Panipat's fast-fashion recycling comes with a heavy human and environmental price
Discarded garments from the U.S., U.K., Japan and others are shipped to Panipat, India, where they’re shredded, dyed and remade into textiles and rugs. The industry sustains hundreds of thousands of jobs but exposes workers to dust, hazardous chemicals and unsafe conditions, with little PPE or health coverage. Wastewater and chemical effluent flow into open drains and nearby water sources, contaminating farmland and affecting nearby communities, while regulatory gaps persist and health problems rise among workers and residents alike. The clothes may gain new life, but the people and environment pay a high price.