AllSaints founder Stuart Trevor has accused M&S of being the “largest offender” when it comes to producing clothes that end up in landfills.

In an industry panel discussion this morning (5 March), Trevor said M&S produces the most clothes that go into landfills, particularly in markets like Ghana.

“They’re the largest, they produce more clothes going into landfill than any other company in the world,” Trevor said.

He added that the high street giant is “by far the worst offender” when it comes to the environmental impact of its clothing.

Trevor also mentioned that he used to buy M&S’s vintage St. Michael line to copy and incorporate into the early days of his former brand, AllSaints.

However, he noted that recently the quality of the retailer’s products, like socks and underwear, has declined significantly, explaining that his clothes are now covered in “black fibers” after washing.

Trevor’s comments come as fashion waste continues to be a growing global crisis, with the industry generating an estimated 92 million tonnes of textile waste annually, according to data from Waste Managed.

This contributes significantly to pollution, with the fashion industry responsible for 10% of global carbon emissions—more than all international flights and maritime shipping combined.

The UK is one of Europe’s worst offenders when it comes to fashion waste. Each year, approximately 350,000 tonnes of clothing waste end up in UK landfills, with 73% of discarded textiles not being recycled.

Click here to sign up to Retail Gazette‘s free daily email newsletter