Textile waste a major polluter

Every year, 80 billion garments are made globally generating 1.3 billion tonnes of fabric waste, and nearly 75 per cent of global fabric waste is discarded untreated and this waste either end up in landfills or is burnt thereby polluting water and land alike, says Mausmi Ambastha, Founder and COO, Threadsol. 

Global supply of fibres has almost doubled in the last decade from 52.6 million tonne to 100 million tonne. More production means more waste, leading to a negative impact on the environment. Textile wastes comprise 1.0 ? 5.1 per cent of Municipal Solid Waste (MSW) compositions in the world regions. 

Although textile and apparel manufacturing has largely shifted to developing countries, textile waste remains a big concern both in developed and developing countries. In the US this waste is 4.95 per cent , China 1.3 and in a small country like Bhutan it is as high as 4.7 per cent.