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The Hidden Crisis of Fashion: Waste, Dumping, and Global Inequity
Chile will be included in the law of Extended Responsibility of the Producer (REP), forcing clothes and textiles importers to take charge of the waste they generate. This significant move reflects a growing recognition that the fashion industry’s impact on the environment and society cannot be ignored.
However, beneath this promising development lies a more sinister reality: the global dumping of used clothing and textiles, perpetuating inequality and environmental devastation.
The statistics are staggering. Greenpeace reveals that Germany alone collects roughly 1 million tons of used clothing each year, fueled by the relentless pace of fast fashion. However, only a fraction of these garments are resold within their country of origin. Instead, the majority is shipped overseas, feeding into a vast global trade. Oxfam, for instance, exports over 70% of its donated clothing to countries like Ghana, Kenya, and Uganda.
But what happens to these garments once they reach their destinations? Sadly, many are too damaged or of poor quality to be resold, resulting in a staggering 85% of used clothes being discarded. In Ghana alone, it’s estimated that up to 40% of imported second-hand garments end up in informal landfills, beaches, or are burned.
These numbers paint a devastating picture of global dumping, perpetuating inequality and environmental catastrophe. The consequences are far-reaching, from clogged waterways to toxic waste management practices that threaten the health and well-being of local communities.
The fashion industry’s impact on the environment is no longer hidden. Fashion has emerged as one of the world’s highest-polluting industries, rivaling the carbon footprint of other sectors such as transportation and agriculture. The Ellen MacArthur Foundation and UN have sounded the alarm: sustainability must become embedded across the full spectrum of operations, grounded in science, ethics, and justice.
To break free from this crisis, three fundamental shifts are required:
1. Brands must transition from performative sustainability to systemic accountability, investing in cleaner technologies, circular design, and the communities they source from.
2. Governments must implement policies that hold producers responsible for waste, emissions, and labor practices—both domestically and abroad.
3. Consumers, empowered with knowledge, must demand better not just for aesthetics but for equity and environmental survival.
As we explore this crisis further in subsequent articles, it becomes clear that the fashion industry’s impact extends far beyond environmental degradation. The dark side of fast fashion and luxury industries is revealed, exposing millions of workers to low wages and unsafe conditions that fuel environmental crises in their own countries.
In the next article, we will delve into labor issues, shedding light on the millions of workers who are driving the environmental disasters unfolding in the shadows.
For further details, please refer to the previous articles in this series:
1. “Beyond The Price Tag: The Dark Side Of Fast Fashion Business Models”
2. “Beyond The Price Tag: The Dark Side Of Luxury And Circular Fashion”
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Source: https://www.forbes.com/sites/dianneplummer/2025/04/18/the-hidden-crisis-of-fashion-waste-dumping-and-global-inequity/
