How sustainable is today’s global fashion industry? originally appeared on Quora, the place to gain and share knowledge, empowering people to learn from others and better understand the world. You can follow Quora on Twitter, Facebook, and Google Plus.

The fashion industry isn’t particularly sustainable, and this is for a number of reasons. It requires a lot of shipping and transportation in order to get goods to market. Many production processes use unsafe and toxic chemicals that in some places can’t be recycled or are not properly disposed of, and ultimately, not all fashion is recyclable once it has been worn and enjoyed.

That being said, many brands and companies are working to make their businesses as sustainable as possible all along their supply chain and products’ lifecycles. For example: Many brands collect old garments and use the material to create new garments (Eileen Fisher, Atelier & Repairs). Others are phasing out the use of animal products (Stella McCartney), which have a significant carbon footprint, or are working to make their packaging 100% recycled and recyclable.

At italist, we’re working to offset the environmental impact of our business by making our packaging as green and low-waste as possible. We’re also committed to reinvesting a portion of our profits back into the local community where we’re based (Los Angeles), supporting educational programs for children and young adults.

Consumers can do their part to help the fashion industry by asking questions and pushing companies to do better. Laws and regulations are helpful in spurring action, but the most powerful influence on our daily business is the customer.

This question originally appeared on Quora. More questions on Quora:

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