Fashion’s Plastic Paralysis

The report finds that global fashion brands are increasing their use of synthetic fibres, with synthetic materials accounting for 69% of textile production and projected to reach 73% by 2030. It highlights a significant lack of transparency, with 54% of surveyed companies failing to respond fully. Most brands rely on recycled polyester from PET bottles, which the report describes as a false solution that disrupts bottle-to-bottle recycling and fails to address microplastic shedding. Only two brands, Reformation and Hugo Boss, have committed to phasing out synthetics by 2030. The report also notes weak industry support for EU legislation and the global plastics treaty, with many brands citing a need for further research to delay meaningful action on microplastic release.

• Synthetic fibres are the dominant material in textile production, accounting for 69% of the market and projected to increase to 73% by 2030.
• Corporate transparency regarding synthetic use has declined sharply; 54% of the 50 surveyed brands failed to respond to the survey in part or full, compared to 17% in 2021.
• Shein is identified as the highest user of synthetic fibres by proportion, with synthetics comprising 82% of its total garment production portfolio.
• Inditex is the largest user of synthetic fibres by volume, using 212,886 tonnes in 2023, an increase from 178,030 tonnes in 2022.
• The industry's reliance on recycled polyester from PET bottles is criticized as ineffective because it disrupts the bottle-to-bottle recycling loop and does not solve the microplastic pollution problem.
• Only two of the 50 companies evaluated—Reformation and Hugo Boss—have committed to phasing out synthetic fibres by 2030.
• Many brands use membership in voluntary initiatives like The Microfibre Consortium (TMC) as a 'smokescreen' to avoid implementing binding policies to reduce microplastic release.
• Industry support for meaningful regulation is low; only 22% of responding companies supported all the proposed EU and international measures, including the global plastics treaty.
• Microplastics from synthetic textiles are linked to severe human health risks, including chronic inflammation, impaired lung tissue repair, and increased risk of stroke and heart attack.
• Approximately 35% of microplastics released into the world's oceans originate from synthetic textiles.

APA

Trunk, U., Urbancic, N., & Nguyen, A. (2024). Fashion’s Plastic Paralysis. Changing Markets Foundation. https://changingmarkets.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/Fashions-Plastic-Paralysis.pdf

Chicago

Trunk, Urska, Nusa Urbancic, and Amy Nguyen. Fashion’s Plastic Paralysis. Changing Markets Foundation, 2024. https://changingmarkets.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/Fashions-Plastic-Paralysis.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Trunk |first1=Urska |last2=Urbancic |first2=Nusa |last3=Nguyen |first3=Amy |title=Fashion’s Plastic Paralysis |publisher=Changing Markets Foundation |date=September 2024 |url=https://changingmarkets.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/Fashions-Plastic-Paralysis.pdf |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{trunk2024fashions, author = {Trunk, Urska and Urbancic, Nusa and Nguyen, Amy}, title = {{Fashion’s Plastic Paralysis}}, institution = {Changing Markets Foundation}, year = {2024}, month = sep, url = {https://changingmarkets.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/Fashions-Plastic-Paralysis.pdf}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }