Sydney, June 1: Australians buy more clothes per person than any other country, driving a fast fashion waste crisis, according to new research by the Australia Institute.
The analysis shows Australia has surpassed the US as the world’s biggest consumer of textiles per capita, with Australians buying an average of 56 new clothing items a year.
This rate is higher than the US (53 items), the UK (33 items), and China (30 items). The average value per item purchased by Australians is AUD $13, significantly lower than the UK ($40), the USA ($24), Japan ($30), and Brazil ($16).
This consumer behavior results in over 200,000 tonnes of clothing ending up in landfill each year, equivalent to the weight of almost four Sydney Harbour Bridges.
The fast fashion waste problem could be mitigated through various policies, including a French-style fast fashion tax, banning the export of textile waste within five years, government-funded discounts for garment repairs, federal investment in developing an Australian circular textiles industry, and greater support for community op shops and recycling initiatives.
Australia Institute polling research found that nearly two-thirds (63 per cent) of people are concerned or very concerned about the environmental impact of textile waste. Additionally, 71 per cent believe businesses should be responsible for eliminating it, followed by consumers (57 per cent) and the government (54 per cent).
However, fewer than half (46 per cent) could identify petroleum as the source of polyester, and only 27 per cent knew that more than half of clothes sold in Australia were made from plastic.
“Australians are the world’s biggest consumer of clothes, shoes, and bags per capita. We’re addicted to stuff that is harming our health and the environment,” said Nina Gbor, Circular Economy & Waste Program Director at the Australia Institute.
“We need to drastically reduce waste at the source by penalising brands mass-producing incredibly cheap and poor quality clothing that is often worn just a handful of times or never sells and goes straight to the tip.”
The Federal Government has proposed a 4 cents per garment levy under its Seamless scheme to cut clothing waste and fund domestic recycling initiatives.
“This is a good start, but the levy is too low to change brand behavior. It should be increased drastically to at least 50 cents per item. This, coupled with measures like a fast fashion tax, is needed to put the industry on notice,” Gbor added.
“We’re walking around in plastic clothes made from petroleum. Many of these items end up in landfill or are dumped in countries in the Global South, where they fill up their landfills, pollute beaches and oceans, and contribute to more emissions,” Gbor explained.
She highlighted that fast fashion giants Shein and Temu are expected to make more than $2 billion in sales this year combined, suggesting that the Federal Government could redirect some of their profits to cut clothing waste and fund a domestic recycling and circular textiles industry.
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