SRG investigation exposes fashion industry’s reliance on texas fracking
A new investigation by the Stand.earth Research Group (SRG) has exposed links between more than 100 fashion brands and fracked oil and gas from Texas’s Permian Basin. This revelation highlights the pervasive role of fossil fuels in the global fashion supply chain, which increasingly relies on petrochemical-derived synthetic fibers such as polyester.
Using customs records, corporate disclosures, and investor reports, SRG’s research connects U.S.-produced ethane from fracked natural gas to polyester fabric production, revealing supply chain ties to 107 major brands. The organization has also launched an interactive Fracked Fashion Map to visualize these connections, allowing users to track specific brands and parent companies tied to the fracking industry.
The investigation emphasizes the environmental and social toll of fracking, including water pollution, community health risks, and significant contributions to the climate crisis. The Permian Basin, dubbed the world’s largest potential “carbon bomb,” could emit 27.8 gigatons of CO2 if its reserves are fully exploited. Fracked gas from the region is a key input in the petrochemical industry, which has become the largest industrial consumer of fossil fuels after transportation.
Alarmingly, synthetic fibers already account for over two-thirds of global textile production and are projected to dominate 73% by 2030. Yet only 57 of the 107 implicated brands have policies to reduce virgin polyester use, and just one has committed to phasing it out completely. Many brands rely on recycled polyester (rPET) sourced from plastic bottles—a controversial alternative that experts argue sustains fossil fuel demand, sheds microplastics, and cannot be effectively recycled.
“Global fashion brands are increasingly dependent on fracking and petrochemicals, despite marketing themselves as sustainable,” said Dr. Devyani Singh, an investigative researcher at SRG. “This investigation highlights the urgent need for transparency and a systemic shift away from fossil fuel-based fibers.”
Environmental advocates, including the Changing Markets Foundation, urge policymakers to enact legislation that curtails the use of synthetic fibers, redirecting the fashion industry toward sustainable alternatives. As the holiday season drives overproduction and consumption of cheap polyester clothing, experts call for a paradigm shift to mitigate the industry’s environmental and social impacts.
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