'Fast fashion is fossil fashion': Rise of synthetic fibres in fashion pushing planetary limits, NGOs warn

Cecilia Keating
clock • 4 min read

Fashion industry has 'failed to make headway' in curbing its damage on the environment and dependence on fossil fuels, campaigners warn

The fashion industry is fuelling the climate emergency and waste crisis through its huge and growing addiction to synthetic fibres made from carbon-intensive fossil fuels. That is the conclusion of...

To continue reading this article...

Join BusinessGreen

In just a few clicks you can start your free BusinessGreen Lite membership for 12 months, providing you access to:

  • Three complimentary articles per month covering the latest real-time news, analysis, and opinion from Europe’s leading source of information on the Green economy and business
  • Receive important and breaking news stories via our daily news alert
  • Our weekly newsletter with the best of the week’s green business news and analysis

Join now

 

Already a BusinessGreen member?

Login

Cecilia Keating
Author spotlight

Cecilia Keating

View profile
More from Cecilia Keating

We need the transition to a low-carbon economy to reverse historic injustices

Why the Women in Green Business Awards is more important than ever

More on Climate change

Businesses urged to join annual Great Big Green Week
Climate change

Businesses urged to join annual Great Big Green Week

Two million people are expected to take part in next week's annual celebration of community-led nature and climate action

BusinessGreen staff
BusinessGreen staff
clock 05 June 2026 • 2 min read
'We all have a role to play': Major new study claims an equitable net zero transition is 'materially possible'
Climate change

'We all have a role to play': Major new study claims an equitable net zero transition is 'materially possible'

Political choices rather than 'technical impossibility' are the key barrier to achieving higher living standards while meeting global climate goals, leading economists claim

Stuart Stone
Stuart Stone
clock 04 June 2026 • 4 min read
Global Briefing: Spain earmarks €9bn for housing and transport in 'Social Climate Plan'
Climate change

Global Briefing: Spain earmarks €9bn for housing and transport in 'Social Climate Plan'

May temperatures in Saudi Arabia reaching extremes previously confined to summer , report finds countries can ‘dramatically impact’ plastic pollution without global consensus, and Spain earmarks €9bn for energy transition

Stuart Stone
Stuart Stone
clock 29 May 2026 • 8 min read