Carbon Emission of Fashion
The issues in production
Saving the world begins with deciding which textiles to utilize and amount to produce. This also call for more integration of other natural materials that come from Mother Nature!
Problem: cotton production
To meet the global demand for cotton, many farmers partake in irresponsible decisions to produce cotton cheaply and hazardously. The heavy use of pesticides causes soil degragation and biodiversity loss. It also can cause serious health-problems to cotton workers. Poor argricultural practices can lead to inefficient water use: in some areas, over 10 tons of water is used to grow enough cotton to make one pair of jeans.1 This is entirely too much.
Solution:
- Organic, fairly traded cotton must be demanded. Labeling the country of origin on cotton can help consumers make an informed decision to support naturally grown cotton. This is a detrimental step in improving our care for the environment.
- Water efficiency can be increased when the harvesting of water is combined with drip irrigation. Research shows that more water does not necessarily mean an increase in the cotton produced.2
- We can also substitute cotton for other natural materials. The use of hemp is often overlooked despite its redeeming qualities. Durable and soft, hemp requires no pesticides to grow and low water temperature to wash. It can also be used for the production of other goods, such as paper.3
Problem: man-made synthetics
Synthetic fibers such as polyester, acrylic and nylon, require oil to be produced. While it does present some advantages over natural products-- they are more resistant than cotton in typical wear-and-tear and are cleaned at lower water temperatures-- these types of man-made materials take 30-40 years to degrade.1 Compared to the length of degradation of cotton (1-5 months)1, this is far too long.
Solution:
- There's room for improvement of these synthetics! Producing sustainable man-made materials using renewable materials such as cellulose will be less harsh on the environment.
- Recycling these products is a must and it might not always be convenient to do it properly. But recycling these synthetics will halt further production and deter from contributing to landfills.
The Environmental Impact of Retail
REMEMBER THE THREE R's: REDUCE, REUSE, RECYCLE!
Just like other industrial corporations, the worlds of fashion and retail have contributed significantly to human carbon emission leading to climate change. The lifespan of a single article of clothing makes an impact on the environmental over every stage in its lifespan, beginning from the material in from which it was produced, to its disposal after the consumer decides it’s time for something new. Figure 1 below highlights the impacts throughout each stage.
In order to make a change, we first have to become aware of what practices are contributing to carbon emission and what can be done to diminish and eliminate excessive energy use.
figure 1