What is Sustainability?
Sustainability is the
use of resources in an ethical way without polluting our mother earth. The
major cause of Global warming is pollution, which is affecting human life in
many ways. After the Oil industry Fashion is the 2nd biggest polluter of our planet.
Why sustainability is needed in Textile?
The global textile the industry was estimated to be around USD 920 billion in 2018, and it is
projected to witness a CAGR of approximately 4.4% during the forecast period to
reach approximately USD 1,230 billion by 2024.
Textile is the 2nd the largest industry causing major pollution. Each year more than 85% used cloths
goes in Landfill and only 15% are recycled. This textile industry is creating a
huge amount of waste. In the last 15 years, the consumer is buying 60% more
pieces of clothing compared to our last generation. Yet, each cloth item is now
kept half as long, which ultimately goes in the landfill. Nearly 20% of global
wastewater is produced by the Textile industry. Average use of each T-shirt is
only 7 times while we should bring it to 60 times to reduce further damage to
our earth by landfill, waste of water and energy as well as pesticides.
As per EDGE report,
Cotton farming is responsible for 24% of insecticides and 11% of pesticides,
despite using only 3% of the world’s arable land. 20,000 liters is the amount
of water needed to produce one kilogram of cotton; equivalent to a single
t-shirt and pair of jeans. It takes more than 5,000 gallons of water to
manufacture just a T-shirt and a pair of jeans. The textile industry is one of
the top 3 water-wasting industry in China, discharging over 2.5 billion tons of
wastewater every year.
What we should do to
make fashion sustainable, Eco-friendly for Green Economy?
The consumer should
buy what they need. More clothing does not mean more happiness. Rather than
quantity customer should focus on quality. The consumer should focus on buying
Organic and sustainable as well as ethical clothing, which will be slightly
more expensive than fast fashion and cheap fashion. By using organic cotton we
save 50% water and promote 0% use of pesticides, which not only affect farmer’s
health but also spoil our fertile land.
Rather than using
chemical dyes, the consumer should buy merchandise which has been dyed through the
vegetable, for example, indigo and shibori dye and vegetable screen and block
printing.
The consumer should not
throw used clothing in the dustbin; rather donate it to the poor community or NGO
for reuse. If the garment is slightly damaged then the consumer should donate
same after mending. Textile which is not in a reusable condition should
be sent for recycling where it could be converted into fibre than yarn and ultimately
fabric to produce new merchandise
.
All production houses
must take responsibility to create zero waste. In the regular manufacturing process
production houses waste 30% of the fabric, which could be reduced by 5% by
taking the strategic decision at the tile of styling and by producing kids
garment, lingerie or accessories for example Handbags, mask, stole, scarfs,
caps, carry bags, handkerchief.
Huge Organic and
sustainable resources are lying idle like Wool, Bamboo, Wood, and Leather,
vegetable-dyed which should be utilized at max.
Forced labour and
child labour should be banned and labour minimum wages should be decent enough
to create a better living standard.
Social responsibility
program should be run by the government for creating awareness for not to use polyester
products which are the petroleum byproduct. Such Polyester products are not
biodegradable and chemicals are required to produce such merchandise. These chemicals
mixed with water and ultimately affect our earth and animal’s life in and out
water.
More textile units
should take initiative to produce fibre and fabric from used plastic bottles to
reduce dumping of such waste in the sea and landfill. Some big size textile
units like Arvind, Vardhman, Raymond has
already taken initiative towards sustainable clothing.
K.G fabrics are one of
the biggest examples of sustainable denim. Other mills should participate in
this revolution to create a better future.
which are the most sustainable clothing brands in India?
Brands made out of Linen, Bamboo and hemp. one of the example is www.bamboologytrends.com
