時尚產業對環境的影響：修订间差异

論及'''時尚產業對環境的影響 '''（{{lang-en|Environmental impact of fashion}}）首先要提到的是此產業中，特別是[[服裝]]和[[足部穿著|鞋類]]的製造和使用，是推動全球[[溫室氣體排放]]和[[塑膠污染]]的重要因素。<ref>{{Cite web |date=2017-05-09 |title=PLEASE Stop Saying Fashion is the 2nd Most Polluting Industry After Oil |url=https://ecocult.com/now-know-fashion-5th-polluting-industry-equal-livestock/ |access-date=2018-12-10 |website=Ecocult |language=en-US |archive-date=2020-01-31 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200131213737/https://ecocult.com/now-know-fashion-5th-polluting-industry-equal-livestock/ |dead-url=no }}</ref>[[快時尚]]的快速增長導致每年受消費者購買的服裝達到約達800億件。而在[[美國]]，被拋棄的服裝中約有85%是送入[[堆填|垃圾掩埋]]場處置。<ref name=":62">{{cite journal |last1=Bick |first1=Rachel |last2=Halsey |first2=Erika |last3=Ekenga |first3=Christine C. |date=December 2018 |title=The global environmental injustice of fast fashion |url=https://ehjournal.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12940-018-0433-7 |journal=Environmental Health |volume=17 |issue=1 |doi=10.1186/s12940-018-0433-7 |access-date= 2023-10-18 |doi-access=free |pmc=6307129 |archive-date=2023-10-28 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231028231733/https://ehjournal.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12940-018-0433-7 |dead-url=no }}</ref>

而僅不到百分之一的衣服會被[[回收]]後再製成新衣服。<ref name=":632">{{cite journal |last1=Liu |first1=Jianli |last2=Liang |first2=Jianyao |last3=Ding |first3=Jiannan |last4=Zhang |first4=Guangming |last5=Zeng |first5=Xianyi |last6=Yang |first6=Qingbo |last7=Zhu |first7=Bo |last8=Gao |first8=Weidong |date=August 2021 |title=Microfiber pollution: an ongoing major environmental issue related to the sustainable development of textile and clothing industry |journal=Environment, Development and Sustainability |volume=23 |issue=8 |pages=11240–11256 |doi=10.1007/s10668-020-01173-3 |s2cid=230284901}}</ref>[[時尚]]產業導致的溫室氣體排放量估計佔全球的10%。<ref>{{Cite web |last=Beall |first=Abigail |title=Why clothes are so hard to recycle |url=https://www.bbc.com/future/article/20200710-why-clothes-are-so-hard-to-recycle |access-date=2021-12-28 |website=www.bbc.com |language=en |archive-date=2020-11-25 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201125020025/https://www.bbc.com/future/article/20200710-why-clothes-are-so-hard-to-recycle |dead-url=no }}</ref>時裝中用到的農產、纖維和服裝的生產和銷售都會造成不同形式的環境[[污染]]，包括[[水污染]]、[[空氣污染]]和[[水土流失|土壤退化]]。<ref>{{cite web| url =https://pirg.org/articles/whats-the-problem-with-fast-fashion/| title =What’s the problem with fast fashion? | publisher =IPCC | date = | accessdate = 2024-01-04| archive-date =2024-01-05| archive-url =https://web.archive.org/web/20240105083928/https://pirg.org/articles/whats-the-problem-with-fast-fashion/| dead-url =no}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url =https://www.sustainyourstyle.org/en/whats-wrong-with-the-fashion-industry | title =What's wrong with the Fashion industry? | publisher =Sustain Your Style | date = | accessdate =2024-01-04 | archive-date =2023-10-31 | archive-url =https://web.archive.org/web/20231031205935/https://www.sustainyourstyle.org/en/whats-wrong-with-the-fashion-industry | dead-url =no }}</ref>時裝產業對淡水造成的污染程度在世界排名第二，<ref>{{Cite web |date= 2015-09-25 |title=Fashion is the 2nd Largest Water Polluter in the World! How to Reduce Your Clothing Footprint - One Green Planet |url=http://www.onegreenplanet.org/environment/how-to-reduce-the-impact-of-your-clothing-on-the-planet/ |access-date=2018-05-08 |website=onegreenplanet.org |language=en-US |archive-date=2024-01-19 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240119081042/https://www.onegreenplanet.org/environment/how-to-reduce-the-impact-of-your-clothing-on-the-planet/ |dead-url=no }}</ref>且佔工業水污染的大約五分之一。<ref>{{cite news |last=Regan |first=Helen |date=2020-09-28 |title=Asian rivers are turning black. And our colorful closets are to blame |publisher=[[CNN]] |url=https://www.cnn.com/style/article/dyeing-pollution-fashion-intl-hnk-dst-sept/index.html |access-date= 2020-10-03 |archive-date=2021-02-27 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210227173511/https://www.cnn.com/style/article/dyeing-pollution-fashion-intl-hnk-dst-sept/index.html |dead-url=no }}</ref>造成污染的主要因素是時尚產品的{{le|生產過剩|Overproduction}}、<ref>[{{Cite web |url=https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/brooke-robertsislam/calculating-the-cost-of-the-fashion-machine_b_9614546.html |title=Fashion Data: Calculating the Cost of the Fashion Machine] |access-date=2024-01-14 |archive-date=2018-12-15 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181215173047/https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/brooke-robertsislam/calculating-the-cost-of-the-fashion-machine_b_9614546.html |dead-url=no }}</ref>採用[[合成纖維]]、生產相關農產造成的[[農業污染]]，<ref>{{Cite web |date=2017-04-16 |title=Textiles |url=https://sewguide.com/what-are-textiles/ |website=Sew Guide |access-date=2024-01-14 |archive-date=2021-11-21 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211121213255/https://sewguide.com/what-are-textiles/ |dead-url=no }}</ref>以及[[超細纖維]]在全球水源中的擴散。<ref name=":632" />

快時尚被定義為”一種服裝時尚的設計、創作和行銷方法，強調能讓消費者快速、廉價地獲得。”<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |title=Definition of FAST FASHION |url=https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/fast%20fashion |access-date=2018-05-08 |website=merriam-webster.com |language=en |archive-date=2019-12-07 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191207051031/https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/fast%20fashion |dead-url=no }}</ref>傳統的時尚流程通常需要大約6個月的時間來設計、製造和銷售，而快時尚能在幾週內完成，以滿足消費者對快速變化的需求。<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Dhir |first1=Yamini Jhanji |date=2021 |title=Hazards of fashion and textile waste: Approaches for effective waste management |url=https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/B9780128187586000028?via%3Dihub |journal=Waste Management in the Fashion and Textile Industries |pages=31–58 |doi=10.1016/b978-0-12-818758-6.00002-8 |access-date= 2023-10-23 |archive-date=2023-11-09 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231109110217/https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/B9780128187586000028?via%3Dihub |dead-url=no }}</ref>

美國人自20世紀60年代以來所購買的新服裝數量已增加兩倍。[[全球化]]推動快時尚產業的快速發展。 全球服飾零售額於2019年達到1.9兆美元，再創新高，預計到2030年將會達到3兆美元。全球人每年購置的服裝超過800億件。<ref name=":2">{{Cite news |last=Confino |first=Jo |date=2016-09-07 |title=We Buy A Staggering Amount Of Clothing, And Most Of It Ends Up In Landfills |language=en-US |work=HuffPost |url=https://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/transforming-the-fashion-industry_us_57ceee96e4b0a48094a58d39 |access-date=2018-05-08 |archive-date=2019-02-11 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190211180505/https://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/transforming-the-fashion-industry_us_57ceee96e4b0a48094a58d39 |dead-url=no }}</ref>

快時尚引發的一大擔憂是它所產生的浪費。根據[[美國國家環境保護局]]（EPA）統計，<ref>{{Cite web |title=US EPA |url=https://www.epa.gov/ |access-date=2018-05-08 |website=US EPA |language=en |archive-date=2020-03-27 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200327194844/https://www.epa.gov/ |dead-url=no }}</ref>全球在2013年中就產生1,510萬噸服裝廢料。<ref>{{Cite news |title=What Happens When Fashion Becomes Fast, Disposable And Cheap? |language=en |publisher=NPR |url=https://www.npr.org/2016/04/08/473513620/what-happens-when-fashion-becomes-fast-disposable-and-cheap |access-date=2018-05-08 |archive-date=2019-10-04 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191004194203/https://www.npr.org/2016/04/08/473513620/what-happens-when-fashion-becomes-fast-disposable-and-cheap |dead-url=no }}</ref>在美國，64.5%的此類廢料被送進垃圾掩埋場，有19.3%被焚燒以取得能源，只有16.2%被回收。<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Tran |first1=Nghia P. |last2=Gunasekara |first2=Chamila |last3=Law |first3=David W. |last4=Houshyar |first4=Shadi |last5=Setunge |first5=Sujeeva |last6=Cwirzen |first6=Andrzej |date=2 January 2022 |title=Comprehensive review on sustainable fiber reinforced concrete incorporating recycled textile waste |journal=Journal of Sustainable Cement-Based Materials |volume=11 |issue=1 |pages=28–42 |doi=10.1080/21650373.2021.1875273 |s2cid=234094967}}</ref>當服裝最終被運進垃圾掩埋場時，衣服上的化學物質（例如[[染料]]）可能會滲入地下而造成環境破壞。當未售出的衣服被燃燒時，<ref>{{Cite web |date=2018-09-29 |title=Opinion {{!}} Destroying Clothes Is Fashion's Dirty Secret. And We're Complicit. |url=https://www.huffpost.com/entry/burberry-burn-clothes-fashion-industry-waste_n_5bad1ef2e4b09d41eb9f7bb0 |access-date=2023-06-01 |website=HuffPost |language=en |archive-date=2024-01-06 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240106160732/https://www.huffpost.com/entry/burberry-burn-clothes-fashion-industry-waste_n_5bad1ef2e4b09d41eb9f7bb0 |dead-url=no }}</ref>會釋放二氧化碳進入大氣。<ref>{{Cite web |title=Carbon Dioxide |url=https://www.thefreedictionary.com/C02 |website=Free Dictionary |access-date=2024-01-14 |archive-date=2022-10-08 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221008144954/https://www.thefreedictionary.com/C02 |dead-url=no }}</ref>根據[[世界銀行]]的報告，時尚產業的年度碳排放量佔全球的10%。<ref>{{cite web |last1=World Bank Group |title=How Much Do Our Wardrobes Cost to the Environment? |url=https://www.worldbank.org/en/news/feature/2019/09/23/costo-moda-medio-ambiente |access-date= 2023-09-14 |website=The World Bank |archive-date=2024-01-23 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240123205221/https://www.worldbank.org/en/news/feature/2019/09/23/costo-moda-medio-ambiente |dead-url=no }}</ref>[[法國]]於2019年宣布正在努力阻止公司將未售出時尚商品以焚燒作處理。<ref>{{Cite web |date=2019-05-17 |title=Macron hires Kering CEO to improve sustainability of luxury fashion |url=https://www.euronews.com/green/2019/05/17/macron-hires-kering-ceo-sustainability-luxury-fashion |access-date=2023-06-01 |website=euronews |language=en |archive-date=2023-06-29 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230629203259/https://www.euronews.com/green/2019/05/17/macron-hires-kering-ceo-sustainability-luxury-fashion |dead-url=no }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=France clamps down on fashion brands that destroy unsold goods so that they won't be found in discount bins |url=https://nationalpost.com/news/world/france-clamps-down-on-fashion-brands-that-destroy-unsold-goods-so-that-they-wont-be-found-in-discount-bins |access-date=2023-06-01 |website=nationalpost |language=en-CA |archive-date=2023-06-19 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230619182124/https://nationalpost.com/news/world/france-clamps-down-on-fashion-brands-that-destroy-unsold-goods-so-that-they-wont-be-found-in-discount-bins |dead-url=no }}</ref>時裝的生產數量之高、速度之快，以至於超過40%的時裝商品須以降價方式促銷。 <ref>{{Cite news |last=Pucker |first=Kenneth P. |date=2022-01-13 |title=The Myth of Sustainable Fashion |work=Harvard Business Review |url=https://hbr.org/2022/01/the-myth-of-sustainable-fashion |access-date=2023-09-14 |issn=0017-8012 |archive-date=2023-12-23 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231223090448/https://hbr.org/2022/01/the-myth-of-sustainable-fashion |dead-url=no }}</ref>

服裝的包裝也最終會成為這個產業的廢棄物。隨著網上購物（無論是服裝還是其他物品）變得普遍，僅在美國就產生約7,500萬噸廢棄物。許多包裝材料均為不可回收。<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Bertram |first1=Rose Francoise |last2=Chi |first2=Ting |date=2018-05-04 |title=A study of companies’ business responses to fashion e-commerce’s environmental impact |url=https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/17543266.2017.1406541 |journal=International Journal of Fashion Design, Technology and Education |volume=11 |issue=2 |pages=254–264 |doi=10.1080/17543266.2017.1406541 |access-date= 2023-10-17 |doi-access=free |archive-date=2023-10-28 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231028231734/https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/17543266.2017.1406541 |dead-url=no }}</ref>

慢時尚是一項針對快時尚的反對運動，專注於採用環保材料的永續式服裝製造與銷售。鼓勵購買當地來源的服裝，而非大品牌，這些當地製造的服裝通常品質會更好，比工廠大量製造的更為耐用，同時可減少廢棄衣服所造成的污染。<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Niinimäki |first1=Kirsi |last2=Peters |first2=Greg |last3=Dahlbo |first3=Helena |last4=Perry |first4=Patsy |last5=Rissanen |first5=Timo |last6=Gwilt |first6=Alison |date= 2020-04-07 |title=The environmental price of fast fashion |url=https://www.nature.com/articles/s43017-020-0039-9 |journal=Nature Reviews Earth & Environment |volume=1 |issue=4 |pages=189–200 |doi=10.1038/s43017-020-0039-9 |access-date=2023-10-17 |archive-date=2023-08-27 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230827145741/https://www.nature.com/articles/s43017-020-0039-9 |dead-url=no }}</ref>慢時尚運動也針對快時尚的道德問題提出挑戰，後者通常會涉入低收入國家的工人，及低工資與超時工作的問題。<ref name=":64">{{cite journal |last1=Bick |first1=Rachel |last2=Halsey |first2=Erika |last3=Ekenga |first3=Christine C. |date=December 2018 |title=The global environmental injustice of fast fashion |url=https://ehjournal.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12940-018-0433-7 |journal=Environmental Health |volume=17 |issue=1 |doi=10.1186/s12940-018-0433-7 |access-date= 2023-10-18 |doi-access=free |pmc=6307129 |archive-date=2023-10-28 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231028231733/https://ehjournal.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12940-018-0433-7 |dead-url=no }}</ref>

[[聚酯]]纖維是2017年時尚界最愛使用的纖維之一，零售店中約60%的服裝中都含有此種纖維，總重量達到約2,130萬噸。<ref name=":042">{{Cite news |date=2017-07-10 |title=Preference for Polyester May Make Fast Fashion Brands Vulnerable - The Robin Report |language=en-US |work=The Robin Report |url=http://www.therobinreport.com/preference-for-polyester-may-make-fast-fashion-brands-vulnerable/ |access-date=2018-05-08 |archive-date=2020-02-28 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200228121637/https://www.therobinreport.com/preference-for-polyester-may-make-fast-fashion-brands-vulnerable/ |dead-url=no }}</ref>從2000年到2015年期間，含有聚酯纖維的服裝消費量增加157%。<ref name=":042" />聚酯纖維是由[[煤]]、[[石油]]、空氣和水的化學反應製成，<ref>{{Cite news |date=2015-08-26 |title=How is Polyester Made? - Craftech Industries - High-Performance Plastics - (518) 828-5001 |language=en-US |work=Craftech Industries |url=http://www.craftechind.com/how-is-polyester-made/ |url-status=dead |access-date=2018-05-08 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190927133454/http://www.craftechind.com/how-is-polyester-made/ |archive-date=2019-09-27}}</ref>前兩種是[[化石燃料]]，生產過程會產生多種空氣污染物，如[[二氧化碳]]、[[懸浮微粒]]、[[氮氧化物]]、[[一氧化碳]]、[[硫化氫]]和[[二氧化硫]]。<ref>{{Cite news |date=June 2003 |title=Hazardous Substance Research Center |url=https://cfpub.epa.gov/ncer_abstracts/index.cfm/fuseaction/display.files/fileID/14522 |access-date=2018-05-08 |archive-date=2019-04-17 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190417194225/https://cfpub.epa.gov/ncer_abstracts/index.cfm/fuseaction/display.files/fileID/14522 |dead-url=no }}</ref>除生產聚酯纖維過程中會造成污染之外，成品在生命週期結束時也會成為廢棄物。聚酯不可[[生物降解]]，<ref>{{Cite web |title=non-biodegradable adjective - Definition, pictures, pronunciation and usage notes {{!}} Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary at OxfordLearnersDictionaries.com |url=https://www.oxfordlearnersdictionaries.com/us/definition/english/non-biodegradable |access-date=2018-05-08 |website=www.oxfordlearnersdictionaries.com |language=en |archive-date=2018-06-19 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180619163246/https://www.oxfordlearnersdictionaries.com/us/definition/english/non-biodegradable |dead-url=no }}</ref>表示其永遠不會被細菌轉化為不會破壞環境的狀態。洗滌聚酯纖維製成的服裝會導致超細纖維塑膠脫落，進入水系統，包括海洋。<ref>{{Cite web |last=Paddison |first=Laura |date=2016-09-27 |title=Single clothes wash may release 700,000 microplastic fibres, study finds |url=https://www.theguardian.com/science/2016/sep/27/washing-clothes-releases-water-polluting-fibres-study-finds |access-date=2018-05-08 |website=The Guardian |language=en |archive-date=2020-02-10 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200210162452/https://www.theguardian.com/science/2016/sep/27/washing-clothes-releases-water-polluting-fibres-study-finds |dead-url=no }}</ref><ref>{{Cite journal |last=De Falco |first=Francesca |date=2019-04-29|title=The contribution of washing processes of synthetic clothes to microplastic pollution |journal=Scientific Reports |volume=9 |issue=1 |page=6633 |bibcode=2019NatSR...9.6633D |doi=10.1038/s41598-019-43023-x |pmc=6488573 |pmid=31036862 |doi-access=free}}</ref>

[[棉花]]是世界上除糧食之外最常見的農作物。<ref name=":72">{{Cite web |title=Cotton {{!}} Industries {{!}} WWF |url=https://www.worldwildlife.org/industries/cotton |access-date=2022-10-07 |website=World Wildlife Fund |language=en |archive-date=2024-01-17 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240117115321/https://www.worldwildlife.org/industries/cotton |dead-url=no }}</ref>全球所產的紡織品中有一半是由此種纖維製成。<ref name=":72" />棉花是一種耗水量較大的作物，生長一噸需用到3,644立方米的水，即每磅棉花需要用到347加侖的水。<ref name=":822">{{Cite journal |last=Mukherjee |first=S. |date=2015 |title=Environmental and Social Impact of Fashion: Towards an Eco-Friendly, Ethical Fashion |s2cid=169479232}}</ref>種植棉花每年需用的殺蟲劑佔全球用量的25%，需用的[[農藥]]佔全球用量的10-16%。<ref name=":42">{{Cite web |date= 2014 -02-04 |title=Chemical cotton {{!}} Rodale Institute |url=https://rodaleinstitute.org/chemical-cotton/ |access-date=2018-05-08 |website=rodaleinstitute.org |language=en |archive-date=2018-09-24 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180924195009/https://rodaleinstitute.org/chemical-cotton/ |dead-url=no }}</ref><ref name=":822" />EPA認為美國棉花種植使用的主要農藥中有一半可能具有致癌性。<ref name=":822" />棉花生產會降低[[土壤]]品質，導致地力枯竭，必須另行開闢新田地來種植。<ref name=":72" />而田地擴張後會導致當地[[棲息地]]遭到破壞，相關污染也會影響當地的[[生物多樣性]]。<ref name=":72" />

於2005年，生產羊毛和皮革等動物纖維所產生的溫室氣體排放量佔全球的14.5%。<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Grossi |first1=Giampiero |last2=Goglio |first2=Pietro |last3=Vitali |first3=Andrea |last4=Williams |first4=Adrian G. |date=2019-01-03 |title=Livestock and climate change: impact of livestock on climate and mitigation strategies |journal=Animal Frontiers |language=en |volume=9 |issue=1 |pages=69–76 |doi=10.1093/af/vfy034 |issn=2160-6056 |pmc=7015462 |pmid=32071797 |doi-access=free}}</ref>牛的消化系統是種{{le|前胃發酵| foregut fermentation}}的過程，會產生[[甲烷]]（一種強效溫室氣體）。飼養的[[反芻亞目|反芻動物]]除會釋放甲烷之外，飼養作業也會產生二氧化碳與[[一氧化二氮]]的排放。飼養動物所產生的排放中，44％來自透過腸道發酵的反芻動物，41％來自飼養牲畜所種植的飼料作物，10％來自其糞便，5％來自所使用的能源。<ref>{{Cite web |title=Results {{!}} Global Livestock Environmental Assessment Model (GLEAM) {{!}} Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations |url=http://www.fao.org/gleam/results/en/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220420195235/https://www.fao.org/gleam/results/en/ |archive-date=2022-04-20 |access-date=2020-12-31 |website=www.fao.org |dead-url=yes }}</ref>

|250<ref name=":0">{{cite web |first1=Andrew |last1=Barber |first2=Glenys |last2=Pellow |title=LCA: New Zealand merino wool: total energy use |url=https://proyectaryproducir.com.ar/public_html/Seminarios_Posgrado/Material_de_referencia/Lana%20-%20LCA%20in%20NZ%20Barber%20Pellow.pdf |access-date=2024-01-14 |archive-date=2023-04-19 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230419220433/https://proyectaryproducir.com.ar/public_html/Seminarios_Posgrado/Material_de_referencia/Lana%20-%20LCA%20in%20NZ%20Barber%20Pellow.pdf |dead-url=no }}</ref>

|50,690-71,409<ref name=":12">{{Cite web |last1=Freitas |first1=Alexandra |last2=Zhang |first2=Guoping |last3=Matthews |first3=Ruth |date=March 2017 |title=Water Footprint Assessment of polyester and viscose and comparison to cotton |url=https://waterfootprint.org/media/downloads/WFA_Polyester_and__Viscose_2017.pdf |access-date=2022-10-10 |website=Water Footprint Assessment |archive-date=2022-11-04 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221104083300/https://waterfootprint.org/media/downloads/WFA_Polyester_and__Viscose_2017.pdf |dead-url=no }}</ref>

|500<ref>{{Cite web |last=Koerner |first=Brendan |date=2008-01-29 |title=If I want to help the environment, should I buy wool or cotton? |url=https://slate.com/technology/2008/01/if-i-want-to-help-the-environment-should-i-buy-wool-or-cotton.html |access-date=2022-10-11 |website=Slate Magazine |language=en |archive-date=2023-12-04 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231204064950/https://slate.com/technology/2008/01/if-i-want-to-help-the-environment-should-i-buy-wool-or-cotton.html |dead-url=no }}</ref>

不當處置衣物會危害環境，特別是透過[[廢水|污水]]的方式。在掩埋場的廢棄衣物因分解而產生的化學物質會進入空氣和滲入地下，同時影響[[地下水]]和[[地表水]]。紡織品除造成塑膠污染外，也在海洋污染方面造成重大影響。紡織品與塑膠不同，在其[[供應鏈]]中的不同流程中均會產生污染，對海洋生物造成影響。<ref>{{Cite web |last=Scott |first=Mike |title=Out Of Fashion - The Hidden Cost Of Clothing Is A Water Pollution Crisis |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/mikescott/2020/09/19/out-of-fashionthe-hidden-cost-of-clothing-is-a-water-pollution-crisis/ |access-date=2021-12-12 |website=Forbes |language=en |archive-date=2023-06-08 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230608082202/https://www.forbes.com/sites/mikescott/2020/09/19/out-of-fashionthe-hidden-cost-of-clothing-is-a-water-pollution-crisis/ |dead-url=no }}</ref>殺蟲劑和服裝製造時使用的化學物質等[[污染物]]會黏附在水域生態系中積聚的顆粒上，有可能進入人類[[食物鏈]]中。<ref name="ellenmacarthurfoundation.org32">{{Cite web |title=A New Textiles Economy: Redesigning fashion's future |url=https://ellenmacarthurfoundation.org/a-new-textiles-economy |access-date=2022-05-03 |website=ellenmacarthurfoundation.org |archive-date=2024-01-23 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240123004633/https://www.ellenmacarthurfoundation.org/a-new-textiles-economy |dead-url=no }}</ref>

紡織品在其生命週期的每個階段（從生產、使用到報廢處置）都有超細纖維脫落。<ref name=":633"/>這些纖維最終進入土壤、空氣、[[湖泊]]和海洋。<ref name=":633">{{cite journal |last1=Liu |first1=Jianli |last2=Liang |first2=Jianyao |last3=Ding |first3=Jiannan |last4=Zhang |first4=Guangming |last5=Zeng |first5=Xianyi |last6=Yang |first6=Qingbo |last7=Zhu |first7=Bo |last8=Gao |first8=Weidong |date=August 2021 |title=Microfiber pollution: an ongoing major environmental issue related to the sustainable development of textile and clothing industry |journal=Environment, Development and Sustainability |volume=23 |issue=8 |pages=11240–11256 |doi=10.1007/s10668-020-01173-3 |s2cid=230284901}}</ref>從紡織品產業一開始即有超細纖維污染存在，但直到最近才受到大眾的關注。<ref name=":633" />[[加拿大]]的非營利組織海洋智慧保護協會（Ocean Wise Conservation Association）曾發表一篇討論紡織品廢棄物的研究報告。稱人類每洗滌一公斤含聚酯紡織品，平均會排出約20至800[[毫克]]的超細聚酯廢棄物。每洗滌一公斤含尼龍紡織品則大約有11至63毫克超細尼龍廢棄物流入[[水體]]。<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Vassilenko |first=Katerina |year=2019 |title=Me, my clothes and the ocean: The role of textiles in microfiber pollution |url=https://assets.ctfassets.net/fsquhe7zbn68/4MQ9y89yx4KeyHv9Svynyq/8434de64585e9d2cfbcd3c46627c7a4a/Research_MicrofibersReport_191004-e.pdf |journal=Ocean Wise Conservation Association |access-date=2024-01-14 |archive-date=2023-04-17 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230417183952/https://assets.ctfassets.net/fsquhe7zbn68/4MQ9y89yx4KeyHv9Svynyq/8434de64585e9d2cfbcd3c46627c7a4a/Research_MicrofibersReport_191004-e.pdf |dead-url=no }}</ref>洗滌合成紡織品會將[[微塑料|微塑膠]]和超細纖維釋放進入海洋。<ref name=":102">{{cite journal |last1=Schöpel |first1=Bettina |last2=Stamminger |first2=Rainer |date= 2019-03-15 |title=A Comprehensive Literature Study on Microfibres from Washing Machines |journal=Tenside Surfactants Detergents |volume=56 |issue=2 |pages=94–104 |doi=10.3139/113.110610 |s2cid=108248146}}</ref>在使用洗衣機洗滌衣物時，這些物質在翻滾過程中脫落。<ref name=":102" />每次洗滌家用衣物可脫落多達70萬根超細纖維。<ref name=":633" />

海洋智慧保護協會還發佈另一項研究報告，敘述美國和加拿大的家庭平均每年生產約135克超細纖維，相當於每年向累積排放2.2萬噸超微纖維進入污水系統，經過各個[[污水處理]]廠處理，其中約有878噸未經捕獲，而會進入海洋。至於未經污水處理廠處理過的污水帶進多少超微纖維海洋則不得而知。<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Katerina |first=Vassilenko |year=2019 |title=Me, my clothes and the ocean: The role of textiles in microfiber pollution. |url=https://assets.ctfassets.net/fsquhe7zbn68/4MQ9y89yx4KeyHv9Svynyq/8434de64585e9d2cfbcd3c46627c7a4a/Research_MicrofibersReport_191004-e.pdf |journal=Ocean Wise Conservation Association |access-date=2024-01-14 |archive-date=2023-04-17 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230417183952/https://assets.ctfassets.net/fsquhe7zbn68/4MQ9y89yx4KeyHv9Svynyq/8434de64585e9d2cfbcd3c46627c7a4a/Research_MicrofibersReport_191004-e.pdf |dead-url=no }}</ref>

紡織品是環境中超細纖維的主要來源。<ref name=":633" />在例如海岸的海洋[[生態系|生態系統]]中發現的微塑膠中有35%是合成超細纖維和{{le|奈米纖維|nanofiber}}。<ref name=":633" />這種超細纖維會被海洋生態系統中的魚類或其他物種所攝取，進入腸道，並造成傷害。<ref name=":0222">{{cite journal |last1=Mishra |first1=Sunanda |last2=Rath |first2=Chandi charan |last3=Das |first3=Alok Prasad |date=March 2019 |title=Marine microfiber pollution: A review on present status and future challenges |journal=Marine Pollution Bulletin |volume=140 |pages=188–197 |doi=10.1016/j.marpolbul.2019.01.039 |pmid=30803634 |s2cid=73491218}}</ref>在供人類食用的魚類和貝類的消化道中均廣泛發現有超細纖維。<ref name=":633" />超細污染物在食物鏈中會逐步累積，發生[[生物放大作用]]。<ref name=":32">{{Cite news |date=2016-07-02 |title=Causes, Effects and Process of Biomagnification {{!}} Earth Eclipse |language=en-US |work=Earth Eclipse |url=https://www.eartheclipse.com/ecosystem/causes-effects-process-of-biomagnification.html |access-date=2018-05-08 |archive-date=2018-07-14 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180714150732/https://www.eartheclipse.com/ecosystem/causes-effects-process-of-biomagnification.html |dead-url=no }}</ref>攝入超微纖維的[[獵物]]受到[[捕食]]，捕食者也會受到傷害。研究發現海中貝類每年攝取的微塑膠有11,000片，於[[巴西]]一湖泊中捕獲的魚中，有83%的體內均發現有超細纖維。<ref name=":0222" />在一項研究中，螃蟹攝取的食物中含有塑膠超微纖維時，其食物消耗率會下降，會導致其生長所需的能量降低。<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Watts |first1=Andrew J. R. |last2=Urbina |first2=Mauricio A. |last3=Corr |first3=Shauna |last4=Lewis |first4=Ceri |last5=Galloway |first5=Tamara S. |date=15 December 2015 |title=Ingestion of Plastic Microfibers by the Crab Carcinus maenas and Its Effect on Food Consumption and Energy Balance |journal=Environmental Science & Technology |volume=49 |issue=24 |pages=14597–14604 |bibcode=2015EnST...4914597W |doi=10.1021/acs.est.5b04026 |pmid=26529464}}</ref><ref name=":032">{{cite journal |last1=Henry |first1=Beverley |last2=Laitala |first2=Kirsi |last3=Klepp |first3=Ingun Grimstad |date=February 2019 |title=Microfibres from apparel and home textiles: Prospects for including microplastics in environmental sustainability assessment |journal=Science of the Total Environment |volume=652 |pages=483–494 |bibcode=2019ScTEn.652..483H |doi=10.1016/j.scitotenv.2018.10.166 |pmid=30368178 |s2cid=53114879 |doi-access=free}}</ref>

解決時尚產業對環境影響的技術包括採用海藻吸附劑，這種海藻表面有豐富的化學特性（[[雜原子]]功能)），將水中的染料吸附清理乾淨。<ref name=":52">[{{Cite web |url=https://mediamanager.sei.org/documents/Publications/SEI-Report-EcologicalFootprintAndWaterAnalysisOfCottonHempAndPolyester-2005.pdf |title=Ecological Footprint of Cotton Hemp and Polyester] |access-date=2024-01-14 |archive-date=2019-05-11 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190511135131/https://mediamanager.sei.org/documents/Publications/SEI-Report-EcologicalFootprintAndWaterAnalysisOfCottonHempAndPolyester-2005.pdf |dead-url=no }}</ref>許多技術或潛在的解決方案在施行時均有困難，例如在海洋沉積物中檢測微塑膠技術的準確性，在不同的土壤樣本或來源中尚未得到充分的測試。

生產布料和服裝需要耗用大量的水。全球時尚產業每年使用930億立方公尺的水（即20兆加侖），<ref name=":634">{{cite journal |last1=Liu |first1=Jianli |last2=Liang |first2=Jianyao |last3=Ding |first3=Jiannan |last4=Zhang |first4=Guangming |last5=Zeng |first5=Xianyi |last6=Yang |first6=Qingbo |last7=Zhu |first7=Bo |last8=Gao |first8=Weidong |date=August 2021 |title=Microfiber pollution: an ongoing major environmental issue related to the sustainable development of textile and clothing industry |journal=Environment, Development and Sustainability |volume=23 |issue=8 |pages=11240–11256 |doi=10.1007/s10668-020-01173-3 |s2cid=230284901}}</ref><ref name=":922">{{Cite journal |last1=Bailey |first1=Kerrice |last2=Basu |first2=Aman |last3=Sharma |first3=Sapna |date=January 2022 |title=The Environmental Impacts of Fast Fashion on Water Quality: A Systematic Review |journal=Water |language=en |volume=14 |issue=7 |pages=1073 |doi=10.3390/w14071073 |issn=2073-4441 |doi-access=free}}</ref>達到全球淡水抽取總量的4%。<ref name="ellenmacarthurfoundation.org33">{{Cite web |title=A New Textiles Economy: Redesigning fashion's future |url=https://ellenmacarthurfoundation.org/a-new-textiles-economy |access-date=2022-05-03 |website=ellenmacarthurfoundation.org |archive-date=2024-01-23 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240123004633/https://www.ellenmacarthurfoundation.org/a-new-textiles-economy |dead-url=no }}</ref>如果按照目前的趨勢發展，到2030年的水耗用量將增加一倍。<ref>{{Cite web |title=Pulse of the Industry — GLOBAL FASHION AGENDA |url=https://www.globalfashionagenda.com/publications-and-policy/pulse-of-the-industry/ |access-date=2022-05-12 |language=en-US |archive-date=2022-03-20 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220320101340/https://www.globalfashionagenda.com/publications-and-policy/pulse-of-the-industry/ |dead-url=no }}</ref>根據[[聯合國環境署]]的數據，時尚產業產生的廢水佔全球廢水總量的20%。<ref>{{Cite web |date=2019-03-13 |title=Fashion's tiny hidden secret |url=http://www.unep.org/news-and-stories/story/fashions-tiny-hidden-secret |access-date=2022-05-12 |website=UNEP |language=en |archive-date=2024-01-18 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240118015429/https://www.unep.org/news-and-stories/story/fashions-tiny-hidden-secret |dead-url=no }}</ref>製造一條[[Levi's]][[牛仔褲]]平均要耗用約3,781公升水。<ref>{{Cite web |last1=Br |first1=Sustainable |last2=read |first2=s Published 7 years ago About a 0 minute |date=2015-03-16 |title=Levi's Has Saved 1B Liters of Water Through Its Water |url=https://sustainablebrands.com/read/product-service-design-innovation/levi-s-has-savedb-liters-of-water-through-its-water-less-process-now-it-s-asking-you-to-wash-less |access-date=2022-05-12 |website=Sustainable Brands |language=en |archive-date=2023-11-10 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231110125010/https://sustainablebrands.com/read/product-service-design-innovation/levi-s-has-savedb-liters-of-water-through-its-water-less-process-now-it-s-asking-you-to-wash-less |dead-url=no }}</ref>平均而言，生產一公斤紡織品需要耗用200公升水。<ref name=":822"/>

消費者使用的階段在服裝和其他紡織品[[生命週期]]中是個會產生重要影響的領域，但通常遭到忽略。<ref name=":112">{{Cite journal |last1=Kozlowski |first1=Anika |last2=Bardecki |first2=Michal |last3=Searcy |first3=Cory |date=2012 |title=Environmental Impacts in the Fashion Industry: A Life-cycle and Stakeholder Framework |url=https://www.jstor.org/stable/jcorpciti.45.17 |journal=The Journal of Corporate Citizenship |issue=45 |pages=17–36 |issn=1470-5001 |access-date=2024-01-14 |archive-date=2023-11-08 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231108211212/https://www.jstor.org/stable/jcorpciti.45.17 |dead-url=no }}</ref>目前對使用節能洗衣機和烘乾機以降低消費者影響的研究做的不多。<ref name=":112" />根據研究，若將衣物使用的時間延長9個月可減少22%的總體浪費和33%的用水量。<ref name=":923">{{Cite journal |last1=Bailey |first1=Kerrice |last2=Basu |first2=Aman |last3=Sharma |first3=Sapna |date=January 2022 |title=The Environmental Impacts of Fast Fashion on Water Quality: A Systematic Review |journal=Water |language=en |volume=14 |issue=7 |pages=1073 |doi=10.3390/w14071073 |issn=2073-4441 |doi-access=free}}</ref>就生產商而言，其生產消費者更有可能購買的流行顏色和設計的服裝，是同時能符合經濟，並對環境負責的做法。<ref name=":112" />設計更有可能被購買的服裝可減少生產方面的浪費。時尚零售商[[H&M]]於2018年的未售出商品價值到43億美元。<ref name=":923" />如[[巴塔哥尼亞 (公司)|巴塔哥尼亞]]等其他零售商已努力透過使用環保材料（例如有機種植的棉花和由回收塑膠瓶製成的聚酯纖維）來生產更具永續性的服裝。<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Caniato |first1=Federico |last2=Caridi |first2=Maria |last3=Crippa |first3=Luca |last4=Moretto |first4=Antonella |date=February 2012 |title=Environmental sustainability in fashion supply chains: An exploratory case based research |url=https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0925527311002659?via%3Dihub |journal=International Journal of Production Economics |volume=135 |issue=2 |pages=659–670 |doi=10.1016/j.ijpe.2011.06.001 |access-date=2023-10-22 |archive-date=2023-11-13 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231113200632/https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0925527311002659?via%3Dihub |dead-url=no }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |date= 2018-11-12 |title=Putting the brakes on fast fashion |url=https://www.unep.org/news-and-stories/story/putting-brakes-fast-fashion |access-date= 2023-10-22 |website=UNEP |language=en |archive-date=2024-01-24 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240124020046/https://www.unep.org/news-and-stories/story/putting-brakes-fast-fashion |dead-url=no }}</ref>

為延長服裝的生命週期並減緩生產和過度消費的速度，人們開始考慮諸如”服裝庫(clothing libraries)”之類的商業模式。這些企業從當地商店和公司收集衣服，讓顧客按月付費的方式租用。諸如此類的創業公司已在[[荷蘭]]和[[瑞典]]進行測試，也有人擔心這類服裝庫的概念對減少快時尚的影響幾乎無作用。<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Zamani |first1=Bahareh |last2=Sandin |first2=Gustav |last3=Peters |first3=Greg M. |date= 2017-09-20 |title=Life cycle assessment of clothing libraries: can collaborative consumption reduce the environmental impact of fast fashion? |url=https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0959652617312982?via%3Dihub |journal=Journal of Cleaner Production |volume=162 |pages=1368–1375 |doi=10.1016/j.jclepro.2017.06.128 |access-date=2023-10-17 |archive-date=2024-01-05 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240105082423/https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0959652617312982?via%3Dihub |dead-url=no }}</ref>