The journey of fast fashion returns: Greenpeace’s investigation
Greenpeace Italy, in collaboration with the TV program Report, tracked returns from fast-fashion brands on e-commerce platforms like Amazon, Zalando, and Shein. They purchased 24 clothing items and concealed GPS trackers in each. Over 58 days, these returns traveled a staggering total of 100,000 km, with an average distance of 4,502 km per item. These clothes were sold and resold 40 times and returned 29 times, with 58% of items still unsold.
The hidden environmental cost: CO2 emissions and packaging waste
The startup INDACO2 calculated the environmental cost of transportation and packaging for these fashion returns. Each order and return contributed 2.78 kg of CO2 emissions, with packaging accounting for about 16% of that. On average, 74 grams of plastic and 221 grams of cardboard were used per package. The cost of fuel for transportation was estimated at 0.87 euros per delivery.
Fashion’s environmental toll: CO2 emissions and textile waste
The fashion industry is one of the largest polluting sectors globally. In the European Union alone, textile consumption ranks as the fourth most damaging for the environment and climate, while being the third biggest consumer of water and land. Each year, 5.8 million tons of textile waste are generated, equating to about 12 kg per person. Despite growing awareness, the industry’s sustainability practices remain limited.
Addressing the issue of fast fashion returns: legal and consumer action
Greenpeace highlights the importance of legal measures, noting that some European countries have already enacted laws to prevent the destruction of returned clothes. However, the practice of free returns, which fuels compulsive fast-fashion buying, still persists. This encourages the purchase of disposable clothing, exacerbating the environmental crisis. Policy changes and consumer behavior shifts are crucial in reducing the fashion industry’s carbon footprint.
