Study Calls for Action on Textile Waste

The textile waste crisis is exacerbated by the fast fashion industry's oversupply, with estimates indicating that 40% of produced garments go unsold, resulting in up to 60 billion excess garments annually. In Ghana, initiatives like the Obroni Wawu October festival aim to repurpose imported secondhand clothing, which often ends up as waste, with 40% of garments discarded before reaching local vendors. A global study highlighted that most unwanted clothes in cities like Melbourne and Manchester are either exported or sent to landfills, contributing to the staggering 92 million tonnes of textile waste generated each year, a figure projected to double by 2030. Experts emphasize the urgent need for better coordination between local governments and charities to effectively manage this growing waste problem. The Or Foundation's Speak Volumes campaign seeks transparency in production volumes from fashion brands as a step towards addressing these environmental issues. Overall, the fashion industry's inefficiencies and lack of accountability are fueling a significant environmental disaster.