Awareness, Impacts, and Issues
- sustained.style
- Mar 15, 2020
- 4 min read
Updated: Apr 10, 2020
10% of global greenhouse emissions are generated by the textiles industry
Natural fibres tend to be preferably over other types due to their biodegradability, however, each specific source carries a different environmental footprint through water, land and chemical usage
Synthetic fibres release greenhouse gases during their production, and become microplastics – never fully breaking down – which can bioaccumulate in organisms
Regenerated fibres carry the same impacts as their natural fibre origins, additionally requiring potentially toxic solvents
25% of global chemical output is attributed to the textiles industry
The fashion industry consumes approximately 79 billion cubic meters of water annually
15% of textiles intended for manufacture are wasted
Pollution is generated in the transportation phase through the consumption of fossil fuels
Fast fashion and consumerist culture have resulted in lower quality, less durable garments and unethical practices to reduce production time and costs
The decreased lifespan of clothes has caused individuals to dispose of 30 kilograms of clothing waste annually, on average
The textiles industry has a significant effect on the environment, with 10% of global greenhouse emissions generated by the production processes of textiles. In order to change our fashion choices and consumption habits, we need to understand the impacts that they are having on our planet.
At the fibre production level, impacts are varied. The three primary categories of fibres – synthetic, natural, and regenerated – all present different issues for sustainability.
Natural fibres, including cotton, wool, silk, flax, and hemp, are generally considered the least impactful fibres, due to their carbon storage and biodegradability. Despite their benefits, natural fibres also carry negatives, with cotton utilising hazardous pesticides and 1kg of the fibre having an average water footprint of 10,000 litres. Meanwhile, wool raises issues of deforestation and land degradation for grazing pastures, with the sheep producing up to 30 litres of methane – a gas which accelerates global warming – per day.
Synthetic fibres are predominantly made from petroleum and represent approximately 65% of the materials utilised in the fashion industry. The predominant issue with plastic textiles is their inability to breakdown – instead becoming microplastics, which pollute the environment through the release of toxic chemicals and bioaccumulation throughout the food chain. There are also issues linked to sourcing petroleum and refining it to create synthetic textiles, with such processes releasing toxic air, water, and soil pollutants.
Regenerated fibres are those which are sourced naturally – from plants – however, have their cellulosic content chemically dissolved and reformed into fibres. Whilst a portion of regenerated fibres are biodegradable, problems with this material source include the use of toxic chemicals and emission of air pollutants, as well as the deforestation of natural ecosystems for plantations.
The floor of a textile manufacturing plant in Tianjin, China, is submerged under a pool of coalescing dye colours, as a worker handles vats of dye.
Credit: Lu Guang/Greenpeace
The processing of fibre to fabric, and fabric to end product also has a significant impact on the planet, with 25% of global chemical output generated by the textile industry – particularly during the dyeing and finishing stages of manufacture – causing the pollution of waterways and damage to aquatic life. The impact on aquatic ecosystems is intensified by this phase’s water consumption, with India’s textile industry alone exhausting 425,000,000 gallons of water daily.
Another key issue in garment production is the wastage of fabric, with 15% of textiles intended for garments being discarded.
Throughout the lifecycle of your clothes there are continued environmental impacts – beginning at the transportation phase, where ships, planes, trucks and trains consume fossil fuels in order to distribute products for you, the consumer, to purchase.
Then, while using the product, water and energy are utilised for cleaning processes, with the addition of micro-plastic particle shedding associated with the washing of synthetic garments.
Poor working conditions inside a Los Angeles garment factory, where workers are paid $6 per hour.
Credit: Claire Hannah Collins/Los Angeles Times
The culture of consumerism generated by fast fashion and seasonally changing trends results in a shorter garment lifespan – due to both decreases in style popularity, and the quality and durability of cheap, mass produced pieces – which causes approximately 30 kilograms of clothing waste annually per person. Additionally, a Onepoll survey has found that 83% of respondents have purchased garments which they never wear – meaning that the resources utilised and environmental damage caused is without purpose.
As well, the off-shore production of fast-fashion pieces – a tactic used to keep expenses low due to differing minimum wages and lax legal framework – results in further greenhouse gas emmissions due to transportation, and unethical production processes, with a lack of WHS protocol and subsequently dangerous working conditions. Tragedy is common in these situations, with over 500 garment workers in Bangladesh perishing in factory fires from 2006 to 2012, and the Rana Plaza factory collapse in 2013 casting such issues into the spotlight.
Despite this, the consumption of fast fashion continues, costing us the world we live in, and people’s lives. A cultural shift towards sustainability, with actions mirroring values – as 87% of individuals in a Southern Cross University study say they desire a more eco-friendly lifestyle – is necessary to change the textiles industry in favour of our planet.
Want to play your part in the change? Check back next week for some of the positive progress in the industry which you can use to educate sustainable fashion choices, and make sure to follow @sustained.style on Instagram for extra insights and previews.
To find out more about the issues earth is facing for our fashion desires, check out these resources:
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