THE ULTIMATE GUIDE TO FASHION SUSTANIBILITY

The fashion industry is responsible for approximately 8-10% of worldwide carbon emissions and nearly 20% of wastewater. Fashion consumes more energy than both aviation and shipping combined, despite the fact that the environmental impact of flying is now widely understood.

Clothing has intricate supply networks, making it difficult to account for all of the emissions produced when a pair of trousers or a new coat is manufactured. Then there's the question of how the clothes is carried and disposed of once the purchaser has outgrown it.

While most consumer items face comparable problems, the fashion business is unique in that it not only undergoes, but also encourages, a rapid speed of change. Consumers are pressured to buy the latest things to keep on trend with each passing season (or microseason).

It's hard to envisage all of the components that go into making a garment, but consider denim as an example. According to the United Nations, a single pair of pants takes one kilogram of cotton. Cotton is grown in dry settings, thus this kilo requires around 7,500–10,000 litres of water to produce. For one individual, that's about ten years' supply of drinking water.

There are techniques to make denim less resource-intensive, but in general, jeans made from cotton that is as close to its natural form as possible need less water and less toxic treatments in the manufacturing process. This means less bleaching, sandblasting, and pre-washing is required.

Many stylish jeans' elastic elastane material is created from synthetic materials derived from plastic, reducing recyclability and increasing environmental impact.

Unfortunately, this means that some of the most popular varieties of jeans are also among the most difficult to wear. Fabric dyes, for example, damage water bodies, having disastrous consequences for aquatic life and drinking water. Furthermore, the elastic elastane fabric woven into many fashionable kinds of tight jeans is created from synthetic materials derived from plastic, reducing recyclability and increasing environmental impact.

Levi Strauss predicts that a pair of their renowned 501 jeans will emit the equivalent of 33.4kg of CO2 over the course of its lifetime, which is about the same as driving 69 miles in the typical US car. Just over a third of those emissions come from the manufacture of fiber and fabric, with the remaining 8% coming from the cutting, stitching, and finishing of the jeans. Packaging, transportation, and retail account for 16 percent of emissions, with consumer use accounting for the remaining 40%.

Another research of 2 percent elastane jeans made in India found that creating the fibers and denim fabric emitted 7kg more carbon than Levi's analysis. It implies that buying raw denim items has a lower environmental impact.

Some manufacturers are working to reduce the environmental impact of making jeans, while others are developing ways to recycle denim and jeans that break down within a few months when composted.

Although not cotton, synthetic polymer polyester is the most frequently used fiber material. Globally, "65% of the clothes we wear are polymer-based," said Lin Wilson, a circular economy expert with a PhD in consumer behavior related to clothing disposal at the University of Glasgow. say.

Approximately 70 million barrels of petroleum are used annually in the production of polyester fibers in our garments. From waterproof jackets to delicate scarves, it's very difficult to escape. Part of it is for convenience-polyester is easy to clean and durable. It's also easy and cheap.

However, polyester shirts have twice the carbon footprint of cotton shirts. Polyester shirts are equivalent to 5.5 kg of carbon dioxide compared to 2.1 kg of cotton shirts. Approximately 70 million barrels of petroleum are used annually to produce polyester fibers for clothing.

You can reduce CO2 emissions by switching to recycled polyester fabrics. Recycled polyester emits half to a quarter of the emissions of pure polyester. However, this is not a long-term solution, as polyester takes hundreds of years to decompose and microfibers can be released into the environment.

However, even natural materials are not always sustainable when large amounts of water, paint and transportation are required. Organic cotton may be better for agricultural workers who would otherwise be exposed to large amounts of pesticides, but water pressure remains.

However, many innovations are flowing into the production of low impact fabrics. Bio-couture and fashion made from more eco-friendly materials than the

are becoming an ever-growing business. Some companies want to make textiles using waste wood, fruits and other natural materials. Others are trying different ways to dye the fabric, or looking for materials that are easier to biodegrade after being thrown away. But there are other ways to reduce carbon dioxide emissions in our clothing. The way we shop has a big impact.

According to some research, online shopping may emit less carbon dioxide than going to a traditional store to buy goods, especially if consumers live far away. However, the rise of online shopping is also changing consumer behavior, contributing to the fast fashion culture of consumers buying more than they need, delivering goods to their homes, and returning most of their purchases after trying on.

returns can effectively double the emissions associated with the movement of goods, and the number could increase further, taking into account pickup and delivery failures.

1. Sustainable fashion saves natural resources

According to a 2015 survey, 97% of clothing production is new resources and only 3% of recycled materials. This brings annual resource consumption to 98 million tons, including petroleum for producing synthetic fibers, fertilizer for growing cotton, and an endless list of chemicals used for dyeing and refining fabrics.

2. Sustainable fashion reduces carbon dioxide emissions

The global fashion industry emits significant greenhouse gases each year, making a large and active contribution to global warming. One of the reasons is that most of our beloved garments are petroleum-based and made from fossil fuels such as polyester, acrylic and nylon (check the garment label, you may be surprised). not). At the manufacturing stage, these materials require much more energy than natural or recycled fibers.

3. Sustainable fashion saves animals' lives

This may not be the news for you, but the fashion industry loves to kill for fashion. A common misconception is that leather, for example, is a by-product of the meat industry. However, this is not always the case. The leather industry alone is estimated to slaughter and kill more than 430 million animals annually. It's a topic in itself, so don't go into detail here. However, if you want to know more about animal suffering in the fashion industry, follow this link. PETA has a wealth of articles on this subject.

Sustainable fashion brands are increasingly relying on non-abuse alternatives, and almost all fashionable materials include polyester made from sea trash (which seems familiar). Bags made from recycled seat belts, compostable plant-based sneakers, silk made from yeast and organic vegan wool. However, one of the most popular leather alternatives these days is pineapple. The dough is made from pineapple leaves during the harvest process. In other words, by-product waste is reused.

4. Less water needed for sustainable fashion

Water is an important resource for the fashion industry. It is used in almost all clothing dyeing and finishing processes. To make one T-shirt, you need as much as 2,700 liters of water. Cotton, in particular, is heavily dependent on water, but is mainly cultivated in hot and dry areas where water is already scarce.

5. Sustainable fashion supports fair and safe working conditions

Believe it or not, modern slavery exists. Minimum wages (if any), unlimited working hours, unacceptable health and safety conditions, and trade union bans-this is a reality for most female garment workers in the fast fashion industry. In addition, verbal and physical abuse is still a common practice in many parts of the industry. Eco-ethical brands are committed to providing workers with adequate working conditions, health care and fair wages, which are usually above average. In general, they show the greater purpose of creating economic opportunities for those in need to end poverty.

6. Sustainable fashion is healthier for people and planets

Fast fashion items often go through a long and intensive chemical process before landing on a hanger. Approximately 8,000 synthetic chemicals are used in the dyeing, bleaching and wet processes of clothing. These chemicals often cause illness and death in farmers and cause severe birth defects in children.

7. Sustainable fashion does not support child labor

According to the latest UNICEF statistics, about 170 million children are engaged in some form of clothing work. Minimum age required-or work that is generally unacceptable and prohibited by the disadvantageous nature or conditions of the child. " This is a huge danger signal, and the idea that children are sent to factories and do the same job as modern slavery to meet the fashion demands of the Western world is totally unacceptable.

In short, in order to help save the planet, you should invest on a capsule wardrobe-sustainable brands-, buy less and better, invest in great pieces that you will re-use multiple times. Shop secondhand and vintage, try renting. Support brands who have a positive impact, reduce your water footprint and be concius about vegan fashion brands to help avoid microplastic pollution. Upcycling garmets can help the planet and your economy.