In the UAE, 25 million pairs of shoes are discarded annually, contributing to the growing issue of fashion waste. Globally, the figures are even more alarming, with 22 billion pairs of shoes thrown away each year. Experts from a UAE-based multinational conglomerate are calling for action to reduce environmental impact, stressing that sustainability is a shared responsibility.
Rajesh Garg, Chief Financial and Sustainability Officer at Landmark Retail, emphasized the severe environmental consequences of discarded consumer goods during the launch of a new textile recycling facility at Dubai World Central (DWC). He highlighted that a single pair of shoes takes 30 to 40 years to decompose fully and that the fashion industry remains one of the leading polluters, with 120 billion garments produced each year, 30% of which are worn only once. Only 1% of these garments are recycled, while a truckload of fashion waste hits landfills every second.
Garg pointed out that the fashion industry’s carbon footprint surpasses that of aviation and shipping combined, contributing 10% of global emissions. He also warned of the hidden environmental costs, including microfibers dispersed into the ocean from washed clothes, with 51 billion bottles’ worth of microfibers being released annually. Additionally, synthetic fibers derived from oil are a significant contributor to the environmental strain, with production consuming vast amounts of oil—equivalent to 100 days of UAE oil production.
To address this, the UAE Circular Economy Council recently convened to discuss new strategies for enhancing sustainability, including the Circular Economy Policy 2021-2031. The Council’s aim is to promote resource efficiency and circularity within industries like fashion. Renuka Jagtiani, chairwoman of Landmark Group, echoed the need for collaboration across the retail and textile sectors to reduce waste and foster innovation toward a more sustainable future.
As fashion waste continues to grow, experts urge both consumers and industries to rethink their practices, reduce waste, and embrace sustainable solutions to protect the environment for future generations.
