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If you live somewhere with access to clean water, you might not think twice about how integral it is to your daily routine. From the moment you get out of bed, you’re likely using water – whether it’s brushing your teeth, showering or drinking it.
Water is critical to our health and the health of our planet. As climate change worsens, freshwater sources are drying up and causing water shortages. The fashion industry is the second most water intensive industry, using 79 billion cubic meters of water per year to produce textiles.
With water scarcity on the rise, the fashion industry must take steps to minimize its use so that our most important resource is left for those who need it.
While these statistics may seem daunting, fashion companies have begun to reduce their water footprints in recent years.
In particular, Global Citizen partner American Eagle has successfully reduced its water use through its Real Good products and Water Leadership program, which produces and provides apparel with less environmental impact. For example, AE’s Real Good jeans require far less water to make and are just as fashionable (and here at Global Citizen, we think any sustainable garment is fashionable).
“American Eagle is excited to partner with Global Citizen to rally around a shared commitment to protect our planet against climate change,” said Jennifer Foyle, president and chief creative officer, AE and Aerie. “We’re proud of the steps we’ve taken to create a more sustainable future with our Real Good styles, and we’re excited to celebrate AE’s progress in saving more than 1 billion gallons of water in production of our jeans since 2017.”
Below, we’ve compiled five facts about why the fashion industry needs to reduce its water footprint and how American Eagle is tackling the issue.
1. It takes 3781 liters of water to make a pair of jeans.
According to the United Nations Environment Programme, it takes 3781 liters of water to make a pair of jeans. That’s enough drinking water for almost 2000 days, or 5.5 years!
At American Eagle, over 1 billion gallons of water have been saved in the production of AE jeans since the Leadership Program began in 2017.
2. Globally, 2 billion people do not have access to quality water.
More than 2 billion people do not have safe and available water at home. As the world continues to report hotter temperatures as a result of climate change, water shortages are hitting parts of the world that are more vulnerable to drought.
By taking action to reduce its water footprint, the fashion industry can help make this most vital resource more abundant for those who need it. As a step forward, all eligible American Eagle denim factories have begun recycling their water, with 44% of water in the laundry recycled back into production.
3. Women are responsible for 72% of water collected in sub-Saharan Africa.
Globally, women are primarily responsible for supplying their communities with water. In Africa alone, women spend 40 billion hours a year walking to collect water.
With direct access to clean water, these women would gain more from their lives and be able to devote more time to work, education, and other opportunities that would help reduce poverty in their communities. theirs.
4. An average cotton T-shirt requires 2700 liters of water to produce.
If a liter of water is 4.2 cups, that means 2700 liters is 11,340 cups of water. That’s enough water to drink eight glasses a day for 1,417 days, or nearly four years.
In 2021 alone, nearly 5 billion gallons of water were saved thanks to American Eagle’s sourcing of Better Cotton.
5. Water = Life
Most importantly, drinking water is vital for life! We’ve all heard that it’s important to drink eight glasses a day – that’s because the human body relies on water for most bodily functions.
It is also key to health and hygiene that people are able to wash their hands. But 2.3 billion people do not have access to basic hygiene, such as soap and water, at home. According to the World Health Organization, access to clean water and proper sanitation could save nearly 2 million lives a year.
Literally, access to clean water is what keeps us all alive—and the fashion industry needs to do its part in conserving this crucial resource.
To find apparel on the American Eagle website that’s made sustainably, look for the True Good icon and learn more about our partnership here!
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