FACT FILE The clothing industry is one of the largest polluters in the world. Since 2000, global clothes production has more than doubled. The average person now buys 60 percent more clothes every year. We live in a throw-away society! Every year the US generates 15 million tonnes of used textile waste - double the amount twenty years ago. The average life expectancy of garments today is less than three years. Synthetic fabrics can take hundreds of years to decompose-basically, they're like plastic. 25 4 Think about how you shop When you shop online, you may think that you are cutting down on carbon emissions by not travelling to the shops by car or bus. But online 30 shopping can also mean more vehicles on the road for delivery and pick-up when you want to send something back. 100% Organic Cotton El Frien 5 Choose natural materials 35 Synthetic fabrics (e.g nylon, acrylic, polyester) are bad news for the environment. Go for organic versions of natural materials. If you buy sportswear, look out for labels that use recycled materials. 6 Go for second-hand goods * If you shop in charity or vintage shops, not only will you reduce your environmental impact, but you'll get something original, unlike the mass- produced products on the high street. 1 1 I I I 1 I WAYS to buy clothes Most young people are on a limited budget, so it's tempting to go bargain-hunting. When you do, you should consider these six ways to shop more responsibly. | Focus 4. Second Edition. Student's Book | 5/53