LONDON, April 8 (Xinhua) -- Many garments produced in the fashion industry are treated by many as disposable and fundamental changes are needed to stem a devastating impact on the environment, scientists at the University of Manchester have said in a study.

"The fashion industry is the second largest industrial polluter after aviation, accounting for up to 10 percent of global pollution. Despite the widely publicised environmental impacts the industry continues to grow, in part due to the rise of fast fashion, which relies on cheap mass-manufacturing, frequent consumption and short-lived garment use," said a research paper published Tuesday.

It revealed that impacts from the fashion industry include over 92 million tonnes of waste produced per year and 1.5 trillion liters of water consumed.

The research called for substantial changes in the industry to reduce negative environment cost.

A move towards "slow fashion" would encourage the industry to focus on more sustainable practices, including the deceleration of manufacturing and an emphasis on better-quality materials which last longer, it said.

"A transition away from fast fashion towards slow fashion requires a slowdown in manufacturing volumes, the introduction of sustainable practices throughout the supply chain and a shift in consumer behaviour to reduce the amount of new clothing being purchased and increase garment lifetimes. Such systemic changes could improve the long-term sustainability of the fashion supply chain," said Patsy Perry, senior lecturer in fashion marketing at the University of Manchester.