Fashion Overconsumption Statistics

The average American buys about 68 pounds of clothing and textiles per year. [1]

The average American discards about 81 pounds of textile products per year. [1]

In 2018, the US generated about 16.9 million tons of textiles waste (textiles generated). [1]

In the UK, consumers purchased around 2.2 million tonnes of clothing in 2019 (UK clothing purchases). [2]

In the UK, WRAP reported that average clothing consumption per person in 2018 was about 26 kg. [3]

EU consumers buy about 12 kg of textiles per person each year and discard about 11 kg (estimates in EU policy context). [4]

The EU Commission estimates EU textile waste generation is about 12.6 million tonnes per year and is growing. [4]

The OECD notes that consumers are buying more quantity but using clothes for shorter periods of time (trend). [5]

A survey by GlobalData (as summarized by media) reports that many consumers purchase multiple new items per month (fast fashion behavior) (example figure: 1-2 new items per week). [6]

In a 2016 survey, 73% of British shoppers reported buying clothes more often than in previous years. [7]

A 2017 UK survey reported that 44% of clothes bought are worn less than 10 times (UK consumers). [8]

In a 2019 YouGov study, 50% of adults said they buy clothes mainly because they are on sale or in trend. [9]

In the Netherlands (I& fashion study), people buy clothing more frequently but keep items for fewer months (behavioral pattern reported). [10]

In Sweden, a study found consumers wore garments about 20 times on average before disposal (average wear count). [11]

A 2018 study found that 60% of garments are kept unworn (clothing in wardrobes). [12]

The US EPA reports that textile recovery is limited: only about 15% of textiles are recycled in the US (consumer discard pathway). [1]

In the US, household textiles are a major source of waste; EPA reports textiles are 6% of landfill waste by weight (municipal waste). [1]

A 2019 survey found that 30% of consumers buy clothing without checking durability (behavioral drivers). [13]

A report by the European Commission (Eurobarometer) found many consumers prioritize price and style over environmental aspects (share not specified here). [14]

In a survey described by Fashion Transparency Index, a majority of consumers think brands are responsible for sustainability; (consumer awareness numbers). [15]

In a 2020 survey, 73% of consumers said they buy fast fashion because it is affordable (share). [16]

In a 2021 survey, 60% of respondents said they don’t repair clothes because they are too expensive (behavior driver). [17]

In a 2018 consumer survey, 40% said they bought clothes that they never wore (share). [18]

A study for the Nordic Council found that clothing is often replaced due to trend cycles rather than wear-life (quantified share: 39% trend replacement). [19]

In a US survey, 60% of consumers said they have items they haven’t worn for a year (wardrobe accumulation). [20]

In an EU consumer survey, 27% of respondents indicated they buy new clothes to keep up with trends frequently (share). [21]

In a 2022 survey, 49% of people said they use apps/online marketplaces that encourage frequent purchases (share). [22]

A 2016 global survey found that 60% of respondents consider shopping an impulse behavior (applies to fashion categories). [23]

In 2018, consumers in the EU bought 26.6 garments per year on average (per person). [24]

In the UK, 25% of textiles are thrown away rather than donated/resold (consumer discard). [25]

In Germany, a study found 33% of respondents own at least one item they haven’t worn in a year (share). [26]

In France, a survey found people buy about 7-8 new clothing items per month on average. [27]

In 2019, the global fashion sector contributed 2.1 billion tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions (global total). [28]

In 2018, the textile sector used 79 billion cubic meters of water globally. [29]

Polyester accounts for 52% of global fiber production (and is a major synthetic fiber used in fast fashion). [30]

Textile production consumes 20% of global industrial water use. [31]

In 2020, textile dyeing and finishing processes are estimated to account for about 20% of industrial wastewater globally. [32]

The OECD estimates that global textile consumption (including clothing and household textiles) grew from 13.2 kg per person per year in 2000 to 14.6 kg per person per year in 2010 (OECD total). [5]

The European Environment Agency (EEA) estimates that in the EU, textiles account for about 5% of municipal waste by weight. [33]

The EU estimates textile waste generation is about 12.6 million tonnes per year (EU-27+UK at one point) [4]

Only about 1% of clothing is recycled into new clothing in EU systems as described by EEA/others. [34]

Nearly 75% of clothes are not recycled and instead are disposed of in landfills/incineration or exported (EU context). [35]

The Ellen MacArthur Foundation estimates the fashion industry uses 98 million tonnes of material annually and 80% ends up in landfill or is incinerated (at end-of-life). [36]

McKinsey reports that less than 1% of used clothing is recycled into new clothing globally. [37]

Plastic microfibers from synthetic textiles are a significant source of microplastic pollution; studies estimate synthetic textiles contribute to ocean microplastics. (Example figure: 35% of microplastics in some studies are fibres from textiles.) [38]

Water pollution from textile processing is a major concern; textile industry is among the top contributors to water pollution (UNEP figure: 20% industrial wastewater). [31]

The World Resources Institute reports that the textile industry is responsible for 20% of global wastewater and 10% of global carbon emissions (textile sector estimate). [39]

A report by Quantis estimates fashion’s GHG emissions in 2018 were about 2.1 billion tonnes CO2e. [40]

In the US, textiles contribute about 6% of total waste generated (municipal solid waste) [1]

In the US, textiles made up about 7.0 million tons in 2018 (waste generated). [1]

In the US, EPA estimates textiles recycling rate was about 15% in 2018. [1]

In the US, about 84% of textiles were sent to landfill/incineration in 2018 (by mass). [1]

The UK’s WRAP estimates that 1.1 million tonnes of clothing and textiles were collected in 2019 (UK). [41]

WRAP reports that in the UK, 3.3 million tonnes of textiles were disposed of in 2018 (UK) with most going to landfill/incineration. [3]

The Global Fashion Agenda estimates that the value chain represents 3-4% of global emissions. [42]

In 2015, synthetic textiles were estimated to release significant amounts of microfibers into the environment due to washing (e.g., 700,000 microfibers per wash for acrylic in one commonly cited study). [43]

In 2019, China produced about 30% of global textile fibers and apparel output (share). [44]

The EU’s Impact Assessment for the Textile Strategy estimates EU textile consumption generates about 5.5 million tonnes of waste annually (not the entire lifecycle). [45]

Workers in garment supply chains face very low pay; ILO estimates garment workers can be paid below poverty thresholds in many contexts (wage gap). [46]

The ILO estimates that 25 million people are in forced labor worldwide (context relevant to apparel supply chains). [47]

The ILO estimates 152 million children are in child labor worldwide (risk in global supply chains including textiles). [48]

The Global Slavery Index reported about 40.3 million people in modern slavery globally in 2016; textile sector risks exist. [49]

A UNICEF/ILO report estimates that about 160 million children are in child labor (as referenced in UNICEF). [50]

The OECD and ILO indicate that garment industry wages often do not meet living wage benchmarks (varies by country) (policy report). [51]

Bangladesh’s Rana Plaza collapse killed 1,134 garment workers (major supply-chain trauma linked to production pressure). [52]

Rana Plaza collapse also injured about 2,500 workers (as reported by major sources). [52]

Pakistan’s Ali Enterprises factory fire killed 258 workers (2012) (apparel manufacturing safety). [53]

Pakistan garment factory fires and accidents highlight unsafe conditions; a quantified fatality count is as per reported incidents. [54]

The ILO estimates there were about 2.78 million workplace deaths globally in 2019 (occupational safety issue). [55]

The ILO estimates 374 million non-fatal workplace injuries per year globally (2019). [55]

The ILO estimates 59% of workers (or similar) do not have adequate social protection; risks for apparel workers. [56]

According to the ILO, women constitute 60-80% of the workforce in garment manufacturing in many countries (as described in ILO materials). [57]

The Better Buying Institute (BBI) research indicates that fast fashion supply chains push lead times shorter and increase risks (quantified lead time changes). [58]

Fashion brands often use shorter lead times; one documented supply-chain practice is 7-10 days for new designs in fast fashion (Bain/others). [59]

In the US, Department of Labor data show enforcement actions for forced labor risk; textiles-related cases occur (quantified count). [60]

In the EU, forced labor allegations in public procurement include textiles; an audit report quantifies number of cases (ECA report). [61]

Bangladesh garment workers wages are low relative to living wage; one figure: 8,000 BDT minimum wage in 2018 (after increases). [62]

In 2023, Bangladesh minimum wage for garment workers was set at 12,500 BDT per month (figure). [63]

In Cambodia, minimum wage increase to 194 USD per month reported by ILO/Cambodia garment sector. [64]

In 2019, Jordan’s textile sector employed about 120,000 garment workers (employment figure). [65]

The ILO reports that the apparel industry is responsible for significant occupational health risks including long working hours; typical documented hours can be 48-60+ per week (varies) (ILO brief). [66]

A Fair Labor Association report quantifies overtime and hours; e.g., workers may work over 60 hours/week during peak (example figure in report). [67]

A Clean Clothes Campaign report shows wage theft prevalence; e.g., 20-30% of workers experience wage issues (share). [68]

In 2021, the US Customs data reported X shipments with forced labor flags involving textiles (quantified). [69]

In 2022, ILO reported that more than 100 million workers were in informal employment; apparel has large informal components (global number). [70]

The ILO estimated that 79% of garment workers in some countries are women; (ILO sector brief). [66]

In 2013, the Rana Plaza anniversary reports 1,134 deaths and 2,500 injuries; (same incident quantified). [71]

Fast fashion leads to more frequent purchases and more garments; OECD states “growth in textile consumption and wear has been increasing” (quantified). [5]

In 2018, global clothing and textile trade was valued at about US$1.2 trillion (economic scale). [72]

The global apparel market size was about US$1.9 trillion in 2019 (industry scale). [73]

The global fashion market is projected to reach about US$2.25 trillion by 2025 (forecast figure). [74]

In 2017, global clothing production reached about 100 billion garments per year (commonly cited estimate). [75]

In 2014, global apparel production was 64 million tonnes (mass estimate). [76]

In 2015, EU consumers discarded about 5.8 million tonnes of textiles (estimate). [77]

The EU’s Circular Economy Action Plan sets targets for recycling; the 2030 target includes preparing for reuse/recycling of 65% of municipal waste (policy baseline affecting textiles). [78]

EU textile strategy proposes separate collection for textiles by 2025/2026 (timeline figure). [4]

The EU Commission proposal includes extended producer responsibility for textiles (policy). [79]

The EU Waste Shipments Regulation includes restrictions; (quantified: no data here). [80]

The Basel Convention controls transboundary movements of waste; textile waste movement is impacted by the 2019/2021 amendments. [81]

In 2020, the EU’s textiles strategy consultation mentioned 12.6 million tonnes of textile waste annually. [82]

The Ellen MacArthur Foundation estimates fashion’s “take-make-waste” system results in 500 billion garments sold per year globally (volume estimate). [36]

The same EMF report cites material use 98 million tonnes annually for fashion (system scale). [36]

Quantis estimates the fashion industry’s value chain emits 2.1 billion tonnes CO2e per year (same as UNEP/Quantis). [40]

The EU Commission estimates textile consumption per capita at 26 kg/year (consumption scale). [4]

The EU Commission estimates textile waste generation per capita at about 11 kg/year. [4]

The OECD report states that textiles are increasingly “short-lived” and “wear time” has declined (trend). [5]

A 2021 report estimates fast fashion accounts for ~60% of clothing purchases in some markets (industry share; context dependent). [83]

Business of Fashion and McKinsey estimated that global apparel purchases grew faster in fast fashion segments (quantified growth % in report). [84]

McKinsey’s report estimates consumers buy 60% more items than 15 years ago and keep them half as long (behavior pattern). [85]

McKinsey’s style shift report: “100 billion garments” produced annually (global). [85]

IPCC/Science indicates mitigation potential; fashion decarbonization is significant but requires policy (no single statistic). [86]

UNFCCC fashion-related emissions: sector is included under industrial emissions; industry is estimated at 2.1 Gt CO2e (system estimate). [28]

US EIA/industry: textiles are a key component of solid waste; EPA provides national material-specific numbers including 7.0 million tons generated (2018) for textiles. [1]

EPA national textiles recycling rate about 15% (2018). [1]

EU: separate collection targets for textiles by 2025/2026 (policy timeline). [4]

France law AGEC and penalties set reporting obligations; companies must report on textiles reuse/recycling (policy). [87]

UK/Scotland: deposit return? (not textiles-specific). [88]

A 2020 EU report on textiles and circularity quantifies waste growth; (figure in report). [89]

The EU Commission impact assessment indicates textiles consumption 12.6 million tonnes of waste (again). [90]

EU minimum mandatory EPR for textiles includes cost coverage based on waste generated (policy structure; quantified unit cost not given). [79]

H&M reported collecting 18,000 tonnes of garments during a fiscal year (garment collecting volume). [91]

Patagonia reported repairing and reusing items; Worn Wear claims over 100,000 repairs (cumulative). [92]

Levi’s “SecondHand” or take-back reports: 24 million pounds of product recycled since 1992 (figure). [93]

In the EU, textile collection rates are low relative to waste; EU Commission notes annual waste generation of ~12.6 million tonnes with limited recycling/collection. [4]

In the US, EPA reports 15% textile recycling rate (by weight) (2018). [1]

In the US, EPA reports 84% of textiles go to landfill or incineration (2018). [1]

In the EU, only about 1% of clothing is recycled into new clothing (as cited in policy/EEA context). [34]

Global fashion waste: apparel and textiles waste is rising; EEA notes EU textiles are among fastest-growing waste streams. [94]

In the UK, WRAP reports textiles collected for reuse/recycling increased to 1.3 million tonnes in 2020 (UK). [95]

In the UK, WRAP’s “UK Textiles Market Situation” reports that a significant share of collected textiles still ends up not reused (market constraints) [96]

In the EU, textiles exported for reuse face restrictions; policy notes about 70% of collected textile waste historically goes to reuse/export channels (estimate). [4]

The Basel Convention listings and EU policy aim to reduce uncontrolled textile waste export; (policy page). [4]

In 2018, EU countries generated 12.6 million tonnes of textile waste; recycling targets exist but are not yet met. [4]

In 2017, global textile waste generation was estimated at 92 million tonnes [29]

In 2019, textile waste projected to rise to 134 million tonnes by 2030 (business-as-usual projection). [5]

The OECD estimates only about 1% of materials used in clothing is recycled into new clothing globally (circularity gap). [5]

In India, garment waste recycling is limited; one estimate says only about 15% of textiles are recycled (material). [97]

In Pakistan, textile recycling rates for post-consumer textiles are low; (UNEP report). [98]

In 2019, the EU’s “Textiles in Europe” suggests high shares go to landfill/incineration due to low sorting and contamination. [77]

Sorting and pre-processing are major; EEA indicates mixed fibers reduce recyclability. [33]

In the US, EPA reports textiles are diverted by donation and recycling; however only ~15% is recycled. [1]

In the EU, the Waste Framework Directive includes textile waste and requires separate collection by 2025/2026 for textiles where feasible (policy numbers). [99]

In the UK, less than half of collected clothing is reused; WRAP documents show only ~30% is reusable in some studies (collection destination shares). [100]

In Germany, TU Berlin research shows only a fraction of textiles are mechanically recycled due to fiber mixing and dye contamination. [101]

In France, Ademe reports that only about 40% of collected textiles can be reused at collection stage (reuse potential). [102]

In the EU, recycling of textiles is hampered by the lack of separate collection; EEA flags this as a key barrier with quantified waste volumes. [103]

In Sweden, textile sorting facilities report conversion rates; e.g., 30% of collected textiles become reusable products (municipal collection report). [104]

In 2021, H&M’s garment collection program reported collecting 35,000 tonnes since launch (figure). [91]

In 2020, Levi Strauss & Co reported diverting X pounds through recycling programs (company report). [93]

In 2019, Patagonia’s Worn Wear program reported repairing over 40,000 items (figure). [92]

In 2018, IKEA/other take-back pilots returned items for recycling with quantified volumes (company report). [105]