Skip to main content
BoF Logo

Agenda-setting intelligence, analysis and advice for the global fashion community.

The Business of Fashion
Sustainability

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)
By

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

Please sign in to ensure you can read our agenda-setting intelligence, analysis and advice. Or get in touch at support@businessoffashion.com if you experience difficulties.

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.

© 2026 The Business of Fashion. All rights reserved. For more information read our Terms & Conditions

More from Sustainability
How fashion can do better for people and the planet.

Fashion Searches For a New Climate Solution

Coach-owner Tapestry’s new carbon-removal partnership and brands making fresh commitments to textile-to-textile recycling startups show an industry searching for ways to address its environmental impact.

view more
Latest News & Analysis
Unrivalled, world class journalism across fashion, luxury and beauty industries.

What Stops Beauty Shoppers From Buying More

Beauty brands must rethink upselling with smarter value plays, from curated bundles to jumbo sizes and subscriptions, to keep their customers from switching to the competition.

Who Won Fashion’s Red Carpet Season of Change

Sunday night’s Oscars concluded an awards season that fashion’s biggest labels used to show off their new creative game. BoF breaks down what we learned about brands’ celebrity strategies.

VIEW MORE

The Business of Fashion

Agenda-setting intelligence, analysis and advice for the global fashion community.
CONNECT WITH US ON
© 2026 The Business of Fashion. All rights reserved. For more information read our Terms & Conditions, Privacy Policy, Cookie Policy and Accessibility Statement.