Australia’s Fashion Industry Facing Clothing Consumption Crisis
Australia’s clothing consumption crisis, including an addiction to fast fashion, cannot be solved through existing measures, such as a small levy on new garments, with a new report saying drastic action is needed to tackle waste and improve circularity.
An analysis of data on textile and clothing consumption by think tank the Australia Institute found that Australians are the biggest purchasers of new clothing in the world per capita, with 56 pieces a year, ahead of the United States on 53 pieces. The UK is in third place with 33 pieces, ahead of China on 30.
According to the report, Australians are also addicted to cheap clothing, with the average value of each new garment being $13, compared to $40 for their UK counterparts. Each year, Australians discard more than 300,000 tonnes of clothing, the majority of which goes to landfill or offshore for processing or recycling. Despite increased awareness of fashion’s environmental impact, the volume of textiles sent to landfill is increasing while recycling rates remain low.
One of the report’s controversial recommendations is that a proposed four cent tariff on every garment produced is insufficient to create a viable domestic recycling system for textiles. The report suggests the tariff should be increased to around 50 cents per garment to drive meaningful change.
Seamless, a voluntary stewardship scheme with federal government support, will begin collecting the four cents on each garment from participating companies starting July 1. Other recommended measures include a French-style tax on fast-fashion garments and a ban on fast-fashion advertising.
Federal Minister for Environment and Water Tanya Plibersek has given the fashion industry until June 30 to self-regulate, warning of potential government intervention if sufficient progress is not made. The report also highlights concerns about toxic chemicals found in clothing sold by ultra-fast-fashion brands, linking them to various health issues.
In conclusion, Australia’s fashion industry is at a crossroads, facing a pressing need to address its overconsumption and waste generation. With calls for increased levies on garments and stricter regulations on fast-fashion practices, the industry must take decisive action to transition towards a more sustainable and circular economy.
