Stand.earth’s latest report “Fracked Fashion” [1], highlights how the fashion industry contributes to the fracking-derived petrochemical sector through its use of virgin polyester. The report reveals that over 100 fashion brands, including major names like H&M, Puma, and Adidas, have supply chains linked to oil and gas fracking in the Permian Basin in Texas.
The fashion industry’s reliance on synthetic fibers, which account for 57% of global textile production, is a significant driver of petrochemical consumption. Ethane, derived from fracked natural gas liquids (NGLs) in the Permian Basin, is a critical feedstock for producing polyester. This connection underscores the environmental and social toll of fracking, as the fashion industry is responsible for 2-8% of global emissions, with raw materials representing more than 20%.
The report emphasizes the need for fashion brands to phase out virgin polyester and transition to recycled materials. Only 57 of the 107 brands linked to fracking have explicit policies to reduce their use of virgin polyester. Stand. earth calls for companies to trace and publicly report their supply chains to increase accountability and avoid the most harmful feedstocks.
The report also highlights the importance of high-quality textile recycling and closed-loop systems to reduce reliance on fossil fuel-derived materials. Legislation and tools like the New York Fashion Act and the European Product Environmental Footprint (PEF) regulation are recommended to address synthetic materials’ lifecycle impacts comprehensively.
Stand. Earth’s investigation serves as a wake-up call for the fashion industry to take meaningful action to reduce its environmental footprint and promote sustainable practices. Stand. earth is an environmental organization based in British Columbia, Canada.
Sources:
[1] Fracked Fashion: How the Fashion Industry is Fuelling Big Oil’s Appetite for Fracking https://stand.earth/resources/fracked-fashion/
