New clothes bought in UK produce more CO2 than journey round the world – six times!

That produces nearly 50 tonnes of carbon emissions – the same as driving 162,000 miles in a car, which is 12,000 more than circumnavigating the globe six times (150,000 miles). The statistics, produced by Oxfam, are based on lifetime emissions for new clothing bought in the UK, including sourcing raw materials, manufacturing, production, transport, washing and disposal.

Danny Sriskandarajah, Oxfam’s chief executive said: “These staggering facts about fashion’s impact on the planet and the world’s poorest people should make us all think twice before buying something new to wear.

“We are in a climate emergency – we can no longer turn a blind eye to the emissions produced by new clothes or turn our backs on garment workers paid a pittance who are unable to earn their way out of poverty no matter how many hours they work.”

Emissions from clothes bought in the UK every second are equivalent to driving a car from London to the Costa del Sol and back – per hour this equates to driving around the world 360 times.

Buying one new white cotton shirt produces the same amount of emissions as driving a car for 35 miles.

This is based on a 100 per cent cotton shirt with a net weight of 220 grams, which amounts to 10.75kg of CO2 and other greenhouse gases.

The study was commissioned by Oxfam for its Second Hand September campaign, where consumers pledge not to buy anything new for the whole month.

In one month alone the emissions from new clothes bought are greater than those from flying a plane around the world 900 times.

Not only is the textile industry one of world’s major polluters, but many of its products also end up thrown away.

Each week, 11 million garments end up in landfill in the UK.

Oxfam says the poorest people in the world, who did the least to cause climate change, are suffering most.

The richest 10 percent of world are responsible for around 50 per cent of global emissions, while the poorest half are responsible for 10 percent.

Danny Sriskandarajah added: “As consumers, it’s in our power to make a real difference.

“Buying second-hand clothes helps to slow the ferocious fast-fashion cycle, giving garments a second lease of life.

“By taking part in Second Hand September, we are also sending a clear message to the clothing industry that we don’t want to buy clothes that harm our planet and the people in it.

“Together we can make a difference and help reduce fast fashion’s impact on people and the environment.”

In 2016 it was estimated 1,130,000 tonnes of clothing were purchased in the UK – an increase of 200,000 tonnes from 2012.

This results in 94,166 tonnes of clothing being bought per month.

Despite these huge figures, a poll of 1,000 British adults found more than half – 53 percent – are not aware fast fashion is damaging to the environment.

The study also found the average adult spends  £27 a month in fast fashion outlets, and two items are currently owned which remain unworn.

One sixth own as many as five unworn items.

But worryingly, three in 10 said that although they are shocked at how much damage fast fashion has on the environment, they probably won’t change their habits.

And almost one in 10 of those surveyed via OnePoll admitted they are “not bothered” about the impact their shopping has on the environment.

However, over a third said they were shocked and will change the way they purchase clothes.