The wedding industry has an enormous ecological footprint, and between extravagant decorations, travel of long-distance guests, and catering and waste of large quantities of food, the carbon footprint of wedding dresses can be easily overlooked.
Any dress’s carbon footprint will vary based on the type of dress, and this article explores why wedding dresses may have the largest environmental impact of all.
Continue reading to learn what factors contribute most to the carbon footprint of wedding dress and how to choose a dress that is kinder to the environment.
How Does Modern Bridal Fashion Impact the Environment?
Most people consider their wedding day to be one of the most momentous occasions in their lifetime. For this reason, individuals often spare no expense and indulge in the extravagance and luxury of their day guilt-free.
And while the financial burden of weddings is very much in the public’s awareness, the environmental impact is less so.
Several online sources have estimated that a single wedding, using the United States as a standard of reference, can generate more than 57 metric tons of harmful greenhouse gas emissions.1,19
Using the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Greenhouse Gas Equivalencies Calculator, this can be equated to:7
- Driving 13.6 gas-powered passenger vehicles for a year or driving 145,781 miles in a single gas-powered passenger vehicle
- Combustion of 6,414 gallons of gasoline or 5,599 gallons of diesel
- Energy consumption of 7.4 homes for an entire year
This number is quite a bit higher than average estimates for other English-speaking countries. In the UK, the average is 14.5 metric tons while the Australian average sits somewhat higher at 21.5 metric tons.19
There is an abundance of online resources to assist with the carbon footprint calculation of weddings and other events.
While there are several factors that contribute to the overall carbon footprint of weddings (with particular emphasis on guest travel, floral arrangements, and food production and waste), an often underestimated source of carbon emissions is bridal fashion!
Bridal fashion is an ever-changing industry, and manufacturers are hard put to keep up with the trends, fads, or styles that sweep their way across cultures. Although bridal fashion doesn’t correspond exactly to the “fast fashion” business model prominent in modern society, it has certainly been influenced by it.
As bridal styles for gowns, shoes, accessories, bridesmaid dresses, and even suits rapidly evolve, manufacturing of these goods is increased in parallel with an increase in waste, both of which contribute significantly to the overall environmental impact of bridal fashion.
This article dives in to explore the carbon footprint of bridal gowns, so continue reading to learn more about what factors into the footprint of a single wedding dress and how that footprint is calculated!
What Makes Up the Carbon Footprint of a Wedding Dress?
The carbon footprint of an item or product is the sum total of greenhouse gases, or carbon emissions (CO2e), generated through the manufacturing and use of the product (See “Carbon Footprint Factsheet”).30 The size of the footprint is affected by many factors, such as the type of product, what it is made of and how it is made, where it is made, how it is used and disposed of, and many other variables.
For example, the carbon footprint of the average dress is estimated at 22 kg of CO2e, the equivalent of driving over 56 miles in a gas-powered passenger vehicle and burning 24 pounds of coal.7,9The question of wedding dresses, however, is a different matter altogether, as a wedding dress tends to exist at the far extremes of extravagance in design and quantity of material, while simultaneously serving a less functional purpose than other apparel.
It is difficult to calculate or estimate the carbon footprint of wedding dresses as a group because there is so much variability between dresses. Some dresses have layers upon layers of fabric, intricate designs, extensive beading, and many types of material.
For this reason, it can be useful to know how to calculate carbon footprint manually. The average wedding dress weighs around 10 pounds,21 but some are significantly heavier, and heavier dresses create more carbon emissions during transport.
More complicated designs require extended time for sewing, increasing CO2e from electricity and fuel consumption.
The EPA defines three scopes of carbon emissions that contribute to the carbon footprint of a given source.13 The following provides a description of these scopes and details what each scope entails in the apparel or fashion industry.23
Scope 1
Scope 1 emissions are those generated directly through company operations, including any fuel combustion for heating, gases used for cooling, fuels used in company vehicles, etc. (See “Scope 1 and Scope 2 Inventory Guidance”).24 Anything owned or controlled by a company or organization falls under scope 1.24
(Image: Mariya (mariya_m)37)
In the case of apparel, these activities include:
- Company manufacturing of yarn, fabric, or other materials
- Dyeing and other treatments of fabrics and materials
- Assembly or construction of the product
- Transport of products and materials between phases of manufacturing
Any greenhouse gas emissions (CO2e) generated through fuel combustion, Volatile Organic Compound (VOC) vapors, and material waste all contribute to scope 1.23
Scope 2
Scope 2 emissions are those generated indirectly through purchased energy. In other words, most emissions are produced at the facility generating the electricity, but the electricity is actually used by the manufacturing company for production and other operations (See “Scope 1 and Scope 2 Inventory Guidance”).24
It is important to note that location is key in determining scope 2 emissions, as the carbon intensity of the electric grid varies greatly by country and even region. The following bullet points give a general idea of this range by providing examples of countries which source different proportions of their electricity needs from fossil fuels (2021/2022 data).
The bullet points progress from best to worst in terms of carbon impact.14
- <5%: Namibia, Norway, Sweden, Uganda
- <25%: Afghanistan, Brazil, Canada, Finland, France, Kenya
- <50%: Bulgaria, Peru, Spain, Ukraine, United Kingdom, Venezuela, Vietnam, Zimbabwe
- <75%: Argentina, Australia, China, Mexico, Russia, Tanzania, Turkey, United States
- <95%: Belarus, Guyana, Indonesia, Mongolia, Philippines, South Africa, Taiwan
- >95%: Algeria, Cuba, Iran, Libya, Saudi Arabia
Thus, items manufactured in the countries listed in the final three bullet points will have substantially larger carbon footprints than their more sustainable counterparts.9
Some sources suggest that energy used during manufacturing may account for more than 50% of the total carbon footprint of a dress.9,23
Scope 3
Scope 3 emissions, also known as “value chain emissions,” are the broadest and most difficult to calculate as they include all of the indirect emissions created upstream and downstream from the point of manufacture (See “Scope 3 Inventory Guidance”).25
Upstream emissions include the collection, processing and transportation of raw goods, employee commuting, business travel, and so forth.23
- Production of textiles, fibers, etc. from recycled or raw materials (including synthetic, plant-based, and animal based)
- Packaging production
- Quality control of materials
- Transport of materials to the manufacturer
Downstream emissions include processing and transportation of manufactured/sold products, consumer use and disposal of products, leased assets and franchises, etc.23
- Transport of finished product to warehouse or retailer
- Transport of sold product from warehouse/retailer to consumer
- Consumer use (washing, drying, dry-cleaning, ironing, etc)
- End-of-life transport and disposal of product and packaging
While there are no readily available reports comparing the carbon footprints of different types of wedding dresses, an international corporation specializing in bridal gowns and cocktail dresses reported that their average dress in 2021 generated 0.029 tons of CO2e.4
That is 58 pounds or 26.3 kg of CO2e for each unit produced. Considering this, it is probably safe to assume that most wedding dresses generate between 20 and 30 kg of greenhouse gas emissions.
What Types of Bridal Gowns Have the Largest Carbon Footprints?
As detailed above, many variables impact the overall carbon footprint of a wedding gown, from the materials that are used to the place where it is manufactured.
This section delves further into the attributes that most heavily impact the carbon footprint of bridal gowns.5
Material
It is not only the abundance of material in a wedding dress that contributes to its footprint. Manufacturers and consumers must also consider the types of materials used.
Certain fabrics are much more sustainable than others, and some should be avoided entirely whenever possible.
For example, certain synthetic textiles, such as nylon, acrylic, and polyester, are not biodegradable and can take centuries to break down in landfills. Furthermore, these fibers are often derived in part from petroleum and oil, a heavily polluting industry.
They are also responsible for releasing microplastics upon washing, a topic that has received increased attention in recent years as high levels of microplastics are appearing in food and water sources.8
Many consumers may find themselves turning desperately to clothing made with “natural” fibers, but this is not necessarily as positive as it may seem. Take, for instance, cotton.
Cotton is one of the most common fabrics used in clothing, but what few people realize is that it is one of the most carbon-intensive crops to grow and process. Conventional cotton requires immense amounts of water which becomes contaminated, is grown under intense application of pesticides and insecticides, and undergoes relentless cycles of bleaching and dying during processing.
Rayon (viscose), a plant-derived “natural” fiber, while biodegradable, is processed using highly toxic chemicals while simultaneously depleting natural forest habitats.8
So what are the alternatives for consumers and manufacturers alike? Organic fabrics, including cotton, hemp, and linen, are produced without the deluge of chemical controls and processing.
Additionally, apparel made from recycled organic textiles adds the extra bonus of reducing waste and water consumption. Lyocell is a newer, plant-based alternative to rayon which is manufactured using less water and dangerous chemicals and Econyl, though synthetic, repurposes plastics and other waste into clothing.8,26
Commercial silk, while a more sustainable fiber, is derived from silkworms, making this a non-vegan option.10
The Higg Index is a resource for apparel manufacturers and brands that wish to evaluate the carbon impact of their materials, products, and supply chains.8,16 Consumers should always check the materials in the garments they purchase!
The Council of Fashion Designers of America, Inc. (CFDA) provides a directory of clothing materials that can be incredibly useful to consumers looking to make more conscientious clothing choices.11
Design Complexity
Wondering how the design of a wedding dress can impact its overall footprint? Simply put, a more extravagant design generally necessitates a more elaborate and lengthy manufacturing process.
Additionally, the combination of various types of materials complicates the end-of-life treatment of a wedding dress. A dress could be made of organic, recycled material but when embroidered with plastic beading, very quickly becomes a landfill problem.
(Image: 65223436)
Wedding gowns designed with extended lengths and additional layers pose more problems for the environment through the processing of additional required materials. A simpler dress typically leaves a smaller carbon footprint.
Manufacturing Location
As mentioned in an earlier section, manufacturing location plays a key role in the amount of carbon emissions generated during the production of a single wedding dress. A bridal gown produced in Saudi Arabia where the primary energy source is from fossil fuels will have an exponentially higher carbon footprint than the same gown produced in Sweden, where renewable energy prevails.
Locally manufactured goods are also a plus as the emissions from international air freight can be substantially reduced. At present, nearly 90% of all wedding dresses are still produced in China.18
According to Federal Trade Commission (FTC) guidelines,31 wedding dresses sold in the U.S. must be labeled with their country of origin. Remember to pay attention to where the wedding dress is made!14
Production Processes
Few people realize how harmful the manufacturing processes for bridal gowns can be. Aside from the thousands of gallons of water used during manufacturing, most wedding dresses are bleached, a chemically intensive process that can contaminate waterways and release harmful Volatile Organic Compounds (VOC) into the air.32
Because of the intricacy of wedding dress design, bridal gowns can take much longer to construct than other types of dresses. A single dress can take months to manufacture, resulting in the use of abundant energy resources from machine work or hand sewing.20
Look for dresses that are manufactured organically, ethically, and sustainably, and don’t be afraid to ask questions about how and where the dress was made.
Transportation and Weight
In the average scenario, the perfect wedding dress is not manufactured close to home. In fact, that dress has probably traveled thousands of miles by ship or air from its international manufacturing facility to reach the racks at the retailer where it is viewed.
This alone comprises a serious problem as transportation is the single most polluting economic sector in the U.S., according to the EPA.15
Add to this the incredible weight of some wedding gowns, and it becomes apparent how the transport of wedding dresses can contribute significantly to the overall footprint. Consider a lighter gown manufactured closer to home.
Waste
The final, very considerable, factor to recognize is the waste generated by a wedding dress. Unlike most clothing items, the average wedding dress is only worn once.
Thus, its environmental impact is not canceled out by any practical trade-off, such as years of wear, hand-me-downs, and so forth. This is one of the biggest contributors to the unsustainability of wedding gowns.
Opt for a recycled or reused wedding gown to lessen the impact of end-of-life treatment.
Examining the Carbon Footprint of Sustainable Wedding Dresses
As people become more aware of the environmental impact of the fashion industry, some are choosing to make more conscientious wardrobe choices, many even seeking out sustainable wedding dress options!
(Image: CarlienKoning38)
But what exactly is a sustainable wedding dress? A sustainable wedding dress is one that is made using materials, manufacturing processes, and packaging which produce fewer carbon emissions.
For example, a sustainable gown may be made from materials that are recycled and organically grown.
Many sustainable manufacturers are reducing waste by recycling the chemicals used during production and by producing smaller batches or “made-to-order” gowns to reduce fabric waste. Biodegradable packaging is another way to make a gown more sustainable.3
Although more companies are beginning to manufacture sustainable wedding gowns, cost can be prohibitive for many. Because sustainably sourced materials are more expensive to gather and produce, and processing and manufacturing sustainably can require additional steps to reduce toxins and waste, sustainable dresses can be quite costly to manufacture.
Subsequently, the eventual price tag on the gown will often reflect this.
However, as more attention is turned to the climate crisis at hand and more companies attempt to reduce their carbon footprints, more affordable sustainable wedding dresses are becoming available.
But how much of a difference does a sustainable wedding dress make? The following sections explore some sustainable options, looking at how environmental impact may be affected.
What Is the Carbon Footprint of Handmade Wedding Dresses?
The sewing process for wedding dresses is capable of generating carbon emissions nearly equal to the emissions of raw material production and processing. A handmade wedding dress can have an observably lower carbon footprint for several reasons.
Firstly and perhaps most significantly, when hand-making a dress, the individual has control over the materials they use and can even choose to use recycled fabric exclusively.
Secondly, though it would seem that hand-sewing a dress would consume much less electricity than machine sewing, don’t forget that it takes much longer to hand sew than machine sew, and the seamstress/seamster would require consistent electrical lighting throughout the (probably) hundreds of hours of sewing.
The determining factor then, aside from material sourcing and chemical processing of the garment, is the carbon intensity of the electric grid where the dress is machine sewed versus hand-sewed. A hand-sewed garment may not be a significant improvement over a wedding gown sewn in France while simultaneously being drastically better than a gown made in Indonesia or Taiwan.
What Is the Carbon Footprint of Organic Wedding Dresses?
Exact numbers for the carbon footprint of organic wedding dresses are not readily available, but organic gowns use fewer toxic chemicals during material production, processing, and manufacturing.
When choosing an organic gown, consider where the gown was manufactured as well as where and how the materials were sourced as transport of raw materials and garments across long distances contribute significantly to carbon emissions.27
What Is the Carbon Footprint of Vegan Wedding Dresses?
A truly vegan wedding dress will have no animal-derived materials in its composition, including wool, cashmere, silk, leather, and so forth.17 Avoidance of these materials and substituting with organic cotton, linen, and hemp can significantly reduce the carbon footprint of the dress.
The carbon footprint of a vegan gown will still vary considerably based on where the gown is made and whether the materials are new or recycled.
What Is the Carbon Footprint of Wedding Dress Rentals?
Wedding dress rentals may appeal to brides for many reasons. Rentals are substantially cheaper than new dresses, especially when comparing exact gowns.
A rental is also a much more sustainable option because it is worn more than once and does not immediately wind up in a landfill.
(Image: Engin Akyurt39)
The carbon footprint of wedding dress rentals depends mostly on the footprint of the original dress (materials and manufacturing), but also upon how many times the dress is worn and how it is cleaned and cared for. Most gown rentals will be dry cleaned between uses, and dry cleaning is known to release air pollutants, approximately 0.4 kg of CO2e per dry cleaned item.2,22
Thus, the final carbon footprint will be the original footprint of the dress divided by the number of times it is rented, plus the carbon emissions from the number of times it is dry cleaned as well as transported to and from the rental. As an example, if the original footprint is 26 kg of CO2e, and the dress is rented out 10 times, it replaces the carbon footprint of 10 single-use dresses, making its carbon footprint more like 2.6 kg of CO2e.
Add the carbon footprint of dry cleaning (10 x 0.4 equals 4 kg CO2e) and 2 kg of CO2e per rental transport (assuming a round trip of 50 miles each time), and we get a total reduced carbon footprint of about 8.5 kg of CO2e per rental.6
When choosing a wedding dress rental, read reviews and ask the company questions about where their dresses come from, how they are maintained and preserved, and how they are disposed of when they are no longer suitable for renting.
What Is a Carbon Footprint?
Asking the question “What is a carbon footprint?” is a critical first step to understanding personal impact on the environment. A carbon footprint is the sum total of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions generated by a specific source,33 whether an individual, corporation, or product.
GHGs are those gases that become trapped in the atmosphere, creating a warming effect on the earth. Thus, a carbon footprint calculation provides a reasonable estimate of the global warming potential (GWP) of a given source.28,34
How To Reduce the Carbon Footprint of Wedding Dresses
The absolute best way to reduce the carbon footprint of wedding dresses is by choosing a gown that is not brand new. Perhaps there is a wedding dress in the family that has become something of a family heirloom or maybe a vintage gown in a nearby shop catches the eye.
A pre-used or “pre-loved” dress can be significantly less costly to the purse and the environment. Such a dress could even be altered and repurposed to create a new, individual look.
Finally, wedding dress rentals are another valid way to be kind to the environment, and various places offer this service.
Another option, one that is certainly not feasible for every bride, is to make one’s own wedding dress or enlist a friend or relative to do so. This route provides the freedom to design a dress to taste while also giving the bride control over the materials used.
If going down this avenue, it is important to pay attention to the type of fabric as well as where and how it was produced.
If purchasing a new bridal gown, pay attention to the brand and check their website for information on how their materials are sourced and processed. Be mindful of the materials that are used, avoiding synthetic fibers such as nylon and polyester and opting for recycled and organic fabrics whenever possible.
Consider selecting a simpler dress with less material and beading that can significantly increase both the weight and biodegradability. Finally, consider donating or consigning the wedding gown so that it can hopefully be worn again.12
Don’t forget that you can always plant trees and invest in carbon offset programs to help cancel out some of the carbon emissions generated on your wedding day!
An individual’s wedding day is likely to be among the most memorable of their life experiences, and many brides-to-be search tirelessly for their perfect wedding dress. What most people don’t realize is the tremendous environmental impact that a single dress can have.
This article discusses the many factors that combine to create the carbon footprint of wedding dresses and provides guidance on selecting a dress that leaves a more positive mark on the world.
Frequently Asked Questions About Carbon Footprint of Wedding Dress
How Do Carbon Emissions Calculators Work?
Carbon emissions calculators estimate a source’s total emissions by collecting and incorporating data across all relevant categories. Greenhouse gas emissions factors for electricity, a major global source of GHG emissions, are provided by region for use in organizational reporting.29,35
Learn More About Carbon Footprint of Wedding Dress
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Carbon Footprint Calculator: How Many Earths If Everyone Lived Like You
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