Exploring the environmental cost of our clothing consumption habit
New report from Zero Waste Scotland shows that clothing is contributing more to climate change than plastic.
Yet only a tiny proportion of Scots are aware, with nearly two-thirds saying plastic is the worst offender. A partnership between Zero Waste Scotland and Scottish street artist The Rebel Bear showcases the extent of the issue, with huge outdoor artworks popping up in two Scottish cities.
People in Scotland are being urged to think twice about what we buy and throw away as new data reveals the worst waste disposed of from our homes.
Clothing is the most environmentally-damaging type of household waste, accounting for nearly a third (32%) of the carbon impacts of Scotland’s household waste despite making up only a small proportion, by weight (4%) of the waste we bin.
That’s according to Zero Waste Scotland’s new carbon metric report, which highlights the cost to the climate of the items commonly thrown away from homes in Scotland.
It’s because textiles like clothing and shoes have long supply chains and generate large volumes of emissions at every stage – from growing fibres like cotton, to manufacturing them into wearable goods, to packaging them up and transporting them all over the world for sale.
What’s more, textiles’ global supply chain means that while Scotland contributes to demand, many of the emissions associated with garments bound for Scotland are generated overseas.
Despite all this, new Zero Waste Scotland data suggests only 5% of people in Scotland are aware that clothing is the worst type of waste for the climate – with 61% saying it’s plastic.
What’s more, just 14% say they think about the environmental impact of a garment before they buy it.
Now, Zero Waste Scotland is teaming up with creative partners, from online influencers to street artists, to highlight the extent of the problem and get people reconsidering our consumption of clothing.
They include The Rebel Bear, who has created two largescale public artworks based on world-famous paintings in Scotland’s Central Belt.
Hokusai's The Great Wave is reworked as a tsunami of wasted clothes which has been painted on a hoarding at the former Debenhams store at the St Enoch Centre on Glasgow's Argyle Street. In Dundee, another hoarding beside Slessor Gardens shows a new version of Munch's The Scream with the well-known figure surrounded by piles of new clothing.
Iain Gulland, Chief Executive of Zero Waste Scotland, said:
“If we’re serious about tackling climate change we need to rethink our consumption of goods and materials.
“The average Scot consumes more than twice the sustainable amount of materials per year¹, and our throwaway culture encourages that approach. It’s an environmental imperative that we turn this around, and The Rebel Bear’s artworks confront that reality in a really stark, and visually engaging, way.
“The circular economy gives us the opportunity do things differently without compromising on quality of life, evolving an economy that’s better for both people and planet in which goods and materials are valued and made to last.
“Our campaign and the thought-provoking content within it is designed to empower everyone in Scotland to cut the environmental impact of our consumption down to size.”
The street artist known as The Rebel Bear said:
“I was pleased with the opportunity to team up with Zero Waste Scotland to raise awareness of the impact of clothes waste. The aim is to raise awareness, in a non-judgmental way, and I hope my pieces have aided this goal and, on some level, made people think.”
Notes For Editors
¹ Source: Zero Waste Scotland and Circle Economy’s Circularity Gap Report Scotland, 2022.
About the carbon metric
Zero Waste Scotland’s groundbreaking carbon metric tool tracks the full lifecycle impacts of items thrown away from Scotland’s homes, making for a more reliable picture than the traditional measure of waste by weight.
It is updated on an annual basis using the Scottish Environment Protection Agency’s (SEPA’s) latest published waste data. The data included in the latest carbon metric report is for 2021.
In the report the term ‘textiles’ refers to a waste stream incorporating clothing, shoes and household goods like carpets.
Other household waste types identified as particularly damaging to the environment include food waste – which makes up 18% of household waste by weight but causes 30% of emissions from that waste – and plastic, which accounts for 9% by weight and 14% of emissions.
Attitude and awareness data
All figures relating to Scottish attitudes and awareness, unless otherwise stated, are from OnePoll. Total sample size was 1,000 adults. Fieldwork was undertaken between 10 and 15 February 2023. The survey was carried out online.
Those surveyed were asked:
- What type of household waste do you think has the biggest impact on climate change?
- How often do you buy brand new clothes (including for yourself or for others)?
- What do you consider before you buy new clothes?
- If you were to buy clothes in a more environmentally friendly way, what would you do?
- What do you usually do with clothing you no longer want to wear?
Clothing here refers to the type of waste categorised in annual waste data and subsequently in the carbon metric report as textiles. While this waste stream includes other household fabric items, such as curtains, bedding and carpets, the majority of this waste stream is clothing.
About Zero Waste Scotland
Zero Waste Scotland exists to lead Scotland to use products and resources responsibly, focusing on where we can have the greatest impact on climate change.
Using evidence and insight, our goal is to inform policy, and motivate individuals and businesses to embrace the environmental, economic, and social benefits of a circular economy.
A core element of our work is to raise awareness of how our consumption contributes to the climate crisis and what we can all do about it.
We are a not-for-profit environmental organisation funded by the Scottish Government and the European Regional Development Fund.
About the Rebel Bear
The street artist, known as ‘The Rebel Bear’ has been creating street art over the last six years throughout Scotland as well as London, Calais, Havana, Mumbai & New York (completing a commission for the United Nations). His work is currently being exhibited in galleries across the world as well as the National Museum of Scotland, and the Museum of Cardiff. The themes of his work cover politics, love, human emotion and comment on the ‘absurdity’ of the world we have created.
He has built up a large organic and engaged following on Instagram and his work often draws the attention of the media. To date, his work has been featured in the BBC, The Guardian, The Times, The Herald, NME, The LA Times, NBC, The Financial Times and many more.
How does consumption contribute to climate change?
Everything we buy has a carbon cost. When we throw an item away it’s a waste not just of the item itself, but also of all the resources that went into making it.
Around four-fifths of Scotland’s carbon footprint comes from the products and materials we make, use, and throw away – often before the end of their useable life.
If we’re serious about ending Scotland’s contribution to climate change, we must tackle our consumption of goods and materials.
What can we do about it?
As consumers, simply asking ourselves if we really need something before we buy is a vital step to cutting how much we consume.
If we really do need something, opting for second-hand first and exploring alternative business models like sharing or leasing can really help to keep products in use for longer and lessen the environmental impact of our purchasing decisions. In Scotland leasing models exist for everything from clothing and toys to DIY equipment, and even commercial lighting.
Opting for ‘alternative’ business models over outright ownership sends a powerful market signal that consumers want more sustainable choices, which can help drive further circular economy innovation.
Businesses have a part to play too, from designing products for easy repair to embedding reuse and recyclability. The circular economy represents an opportunity for brands to close the gap on their net zero objectives, futureproof their operations, and respond to customer demand for more sustainable options.