How Ireland got to lead the world in fast fashion addiction

Irish people are world leaders in cheap textile consumption, writes Emer Walsh

According to Oxfam, about 63,000 tonnes of textiles in Ireland end up in landfills annually. Picture: iStock

Two decades ago, Ireland created a new normal. In an uphill battle won against one of the world’s most powerful industries, the Irish government successfully implemented the smoking ban in 2004, prohibiting it in workplaces, bars and restaurants and becoming the first country in the world to do so.

While controversial at the time, the government’s efforts paid off. In the 20 years since the ban was introduced, the rate of smoking in Ireland dropped from 27% to just 18% in 2024, reflecting a reduction of about 800,000 people.