Vietnam run red and blue due to untreated dye effluent from textile factories
- Over one million tons of dye are consumed annually worldwide, contributing to colored and toxic wastewater
- Technologies exist to treat 90% of textile wastewater, yet adoption remains below 30% globally
- Dye wastewater leads to eutrophication in water bodies, depleting oxygen and killing organisms
- One-fifth of the world’s industrial water pollution comes from the treatment and dyeing of textiles
- Less than 20% of textile wastewater in developing countries is treated before being discharged
- Developing textile regions have seen major fish die-offs due to chemical-laden wastewater
- 88% of water pollution in textile-heavy zones comes from the fashion industry
- In Pakistan’s textile sector, over 50% of wastewater is released untreated
- Wastewater from synthetic dyeing can take over 200 years to decompose in nature
- The average T-shirt dyes release up to 0.3 kg of chemical waste, often ending up in water bodies
- The EU imports 60% of its textiles from countries with minimal wastewater regulations
- 65% of brands lack clear policies on water treatment and pollution disclosure
- Only 1 in 10 fashion brands disclose their wastewater treatment procedures
- Over 10,000 garment factories operate along polluted rivers in South Asia without water treatment
- Groundwater upstream from textile mills often contains significantly fewer contaminants compared to downstream samples, proving direct pollution
- Denims produce 45,000+ liters of dye wastewater per 1,000 pairs produced
- Effluents from fashion manufacturing are a growing source of antimicrobial resistance in aquatic environments
- Eco-friendly dyeing alternatives can cut water use by 90%, yet represent less than 5% of current industry output
- Fast fashion has tripled wastewater production in key textile hubs over the past 15 years
- High COD levels in dye wastewater can exceed 10,000 mg/L, making streams hypoxic
- Synthetic chemical fixers for dyes increase water contamination over 3x compared to natural dyeing
Interpretation
Fashion may dress us in color, but behind the seams it drains life from our waters—dyeing rivers, suffocating ecosystems, and proving that style without sustainability is just pollution in disguise.
Water Consumption and Pollution
- Around 200 tons of water are used to dye just one ton of fabric
- 1.5 trillion liters of water are used by the fashion industry annually
- One cotton shirt can require more than 700 gallons of water to produce, contributing to water-depleting practices
- The Aral Sea shrunk by 90% in large part due to cotton farming, driven by fashion demand
- Over 90 billion cubic meters of water are consumed annually by global textile production
- Washing synthetic clothing releases microfibers, with synthetic fibers making up 35% of microplastics in the ocean
- Each wash of synthetic clothing releases 700,000 microfibers, which enter waterways untreated
- 35% of all microplastics in oceans come from textile laundering
- The fashion industry uses 79 billion cubic meters of water per year, contributing to high wastewater output
- The average dye house uses 60 to 80 liters of water per kilogram of textile dyed
- The global cost of untreated industrial water pollution from textiles is estimated at $2.6 trillion annually
- The global fashion industry uses enough water annually to fill 32 million Olympic-sized swimming pools
Interpretation
The fashion industry may dress us in style, but behind the seams it guzzles oceans of water, bleeds rivers with dye, and launders our clothes into a microplastic cocktail that's polluting the planet one shirt at a time.