Written by When we think about Climate Change we often think of vehicles and airplanes as the common culprit and while this is somewhat true, pollution and Climate Change are also affected by the very clothes we wear. According to the BBC, the fashion industry accounts for 8-10% of global emissions.
Let us take a look at the ways in which our clothing affects the planet’s health.
Synthetic Fabrics
Fossil Fuels are the common cause of Climate Change and all products derived from them are a part of the problem as these derivatives drive up demand for Fossil Fuels and thereby perpetuate the problem.
Most synthetic fabrics were developed between the 1930’s and 1980’s by the Dupont company.
Polyester, acrylic, nylon and spandex are the most common synthetic fabrics. These are derived from petroleum products. They require energy-intensive processes to be created, not growing naturally and instead being created through chemical processes.
Therefore when considering synthetic fabrics we make use of petroleum products to process the petroleum and then transport it to the end user. It is therefore a compounded issue.
Plastic Pollution
Plastic is one of the biggest sources of pollution in our water. Because plastic does not biodegrade like natural materials, it pollutes by simply disintegrating into small bits of plastic called microplastics. There are reports of one of the most common microplastics being acrylic and nylon from synthetic fabrics, found in water everywhere which is then consumed by fish and enters the foodchain.
Washing Machines
Washing machines are a notable source of microplastics into the water via sewage. Washing synthetic fabrics in the machine causes small bits of fabric to tear off with each wash and enter the water and the animals there.
At this point, microplastics have been found in rivers, sea ice, the top of Mount Everest, in most organisms and in the atmosphere. A large percentage comes from textiles, washed out through the machine into the water system.
The Fish of the Sea
Microplastics have been found in over 1,300 marine and terrestrial lifeforms, that include birds and mammals, not just fish. But the fish are especially swimming in our waste and suffering for it.
Just like our air, the water that acts as air for the fish is aflush with microplastics, creating a crisis situation. This can cause gastrointestinal blockages or leak toxic chemicals into the animals’ systems.
Natural Fibers
One might think that steering clear of synthetic fibers stems the issue but then we enter the world of fertilizers and pesticides which also come with their own issues.
Phosphates and nitrates pollute groundwater which is already running low due to overconsumption in the process of flushing our waste with potable water.
Cotton alone, 33% of all textiles used, depletes water by being one of the thirstiest plants to cultivate.
Then there are the vegan considerations of taking sheep’s wool, cow leather, alligator skin or alpaca wool to make fabrics for humans to use when those animals also have a use for their own bodies that has nothing to do with humans.
Pesticides & Soil Depletion
Pesticides are known for damaging biodiversity required to pollinate the planet. Humans will never be able to replace the benefit of pollinators like bees who are being wiped out by pesticide use.
Furthermore soil is being depleted by monoculture cultivation strategies.The impact of our clothing is therefore massive and the push for change to sustainable fashion has to be just as huge.
Luckily, there are some answers on the way already.
Sustainable Changes
Several large brands like H&M have launched sustainable fashion lines. A company called Spinnova uses biomimicry, looking at how spiders make their webs to create a less intensive fiber that one could call sustainable.
Redirecting textile waste is also being considered in order to give new life to old fibers that would normally end up in the landfill like the more than 11 million tons in U.S. landfills in 2018.
Experts claim that the fashion industry could reduce their emissions by 60% with 1-2% of their revenue although the linked article is vague about how this can be done in strict terms. Turning fibers into garments represents 70% of all emissions, this includes dyeing fabrics. Changing to solar and industrial heat pumps for renewable energy in production is a number 1 strategy for change.
Vogue states that EU policy is changing in 2024 to prevent the destruction of usable fibers and footwear just to maintain brand policies.
Furthermore eco-friendly dyes and better fabric recycling strategies will hasten the change we need.
Hemp Clothing
Hemp fabric is derived from the stems of cannabis plants and only contains 0.3% THC unlike the rest of the plant so it is safe for use and does not run the risk of getting users high. Hemp often grows under more sustainable conditions than other fabrics due to the lack of pests and used to be a widely used fabric source before the crackdown on the plant. The fabric produced is similar to linen. Hemp viscose is derived through the use of chemicals but regular hemp is often organic.
Cannabis grows like a weed with minimal inputs compared to other plants and due to legalization is a respected industry from which to get byproducts. It can be grown hydroponically which saves soil. Taking the stalks of the plant that would otherwise go unused and making fabric from it is sustainable, hemp can sequester 9 to 15 tons of CO2 in a hectare.
The drawback is that transporting hemp is energy-intensive due to its bulky nature.
Conclusion
So, in the end we may need to ask ourselves deep existential questions about what the act of presentation should cost. How much should we invest in wearing the latest, cutest style when we can also try to emulate new styles using older fibers. When should we allow ourselves a treat and is it truly a treat if whole ecosystems suffer for us to ‘enjoy’ it? And a deeper question: Those moments of overwhelm and melancholy that attack most modern humans at some point, are these not moments of realization of what coats our body, its losses and pains transferred into the epidermis and then given ghost-life in the sudden mourning that emerges?
These and other questions about consumerism occur. Let’s continue the conversation in the comments!
About Us: Fastfrwrd is a green platform where users called Seekers collect points called Dews whenever they do something replicably carbon neutral, meaning eco actions that get rid of oil, gas and plastic in our daily lives. Dews can then be spent on a user-generated digital goods marketplace of rewards. Non-members pay regular currency for downloads.
Sources:
https://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-60382624
https://time.com/6973643/sustainable-fibers-textiles/
https://www.pbs.org/newshour/science/laundry-is-a-top-source-of-microplastic-pollution-heres-how-to-clean-your-clothes-more-sustainably
https://sewingiscool.com/list-of-synthetic-fabric-types/
https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/science.adl2746
https://www.usgs.gov/mission-areas/water-resources/science/nutrients-and-eutrophication#overview
https://www.epa.gov/sciencematters/understanding-how-pesticide-exposure-affects-honey-bee-colonies
https://www.cnbc.com/video/2022/06/05/behind-the-looming-soil-shortage.html
https://www.mckinsey.com/industries/retail/our-insights/sustainable-style-how-fashion-can-afford-and-accelerate-decarbonization
https://www.vogue.com/article/6-ways-the-fashion-industry-can-become-more-sustainable
Material Guide: How Sustainable Is Hemp Fabric?