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Record Levels of Polyester Production Are Making Fashion’s Emissions Worse

Global fibre production hit record highs last year, with fossil-fuel-based polyester extending its market dominance, helping push up the industry’s carbon footprint, according to a new report.
A Chinese woman wearing a red and blue jacket checking spools of polyester in production at a factory.
Raw material production reached a record-breaking 132 million tonnes in 2024. Most of this growth was driven by fossil-fuel-based polyester, which continues to be the world’s most widely used fibre. (Getty Images)
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Global textile production rose to record levels last year, helping to drive up the fashion and footwear industries’ planet-warming emissions. This comes as plastic-based polyester continued to dominate the material mix, according to a report published Thursday by non-profit

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About the author
Shayeza Walid
Shayeza Walid

Shayeza Walid is Senior Editorial Associate covering Sustainability at The Business of Fashion. She reports on fashion's environmental impact, climate accountability, supply chain and labour issues. Based in London, she also contributes to BoF's Global Markets and UK coverage.

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