The use of organic raw material can help in fighting the emission of pollutants by the textile units. Organic cotton is especially beneficial as the standard production of cotton require maximum amounts of pesticides and fertilizers. Besides, the waste generated from textile manufacturing plants should be processed in a manner that it is free from toxic chemicals before it is disposed. Environment-friendly methods of cultivation and manufacture should be resorted to. The textile waste should be strictly recycled.
However, all these actions should be taken urgently.
Growing cotton: when growing it uses 22.5 percent of all the insecticides used globally. Growing enough cotton for one t-shirt requires 257 gallons of water. It also entails vast amounts of chemical fertilizers and pesticides that pollute and deplete the soil. Despite mechanized harvesting, the cotton industry is still
On top of that, bleaching and then dyeing the resulting fabric creates toxins that are released into the ecosystem.
Wool pollution: both agricultural and craft workers suffer from the exposure to organophosphate sheep dip problem. Getting wool material from fibre to cloth, (bleaching, dyeing, and finishing) uses yet more energy and water, and causes yet more pollution.
Nylon and polyester: artificial fibres made of petrochemicals are non-biodegradable, and so they are inherently unsustainable on two counts. Nylon manufacture creates nitrous oxide, a greenhouse gas 310 times more potent than carbon dioxide. Making polyester uses large amounts of water for cooling, alongside with lubricants which can become a source of contamination. Both processes are also extremely energy-demanding.
Rayon (viscose): artificial fibre, made of wood pulp, which on the face of it seems more sustainable. However, old-growth forests are often cleared to make way for pulpwood plantations. Often the tree planted is eucalyptus, which draws up phenomenal amounts of water potentially causing problems in sensitive regions. To make rayon the wood pulp is treated with hazardous chemicals such as caustic soda and sulphuric acid. The use of rayon for clothing contributes to the rapid depletion of the world's forests.
Some solutions
Environmental effects of specific materials
Erasmus+ 16