Textile Waste – The Next Big Challenge After Plastic Pollution

For decades, plastic pollution has dominated environmental discussions and policy agendas worldwide. Yet another environmental challenge is rapidly escalating and deserves equal attention: textile waste. The unprecedented expansion of the fashion industry, particularly the rise of fast fashion, has transformed the way clothes are designed, produced, consumed, and discarded. As a result, textile waste is growing at an alarming rate, creating serious environmental, economic, and social consequences that extend far beyond overflowing landfills. The global fashion industry has experienced extraordinary growth over the past two decades. Clothing production has more than doubled since 2000, while consumers now purchase approximately 60% … Continue reading

Environmental Impact of the Global Textile Industry and Jordan’s Transition Towards a Circular Economy

Globally, approximately 92 million tons of textile waste are generated annually. The production of a single cotton T-shirt requires around 2,700 liters of water, while a pair of sneakers weighing 550 grams results in 7 kilograms of production waste. In 2022, an individual’s textile consumption demanded 323 square meters of land and emitted 355 kilograms of CO₂. In Europe alone, an average of 12 kilograms of textile garments are discarded per person each year. Due to limited reuse and recycling infrastructure, most of this waste is exported to Asia and Africa. In China, only 20% of the 26 million tons … Continue reading