Did you know that fast fashion is one of the biggest sources of carbon emissions in the world? Scary stuff. But we’re here to spread the good news: You can still have a passion for fashion AND care for our planet and environmental sustainability (and save money too). Here’s how you can make a change – and look good whilst doing it.
The Low Down
The fashion industry is quickly one of the biggest contributors to human-induced global warming, responsible for up to 10% of global carbon emissions – and rising! That’s a lot; we’re talking more than all international flights and maritime shipping combined. But if all UK adults bought secondhand, it could prevent 12.5 billion kilograms of CO2 emissions ending up in our atmosphere [1]. That’s the same as taking nearly 3 million petrol-powered cars off the road.
And here’s the thing: it’s estimated that 150 billion new garments are made every year [2]. So, whether you’re looking for a finishing touch to an outfit you think needs a little je ne sais quoi, or you need a new winter coat, there’s no doubt it already exists in the secondhand market, a thousand times over. You could enjoy wandering the rails of your local charity shops to give your new purchase even more positive impact, but you don’t even need to venture outside. In fact, Vinted has become one of the largest fashion retailers in the UK in recent years.
Here’s how buying your next outfit second-hand will reduce your carbon footprint, and help to save the planet:
1. You’ll be saving water
We know everyone is talking about the water usage of AI data centres right now, but did you know that according to the United Nations, making a single pair of jeans uses 7,500 litres of water [3]? That’s enough drinking water for one person for seven years. While data centres around the world are estimated to use as many as 6.6 billion cubic metres of water per year by 2027 (that sounds huge, right?) – did you know that the fast fashion industry already uses 14 times this amount? That’s 93 billion cubic meters of water annually, contributing to around 20% of the world’s wastewater [4].
2. You’ll be reducing your carbon emissions
The fashion industry produces 1.2 billion tonnes of carbon emissions annually, which is pretty hard to even wrap your head around. Where do all these emissions come from?
Around 10-15% are estimated to be from transport: some items may travel across the world multiple times during their creation process, before travelling once again to be sold, and then possibly again to be shipped to someone’s home address [5]!
However, the real culprit is the manufacturing process: producing synthetic materials like polyester and Lycra uses fossil fuels to create these plastic-based materials themsleves, while the constant whirring of factories to keep up with the ever-growing demand for new trends uses vast amounts of non-renewable energy.
3. You’ll be reducing waste
Okay – we also have to talk about waste. With the fast fashion industry creating lower prices (and, ahem, lower quality), many people have adopted the mindset that clothing is disposable after only a few (or even one) wear. The UK reportedly discards around 336,000 tonnes of clothing every year, making it one of the fastest growing waste industry in the UK [6]. Globally, the equivalent to a rubbish truck full of clothes ends up in landfill every second [7]. Imagine how many that is just in the time you’ve been reading this article! The buyers aren’t the only problem here though- 15-20% of fabric is lost as offcuts in the making process [8].
4. You’ll be reducing pollution
Ah yes, another form of pollution! A recent report by Earth Action found that 58,000 tonnes of microfibres from textile production leak into the environment annually [9]. According to the study, the wet processing stages of textile production- so things like finishing, dyeing, and washing, are mainly responsible.
Can I really make a difference?
Yes! Those are just a few of the benefits to switching your fashion habit to secondhand – not to mention it’s chic, it reduces plastic pollution, and you won’t be contributing to unfair or illegal labour. Of course, no single charity shop purchase will improve the environment, but your impact will come from consistency and inspiring those around you. Think about the fact that all UK adults switching to second-hand clothes shopping would save the equivalent to a plane flying around the world more than 17,000 times, or 261,000 flights from London [1].
And if you want to know about the common behavioural pitfalls which can thwart your best secondhand efforts – check out this Translating Science article.
References
[1] Oxfam. (2023). “Shopping Second-Hand Fashion Would Prevent Harmful Emissions Equivalent to Flying Around the World 17000 Times Says Oxfam”. Oxfam.
[2] Bédat, M. (2016). “Our Love of Cheap Clothing Has A Hidden Cost – It’s Time For A Fashion Revolution”. World Economic Forum
[3] United Nations. (2019). “UN Launches Drive to Highlight Environmental Cost of Staying Fashionable.” UN News
[4] Barnett-Itzhaki, Z. (2026). “The water footprint of artificial intelligence: Emerging solutions and governance imperatives”. Water Research.
[5] Matuszak-Flejszman, A. (2024). “Transport-Related Emissions and Transition Strategies for Sustainability—A Case Study of the Fast Fashion Industry”. Sustainability.
[6]: Carbon Copy. (2025). “Where Do Unwanted Clothes Go in the UK?”. Carbon Copy.
7: Ellen MacArthur Foundation and Circular Initiative. (2017). “A New Textiles Economy: Redesigning Fashion’s Future”. Circular Online.
8: Langenheim, J. “A scrap of difference: Why fashion offcuts don’t need to end up in landfill”. National Geographic.
9: Earth Action. (2026). “From Shedding to Solutions: A Global Assessment of Microfiber Emissions and Reduction Opportunities in Textile Production”. Earth Action.
