Part1: The Fabric Cover-up: Why Ultra-Fast Fashion Brands Want You to Ignore The Truth

In today's fast-paced fashion industry, ultra fast fashion brands have taken the market by storm, offering trendy and cheap styles to meet consumers' insatiable desire for the latest fashion fix. However, amidst the seemingly glamorous allure of these brands, there exists a dangerous trade-off that is too often overlooked – the detrimental impact of the synthetic fibers they utilize in their garments. Among them, polyester has emerged as a dominant player due to its low cost, durability, and versatility. However, beneath its seemingly beneficial qualities lies a host of environmental and health concerns that warrant our attention. This article delves into the harmful effects of polyester, shedding light on its production, impact on consumers, and difficulties in disposal.

Production Process and Environmental Impact:

• The production of polyester fabric emits an estimated 1.5 trillion kilograms of greenhouse gases annually, contributing to approximately 3% of global CO2 emissions. (Source: Quantis)
• The extraction and refining of non-renewable resources, like petroleum and natural gas, required for polyester production release significant amounts of carbon emissions, exacerbating climate change.
• Polyester production consumes approximately 70 billion barrels of oil each year. (Source: World Wildlife Fund)
• Textile dyeing and finishing processes release numerous toxic chemicals, with the fashion industry identified as the second-largest polluter of clean water globally. (Source: United Nations Environment Programme)Health Impact on Consumers:

• Polyester's non-absorbent nature leads to moisture and heat being trapped against the skin, increasing the risk of discomfort, skin irritations, and the growth of bacteria and fungi.
• Chemical treatments applied to polyester garments, such as flame retardants and stain repellents, can contain hazardous substances. For example, flame retardants may include polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs), which have been linked to neurodevelopmental delays and hormone disruption. (Source: Green Science Policy Institute)
• Formaldehyde resins, often used to give polyester garments wrinkle-resistant properties, can cause skin allergies, respiratory problems, and irritate the eyes and throat. (Source: American Academy of Dermatology)Disposal Challenges and Microplastic Pollution:

• Polyester fabrics take several decades to hundreds of years to decompose fully in landfills, leading to a significant accumulation of textile waste. In terms of the after-effects of polyester decomposition, research has found that adding polyester microfibers to soil can affect litter decomposition rates. Polyester's presence in the soil can alter decomposition processes and impact microarthropod communities, potentially disrupting soil ecosystems.
• The laundering of polyester clothing releases microplastics into water bodies. It is estimated that a single load of laundry can release up to 700,000 microplastic fibers. (Source: International Union for Conservation of Nature)
• Microplastics generated by synthetic fibers, including polyester, Nylon, Acrylic etc are ingested by marine organisms, entering the food chain and potentially impacting human health.

The widespread use of polyester in the fashion industry has come at a significant environmental and health cost. Its production process contributes to climate change, depletes non-renewable resources, and pollutes air and water. Polyester garments treated with hazardous chemicals pose risks to human health, while the disposal of polyester clothing adds to the landfill crisis and contributes to microplastic pollution. By choosing sustainable and natural fiber alternatives, supporting secondhand clothing, and advocating for responsible fashion practices, we can collectively reduce the harm caused by synthetic fibers like polyester and work towards a more sustainable future. I will be covering the alternatives to synthetic fibers in my following posts.