Greenpeace calls for regulation amidst ecological issues

Greenpeace organized a demonstration at the Brandenburg Gate in Berlin to condemn the practices of fashion brands, highlighting the significant amount of fashion and plastic waste reaching Ghana’s Kantamanto second-hand market, totaling 4.6 tonnes. This influx of waste contributes to ground pollution and health risks in Accra.

Viloa Wohlgemuth, a Greenpeace Campaigner for Resources Protection, criticized the lack of regulation in the fashion industry and called for a shift towards sustainable practices. She emphasized the need for renting, sharing second-hand items, repairing, and upcycling as the new standard.

The protest at the Brandenburg Gate coincided with the launch of Berlin Fashion Week, drawing attention to the environmental repercussions of the fashion industry’s actions. Greenpeace advocates for a transformation in the fashion industry’s approach to mitigate environmental degradation.

The textile industry regularly dispatches containers carrying 4-6 tonnes of textiles, equivalent to around 19,000 clothing items, to various African locations weekly. Greenpeace urges the textile industry to take responsibility for its waste and address the environmental impact of this mass export.

Approximately 15 million used garments flood into Accra every week from the UK, Europe, North America, and Australia, overwhelming the city’s clothing market. About 40% of these garments are of poor quality, ending up in landfills. The rise in global clothing consumption, driven by “fast fashion” brands, exacerbates the environmental crisis.