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How quickly do fashion materials biodegrade?

4 per cent of worldwide waste came from the fashion industry in 2015 and more clothes crafted with man-made fibres will add to that.
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Key takeaways:

  • Naturally occurring fabrics like cotton and wool tend to break down quicker than manufactured fabrics like polyester.
  • Adjusting soil composition and temperature can significantly change the pace of biodegradability.

The vast majority of materials on earth will biodegrade. The problem is that some, like plastic, will take a millennium to disappear.