Key Insights
Essential data points from our research
The fashion industry uses an estimated 93 billion cubic meters of water annually
Producing one cotton shirt requires approximately 2,700 liters of water
The fashion industry is responsible for around 20% of global wastewater
Dyeing fabrics contributes nearly 20% of industrial water pollution globally
It takes 10,000 liters of water to produce 1 kilogram of cotton
A pair of jeans requires around 7,500 liters of water to produce
79 trillion liters of water are consumed annually by the fashion industry
Fashion production accounts for 4% of global freshwater withdrawal
Only 2.5% of Earth’s water is freshwater, and fashion is competing for it with food and sanitation
Washing synthetic textiles releases 500,000 tons of microfibers into the ocean each year
Cotton farming accounts for 24% of global insecticide use, contributing to water pollution
Textile dyeing is the second-largest polluter of water globally
Only 1% of clothing is recycled into new garments, increasing demand for water-intensive virgin resources
Pollution and Environmental Impact
- The fashion industry is responsible for around 20% of global wastewater
- Dyeing fabrics contributes nearly 20% of industrial water pollution globally
- Washing synthetic textiles releases 500,000 tons of microfibers into the ocean each year
- Cotton farming accounts for 24% of global insecticide use, contributing to water pollution
- Textile dyeing is the second-largest polluter of water globally
- Synthetics shed over 35% of the microplastics polluting oceans during washing
- The Aral Sea dried up largely due to the diversion of rivers for cotton farming
- A single polyester garment can release 1,900 microplastic fibers per wash
- Producing synthetic fibers like polyester consumes less water but causes high levels of water pollution
- Growing cotton for one t-shirt contributes to desertification in some areas due to water overuse
- Fashion-related water pollution impacts 40% of the world’s freshwater ecosystems
- Approximately 60% of global clothing is made from synthetics that pollute water ecosystems
- Only about 10% of water used in textile dyeing is recovered or treated
- The textile industry annually discharges up to 40 cubic kilometers of polluted wastewater
- Some rivers in Asia run blue with textile dye, signifying heavy water pollution
- The World Bank notes the fashion industry contributes to 17-20% of industrial water pollution
- Cotton grown using conventional methods consumes about 11% of the world’s agricultural chemicals
- Wastewater from textile dye factories often contains heavy metals and toxins
- The average American throws away 81 pounds of clothes annually, indirectly increasing water waste
- Every year, over 92 million tons of textile waste are generated, increasing water resource strain for replacements
- One load of laundry can release over 700,000 microplastic fibers
- Nearly 85% of textiles go into landfills or are incinerated annually, increasing water footprints of replacements
- Producing viscose fabric requires high volumes of chemically treated water, causing concerns
- Textile dye workers are at risk of waterborne illnesses due to poorly treated wastewater
- Fashion’s water polluting practices disproportionately affect poor communities downstream
Interpretation
Fast fashion may dress us in style, but behind every trend lies a trail of toxic dye, thirsty crops, and microplastic-laced rivers—turning our closets into unknowing accomplices in one of the most water-wasting, water-polluting industries on the planet.
Production and Manufacturing Processes
- Some brands have reduced water in denim production by 96% using air-dye tech
Interpretation
By swapping water for air in denim production, some fashion brands are proving you don't have to drown the planet to look good in jeans.
Social and Global Impact
- 500 billion dollars are lost annually due to clothing underutilization impacting resource efficiency
- Water risk in textile-producing regions like India and China is classified as “extremely high”
Interpretation
While closets overflow with unworn outfits, the fashion industry hemorrhages $500 billion a year—an ironic price for underused clothes that cost water-stressed regions like India and China gallons they can't afford to lose.
Sustainable and Regenerative Practices
- Recycling 1 kg of cotton saves 20,000 liters of water
- Dry dyeing techniques can reduce water use by up to 90%
- 28 billion gallons of water could be saved annually by shifting to sustainable cotton practices
- Levi’s Water<Less process has saved over 3 billion liters of water since 2011
- Biofibers and closed-loop manufacturing systems can decrease water consumption by 70%
- Regenerative cotton farming practices can boost soil water retention and reduce irrigation
Interpretation
In an industry where style often drowns out substance, these water-saving innovations prove fashion can finally clean up its act—without washing the planet down the drain.
Water Consumption and Usage
- The fashion industry uses an estimated 93 billion cubic meters of water annually
- Producing one cotton shirt requires approximately 2,700 liters of water
- It takes 10,000 liters of water to produce 1 kilogram of cotton
- A pair of jeans requires around 7,500 liters of water to produce
- 79 trillion liters of water are consumed annually by the fashion industry
- Fashion production accounts for 4% of global freshwater withdrawal
- Only 2.5% of Earth’s water is freshwater, and fashion is competing for it with food and sanitation
- Only 1% of clothing is recycled into new garments, increasing demand for water-intensive virgin resources
- Denim finishing processes can consume hundreds of liters of water per pair of jeans
- Fabric production for one t-shirt uses enough water for one person to drink for nearly 2.5 years
- Over 80 billion garments are produced each year, intensifying water use across stages
- Over 2.5 billion gallons of water are used annually by Levi Strauss & Co in garment production
- The fashion industry uses enough water to fill 37 million Olympic swimming pools annually
- 70% of water used in textile production isn’t returned to the environment
- Up to 20,000 liters of water are needed to produce just 1 kg of cotton in some regions
- 40% of fashion industry water usage comes from cotton farming alone
- Textile processing is responsible for 14% of all freshwater use in industrial sectors
- 1 kg of dyed fabric needs up to 150 liters of water
- Wet processing requires about 170 to 200 liters of water per kg of fabric
- Up to 200 tons of water are used to dye just 1 ton of fabric
- Water usage per t-shirt exceeds 2,700 liters depending on climate and irrigation methods
- Each step of garment making—cotton farming, dyeing, finishing—adds to water footprint
- Recycled fibers can reduce water use by up to 98% compared to virgin cotton
- 62 billion gallons of water are used annually just to dye textiles
- In Bangladesh, 2,500 liters of water are needed to produce one cotton t-shirt
- Jeans finishing in conventional processes uses up to 70 liters of water
- About 2% of the world’s water is used in textile manufacturing
- The planetary boundary for freshwater use is being exceeded partly due to fashion
- Between 2000 and 2014, clothing production doubled, widening water impact
- Over 15,000 liters of water are used to produce cotton for one pair of denim jeans
- Apparel production is expected to grow by 63% by 2030, increasing water demand
- More than 20 fashion brands pledged to reduce water usage under the UN Fashion Charter
- India's textile industry consumes over 425 billion liters of water annually
- A water loaf—a measure of hidden water—of a cotton shirt is nearly 10 bathtubs full
- Cotton accounts for 43% of fiber use in garments but 69% of water use
- Sustainable washing methods can reduce water use in laundries by up to 50%
- The average garment has a water footprint of 2,000 to 6,000 liters
- Water-intensive textile crops are increasingly unsustainable in drought-prone regions
- Without change, fashion’s water use could increase by 50% by 2030
Interpretation
In a world where 2.5% of water is fresh and fashion drinks like there's no tomorrow, that cotton shirt you're wearing might be better classified as a luxury beverage.
