December 01, 2021
In Chile’s Atacama Desert, fast-changing fashion trends have led to a mountain of discarded clothes, sweaters, boots and other clothing items, which is causing environmental pollution. Almost 59,000 tonnes of clothing arrive annually at Chile’s Iquique port. These clothes are made in China or Bangladesh and then pass through Europe, Asia or USA before landing in Chile. At least 39,000 tonnes of clothes are unsold and end up in the landfills of Iquique. Clothes made with synthetic materials or those that are treated with chemicals end up taking at least 200 years to biodegrade and are as toxic as discarded plastics or tyres.
Did You Know?
The Atacama Desert is called the driest desert in the world.
