Staggering 26 million tons of clothes discarded in China every year

China's landfills face a significant issue as approximately 26 million tons of clothing are discarded every year. This problem is mainly driven by the prevalence of fast fashion. In a factory situated in Zhejiang province on China's eastern coast, a vast assortment of discarded cotton clothing and bed linens is accumulated, categorized by dark and light colors. In an effort to combat textile waste, these garments are being processed at the Wenzhou Tiancheng Textile Company, one of China's leading cotton recycling plants. This is reported by SSP.

The global textile waste crisis demands immediate attention, with only a mere 12% of textiles recycled globally, as reported by the Ellen MacArthur Foundation, a nonprofit organization dedicated to fashion sustainability. Furthermore, a mere 1% of discarded clothing is recycled into new garments, while the majority is repurposed for low-value items such as insulation or mattress stuffing. This problem is particularly severe in China, as it is both the world's largest textile producer and consumer. Government statistics indicate that over 26 million tons of clothing are thrown away annually, predominantly ending up in landfills.

Unfortunately, facilities like the one mentioned above have limited impact in a country predominantly driven by "fast fashion," where inexpensive garments made from non-recyclable synthetic materials overshadow cotton. Synthetics, produced from petrochemicals, ironically contribute to climate change, air pollution, and water pollution. Shockingly, these synthetic materials account for a significant 70% of China's domestic clothing sales, exacerbating the environmental issues caused by the fashion industry