I wrote to my Congress-people in 2023, asking them to support the Break Free From Plastic Pollution Act (S. 3127 / H.R. 6053).

Roughly 33 billion pounds of plastic enter the oceans every year, creating a growing problem for our oceans, and the animals that live there.

Plastic pollution not only harms our oceans, but our climate, health, and communities, as well. 

And, it’s in our clothing. 

So, if we’re going to talk about plastics, we need to talk about textiles and clothing, too.

The textile industry is a major environmental concern, contributing to global water pollution and carbon emissions. Understanding its impact demands that we reconsider our clothing choices.

• Since 2000, clothing sales have doubled, from 100 to 200 billion units a year, while the average number of times an item was worn decreased by more than 30% overall (source: earth.org).
• You know about fast fashion, the production of inexpensive clothing by mass-market retailers to keep up with the latest trends, leading customers to shop continually for new looks. This speedy production process additionally creates textile waste (92 million tons annually), microplastics (that not only end up in oceans, but in human hearts and brains), carbon emissions, and polluted water (the process uses far too much water for their production…)
• Today, nearly two-thirds of all the fibers we wear and use are made from fossil fuels (aka, petroleum, that’s plastic…), and the fashion industry is now responsible for 10% of global carbon emissions (according to UNEP), which is more than all international flights and maritime shipping combined.

Heavily reliant on cheap manufacturing, constant consumption, and short-lived use, fast fashion’s significant environmental and climate consequences are of growing concern to the American public. The rate of waste from textiles has increased over the last two decades, in line with the ascension of fast fashion, and textile waste is now the fastest growing waste stream in the US.

We can create climate-smart policies to reduce, repair, rewear, and recycle textiles, and work to improve pathways for textile repair, reuse, resale, and recycling in the United States, and advance federal action, including legislation, that would support circularity in the fashion and textiles industries.

With the United States responsible for generating more plastic waste than any other country, it’s time for the federal government to act.  

• Only 15% of textiles in the US are recycled — 85% of textiles end up in a landfill or they’re incinerated.
• 11.2 million tons of textiles were discarded in the US in 2017 alone, representing 8% of all municipal solid waste.
• Our landfills are near capacity and, over here in Massachusetts, the Commonwealth is burning and burying as much waste every year as we were in 2010.

We can create a better fashion industry!

The interconnectedness of human rights and the environment, spreading information on the negative consequences of the fashion industry, and pushing companies toward greater transparency — all with a goal to ultimately change overconsumption and negative shopping habits for the better.⁣⁣ (Source: EPA, Textiles, Material-Specific Data)

Here are some ways individuals cut down on textile waste:

1. Choose Sustainable Materials. Go for fabrics like organic cotton, bamboo, or hemp. They’re kinder to the environment than regular cotton and synthetic fibers.
2. Repurpose and Upcycle. Get creative with your old textiles! Host a community clothing swap. Overdye with natural dyes. Turn truly worn-out t-shirts into cleaning rags or use fabric scraps for quilting and crafting projects.
3. Support Recycling Initiatives. Join or start community recycling programs. Many organizations take textile donations and turn them into new products.
4. Buy Less, Choose Well. Adopt a minimalist fashion mindset. When you’re replacing an item, invest in high-quality, durable clothing that lasts longer and reduces the need for constant replacements.

Be gentle with yourself. We can’t do this alone. Creating a zero-waste future takes all of us. Spread the word and promote sustainable practices to inspire others to join the cause.

Community events, workshops, and social media campaigns are awesome ways to get the message out and encourage eco-friendly habits.

But here’s the kicker: it’s not just up to us as individuals.

Governments need to step up and collaborate with communities to create policies and strategies that support sustainable practices.

This means implementing regulations that encourage recycling, providing incentives for sustainable fashion brands, and investing in infrastructure that makes it easier for everyone to recycle and repurpose textiles.

When communities and governments work together, we can create a more sustainable and impactful change.

Textile waste is a big challenge, but with mindful choices, teamwork, and strong government support, we can make a huge difference. By rethinking how we consume, and by embracing sustainable practices, we can move towards a zero-waste future and protect our planet for generations to come.

The Break Free from Plastic Pollution Act builds on successful state and local policies. It would put in place a set of policies to reduce plastic pollution at the source, including phasing out unnecessary single-use plastic products, encouraging a shift to refillable and reusable alternatives, and protecting communities living near plastic production facilities.