The clothing industry generates more greenhouse gases than aviation and shipping combined, according to the UN trade body Unctad, reports SVT Nyheter.

According to a report released recently by the Foundation for Strategic Environmental Research (Mistra), 80 percent of climate emissions occur in clothing manufacturing, which includes everything from cotton farms to textile factories.

On average, Swedes buy 13 kilos of clothes per year and throw away 8 kilos. Mass production combined with cheap labor has led to cheaper clothes. At the same time, the fashion industry has woken up in various ways, with several initiatives for sustainable fashion today.

In recent years, working conditions and environmental impact in the textile industry have been on the agenda. However, the question of how the climate is affected has not received as much attention.

– The best thing you can do to shop for clothes sustainably is to take your bike to your local second-hand store, says Malin Wennberg, communications manager at Mistra Future Fashion, a research program on sustainable fashion, to SVT.

Source: TT