The fashion industry is the leading manufacturer of waste worldwide. There is no debating the wasteful nature of consumerism. Research has shown that the average lifespan of a fashion trend is getting shorter and shorter. Media is highly responsible for the way that fashion trends are popularized, and then ultimately mainstreamed leasing to the search for another unique trend. As a result, Fast Fashion companies utilize the trend cycle to manufacture and make a profit of whatever item is trending. This leads to an excessive amount of textile and production waste further polluting our ecosystems.  

Optimistically, there are many companies and non-profits whose mission is to make fashion more sustainable. Thrifting has become a popular avenue for people to find trendy or vintage clothing. ‘Thrift with me’ style videos are popular on social media, where influencers take the viewer along with them to the thrift or consignment stores and later give a haul of what they found. Some companies are also using older fabrics and textiles to make new clothing items. This is a great way to use fabrics that would otherwise end up in a landfill. 

In the beauty market, manufacturers are shifting to organic and natural ingredients in products instead of synthetic and manufacturing ones that can cause a lot of waste. Many serums and skincare products feature organic and naturally derived ingredients like castor oil, or vitamin e. Other companies have found ways to reuse packaging or reduce the amount of packaging used in creating their products.