UK survey finds people hold clothing producers responsible for textile industry's environmental, social impacts but want more UK government regulation; respondents support standards to improve production footprint, reduce waste, ensure clothes are durable

The textile industry’s environmental impact is far out of proportion to its size. Globally, textiles are responsible for five to ten per cent of emissions and a staggering 20 per cent of industrial water pollution. The industry is grappling with alarming levels of waste: 73 per cent of discarded clothing ends up in landfill and, while data here is incredibly hard to verify, it’s thought up to 40 per cent of garments made are never even sold or worn. These figures paint a dire picture of an industry on a highly unsustainable path.

Exponential growth of the textile sector as fast fashion has taken hold is only making things worse. Over the past two decades, global clothing sales have more than doubled, with cheap clothing being churned out at breakneck speed with little regard for its environmental or social impacts. The average number of times an item of clothing is worn has plummeted by 40 per cent since 2000, as clothes have become a disposable commodity.

But there’s hope. Recent exposés, such as ITV’s 2021 investigation into Amazon’s destruction of unsold goods, have ignited public outrage, showing that people have a deep seated aversion to waste. Does this mean, then, that the British public are ready for change? Our recent poll of over 2,000 British adults suggests the answer is a resounding “yes”. We commissioned YouGov to find out their attitudes to clothing and how it is produced, with an overwhelming majority supporting more sustainable business practices and government intervention to make it happen.

People want companies to be less wasteful and destructive Our poll showed people want the fashion industry to change. There is an undeniable appetite for businesses to address the wasteful and destructive practices prevalent in the industry. An instinctive belief in the polluter pays principle was revealed as most respondents (58 per cent) held clothing producers primarily responsible for the industry’s environmental and social impacts. When asked about potential reforms, the top three answers were to reduce pollution, partner with charities to redistribute unwanted clothes and to stop destroying new unsold or returned items, as well as any clothing that’s still wearable.

The polling also highlighted strong support for the government to do more about the sustainability of the clothing industry. Top policies supported included standards to improve the environmental impact of production (83 per cent support), targets for companies to reduce waste (82 per cent support) and standards to ensure clothes are made to last  (81 per cent support). Unsurprisingly, action to ban the destruction of unsold or returned clothing was backed overwhelmingly (79 per cent) and 85 per cent said this destruction was wrong.

Green Alliance strongly believes we need to rethink our approach to resources, so that reduction is the main aim, with reuse then prioritised above recycling, as in the ‘3Rs’. We were pleasantly surprised when our polling showed that the public really grasps and supports this concept. They supported government targets to reduce overproduction (78 per cent), increase reuse (77 per cent) and increase recycling (75 per cent).

Clothing businesses are becoming more aware of people’s concerns and the need for their industry to protect the environment. But the common move by companies to ‘green’ their operations by increasing the recycled content of clothing and offering recycling services came relatively low down on the list of people’s priorities.

Our report Changing fashion provides more details about this polling and outlines the steps to transform the sector and respond to public opinion. The public are ready for change. The question now is: can businesses and the government make it happen?