The Sustainable Fashion Industry Statistics 2024

by Komail Noori on July 18, 2024

Sustainability is becoming a major factor in the fashion industry and is forcing brands to review their methods. Fashion companies are taking more responsible steps as consumer demand shifts to products sourced ethically. 2024 will be a watershed year for sustainable fashion, with cutting-edge recycling techniques and an increase in environmentally friendly behaviors.

Here are some Sustainable Fashion Industry Statistics 2024 for you to explore.

Market Size and Future Outlook of Sustainable and Ethical Fashion Industry

The market for ethical fashion has expanded at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 8.0%, rising from $8.17 billion in 2023 to $8.83 billion in 2024. Yahoo Finance
With a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 8.1%, the ethical fashion market is projected to reach $12.05 billion by 2028. Yahoo Finance
Sheep Inc., an ethical fashion manufacturer based in the UK, unveiled the first naturally negative carbon footprint t-shirt in the world in June 2023. Yahoo Finance
The ethical fashion market was dominated by Asia-Pacific in 2023, with Western Europe coming in second. Yahoo Finance
Sales of environmentally conscious fashion brands have increased by 22% in the last three years. Gitnux
By 2023, the market for sustainable fashion is expected to have grown from $6.35 billion in 2019 to $8.25 billion worldwide. Gitnux
Although the average consumer buys 60% more clothes now than they did fifteen years ago, they only keep each item for half as long. Gitnux
Every year, the United States discards about 35.4 billion pounds of textile waste. Gitnux
In Europe, the market for sustainable fashion is expanding at a pace of 7% per year. Gitnux
In the next five years, the market for used clothing is expected to grow to a value of $64 billion. Gitnux
By 2027, the market for sustainable fashion is projected to grow to $9.81 billion. Gitnux
10% of the luxury fashion market is expected to be made up of sustainable fashion by 2025. Gitnux
At present, the sustainable fashion market has a valuation exceeding $6.5 billion. The Roundup
By 2025, it is anticipated to reach $10.1 billion. It is anticipated that the amount will reach $15 billion by 2030. The Roundup
The market for ethical fashion is expected to grow at an average annual rate of 8.3%. By 2030, this might increase to 9.7% annually. The Roundup
By 2025, sales of eco-friendly clothing will increase by $1,574.2 million globally. The Roundup
The organic segment is anticipated to grow at the fastest rate, with a projected compound annual growth rate of 16.2%. The Roundup
By 2029, the organic baby clothing market is expected to have grown from $1.79 billion in 2022 to $2.81 billion. The Roundup
A 2022 survey revealed that few fashion companies were actively monitoring their carbon footprint, despite sustainability goals. Statista
The market share of sustainable apparel is expected to grow steadily, reaching 6.14% by 2026. Statista
The market for used clothing was estimated to be worth $197 billion in 2023 and is projected to grow to $297 billion by 2026. Statista

Reworking and Recycling Clothing Statistics

Across product life cycles, reworking clothing practices has reduced environmental impacts by 25–30%. Science Direct
Product life extensions have increased by 15-20% as a result of upworking techniques. Science Direct
As a result of recycling initiatives, 40–50% of materials used in the fashion industry now come from recycled sources. Science Direct
Merely 1% of textile waste is repurposed into fresh apparel. Science Direct
95% of clothing that is thrown away can be recycled, repurposed, or reworked. Gitnux
Customers who care about the environment are willing to change their habits, according to 57% of them. Gitnux
A more sustainable brand would be chosen by 63% of customers. Gitnux
79% of consumers think that buying sustainable fashion is important. Gitnux
Moreover, it is anticipated that goods that are promoted as sustainable will expand 5.6 times quicker than those that are not. The Roundup
By 2030, it is anticipated that the global textile recycling market will have grown to a value of $5.3 billion from its estimated $4.1 billion in 2022. Wildr
California's Gen Z customers are prepared to pay 15% more for clothing made with recycled materials. Wildr
92% of customers are willing to take part in clothing recycling programs sponsored by brands. Wildr
About 60% of textile materials in use in the UK can be recycled, indicating that a closed-loop system with the right infrastructure for sorting would be feasible. Wildr

Demographics of Sustainable Fashion Market

By 2030, the shift to a sustainable textiles industry might add 18 million new jobs worldwide. The Roundup
By 2030, resolving the problems with fast fashion might give the world economy a $192 billion boost. The Roundup
Men who claim to exclusively purchase sustainable fashion are most likely to be between the ages of 25 and 44. The Roundup
73% of British consumers who exclusively purchase sustainable brands are content to purchase used clothing. The Roundup
To cut back on consumption, 75% of Gen Z respondents said they purchased pre-owned clothing. The Roundup
Millennials, in general, are willing to pay more for sustainable brands, according to 73% of them. The Roundup
Sustainable living is prioritized by 78% of US consumers. Wildr
With over two-fifths of the market, millennials and Gen Z represent the largest consumer base for sustainable fashion in the US. Wildr
Male British consumers between the ages of 25 and 44 exhibit a stronger propensity to purchase sustainable fashion labels. Wildr
71% of Gen Z females in the UK give sustainability top priority when making purchases. Wildr

Consumer Preferences on Sustainable Fashion Market

72% of American consumers are knowledgeable about environmental concerns and sustainability as they relate to the fashion industry. The Roundup
Among US consumers, 55% are interested in purchasing eco-friendly apparel. The Roundup
However, 48% are unsure about where to look for eco-friendly apparel companies. The Roundup
Sixty-nine percent of Vogue readers think sustainability matters when choosing a new wardrobe item. The Roundup
Reducing the environmental impact of fashion brands is one of the top priorities for 38% of consumers. The Roundup
Of the Vogue readers, 38% purchase as much sustainable fashion as they can, and 46% also report that they occasionally do so. Just 2% of people don't want to buy sustainable products. The Roundup
If they knew where to look, half of American consumers would purchase all of their clothes from sustainable retailers. The Roundup
The market for used clothing was estimated to be worth $177 billion worldwide. It is expected to almost double to $351 billion by 2027. upmetrics
Globally, more than 40% of Gen Z and Millennials said they would be comfortable buying used clothing in 2021. upmetrics
Gen Z and Millennials account for 69% of online sustainable product purchases made through Afterpay. Wildr
When buying new clothes, three-fifths of American consumers take sustainability into account. Wildr
In the past five years, 25% of American consumers have made more environmentally friendly purchases. Wildr
In the interest of sustainability, 30% of US fashion consumers have tried new products. Wildr
34% of UK consumers believe that brand loyalty could be improved by sustainability. Wildr
Although nearly 61% of consumers strongly want to buy eco-friendly products, they believe that the biggest obstacle to sustainable shopping is their higher price points. Wildr
Although 52% of consumers in the UK are encouraged to adopt a sustainable fashion mindset by higher prices, 96% of consumers prioritize affordability over sustainability. Wildr
83% of Gen Z shoppers say they are interested in buying used clothes or have already done so, demonstrating their love for pre-owned goods. Wildr
A quarter of American consumers say they would be willing to pay extra for sustainable clothing. Wildr

Issues with Unsustainable Fast Fashion

The textile industry uses 93 billion cubic meters of water annually. The Roundup
Fashion industry wastewater accounts for twenty percent of global wastewater production. The Roundup
Textile dyeing is the second biggest source of water pollution in the world, after oil. The Roundup
It takes 2,000 gallons of water to make one pair of jeans. The Roundup
Artificial, man-made fibers account for 35% of the microplastics dumped into our oceans. The Roundup
98 million tonnes of non-renewable resources are used annually by the textile industry. The Roundup
Plastic, a material derived from fossil fuels, makes up 60% of all clothing materials. These consist of polyester, acrylic, and nylon. The Roundup
Even now, 93% of fashion companies do not give their employees a livable wage. The Roundup
The market for fast fashion was estimated to be worth $106 billion in 2022 and is expected to grow to $185 billion by 2027. Statista
Under Inditex, which also owns Bershka and Pull&Bear, Zara led in 2022 with a valuation of $15 billion. Statista
54% of Gen Z females in the UK continue to shop at fast fashion chain Shein despite concerns about sustainability. Wildr
43% of American consumers steer clear of fast fashion due to environmental concerns. Wildr
Southeast Asian consumers are becoming more conscious of their purchases; 86% of Vietnamese and 42% of Singaporeans buy sustainable clothing. Wildr
67% of buyers give sustainable materials top priority when making selections. Wildr
54% of US consumers of fashion express confusion when trying to identify sustainable fashion items. Wildr
For half of Asian and Latin American consumers, finding sustainable products is difficult. Wildr

The Harmful Impact of Fast Fashion

Kant (2012) found that 20% of the world's industrial water pollution is caused by the fashion supply chain, mainly by dyeing and finishing procedures. Yang and colleagues (2020) elaborated on these results. Science Direct
The production of textiles accounts for 10% of greenhouse gas emissions worldwide, primarily as a result of energy-intensive manufacturing techniques, as noted by Costa et al. (2018). Science Direct
The energy category accounts for more than half of the total ecological footprint estimate; the most common fuel used in these processes is natural gas. Science Direct
The majority of garment waste and fibers are burned or disposed of in landfills, which pollutes the environment by 30% (Sun et al., 2021). Science Direct
The production of cotton fiber and denim fabric is the source of the greatest water and carbon emissions. The embodied carbon emissions of denim made of blended polyester have increased from 4% in 2001 to 43% in 2018, despite the denim made of cotton having a 72% lower water footprint and a 5% larger carbon footprint (Zhao et al., 2021). Science Direct
Fashion uses more energy than shipping and aviation combined, produces 20% of the world's wastewater, and accounts for 10% of greenhouse gas emissions caused by humans. Columbia Climate School
Approximately half of the water consumed annually by Americans is used by the fashion industry, which uses 93 billion metric tonnes of clean water annually. Columbia Climate School
The amount of water required to produce one kilogram of cotton for a pair of jeans is 7,500–10,000 liters, or what one person would drink in a decade. Columbia Climate School
Toxic chemicals are used in the fabric dyeing process, which accounts for 17–20% of industrial water pollution worldwide. Columbia Climate School
Water used for textile dyeing has been found to contain seventy-two toxic chemicals. Columbia Climate School
Seventy million tonnes of trees are felled annually to supply the wood pulp needed for textiles like viscose and rayon; this number could double by 2034. Columbia Climate School
More CO2 is produced by the fashion industry each year—1.2 million metric tons—than by France, Germany, and the United Kingdom put together in 2018. Columbia Climate School
Every year, 70 million barrels of oil are used to produce polyester, which accounts for 65% of all clothing. Columbia Climate School
Clothes recycling yields new garments in less than 1% of cases. Columbia Climate School
53 million metric tonnes of used clothing are landfilled or burned annually. Columbia Climate School
35% of the microplastics in the ocean are caused by the fashion industry. Though it frequently ends up in landfills, "recycled polyester" emits 50–25% fewer emissions than virgin polyester. Columbia Climate School
Every year, Americans ingest 74,000 microplastic particles; the associated health risks are yet unknown. Columbia Climate School
The design phase of a garment determines 80–90% of its sustainability, underscoring the significance of innovative waste reduction techniques. Columbia Climate School
By efficiently arranging fabric pieces, zero waste pattern cutting reduces waste, which typically accounts for 15% of garment production waste. Columbia Climate School
The Fabricant reduces a brand's carbon footprint by thirty percent by designing with digital samples rather than actual clothing. Columbia Climate School
Using a closed-loop system, DyeCoo's technique replaces chemicals and water with waste CO2 for dyeing, recapturing, and reusing 95% of the CO2. Columbia Climate School
An Ellen MacArthur Foundation report from 2017 states that if the fashion industry keeps growing at its current rate, its carbon budget share could reach 26% by 2050. Weforum
The second-biggest global user of water is the fashion industry. Weforum
Approximately 700 gallons of water—enough to sustain an individual for eight cups a day for three and a half years—are needed to produce one cotton shirt. Weforum
About 2,000 gallons of water are needed to produce a pair of jeans, which is enough water for one person to drink eight cups a day for ten years. Weforum
Each year, the water needed for the dyeing process fills two million Olympic-sized swimming pools. Weforum
Twenty percent of all industrial water pollution globally is attributed to the fashion industry. Weforum

Benefits and Sales of Sustainable Fashion

Resource efficiency in the production of sustainable textiles has increased by 20–25%. Science Direct
Resell apparel programs are growing at a rate of 3.4X annually, which suggests that fashion consumers are becoming more and more interested in them. Wildr
According to Statista, the percentage of global sales of sustainable clothing was 3.9% in 2021 and is expected to increase to 6.1% by 2026. Social Garb
It is anticipated that in 2023, the use of "Next-Gen" materials—new, non-plastic, non-synthetic, and vegan fabrics—will increase. Carbon emissions capture technology, fruits, and microbes can all be used to create these materials. Social Garb
The EU Green Deal intends to use legislation, significant investments in clean technology, and creative business models to make Europe the first continent to be climate neutral by 2050. Social Garb
By 2025, LEVI intends to use Waterless® techniques to cut water consumption in high-water-stress areas by 50%. Social Garb

Misleading Sustainable Fashion Industry

Fashion brands are subject to criticism for engaging in "greenwashing," as 39% of green claims made by the textile, apparel, and shoe industries may be fraudulent or misleading. Wildr
47% of UK consumers would not invest in a fashion brand if they were presented with false or misleading sustainability statements. Wildr
The environmental, social, and governance (ESG) claims made by fashion brands are met with skepticism by an astounding 88% of Gen Zers in the US. Wildr
Although 51% of well-known fashion brands have sustainable fashion goals, only 44% clearly define the term "sustainable." Wildr
Out of all Australian consumers, just 9% think fashion brands are open about the ethics and sustainability of their products. Wildr

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