The urgent need for everyone to take action towards making our daily wear more sustainable has become increasingly apparent. Sustainability, which was first defined by the United Nations Brundtland Commission in 1987, is composed of three pillars: environmental, social, and economic. In 2015, the United Nations General Assembly (UN-GA) established 17 Sustainable Development Goals with the aim of achieving them by 2030.
In recent years, there has been a growing awareness of sustainability, particularly in light of the ongoing global pandemic, Covid-19, which persisted into 2022, and the prevalence of extreme weather events dominating the news in 2021. The Water's Edge listed the failure of countries to address climate change as the most significant global event of 2021. The devastating effects of extreme weather events, such as the worst wildfires in Australia and western California, and record floods that wreaked havoc in Belgium, western Germany, and Henan, China, are clear indications of the catastrophic impact of climate change. Those who care about the planet must act to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
Textile mills generate one-fifth of the world's industrial water pollution and use 20,000 chemicals, many of them carcinogenic, to make clothes. -said by NDRC
The production of clothing generates a significant amount of pollution, with the dyeing and spinning processes being the biggest culprits. Dyeing is a chemical-intensive and water-intensive process, while spinning requires a lot of energy. On the other hand, printing is a less water-intensive technique for altering the appearance of fabrics. Natural dyes are a more environmentally friendly alternative to synthetic dyes and have been used for many years. China, with its long history of apparel manufacturing, has shifted to automation over the past decade, resulting in a shift from labor-intensive to energy-intensive textile production. The transformation of coal-based energy sources to renewable energy sources like hydropower and solar power can lead to revolutionary changes in the textile industry.
Disposal is another significant issue, with most clothing being incinerated or ending up in landfills or waterways. While fast-fashion brands have introduced their own recycling programs, the actual amount of clothing being recycled remains uncertain. H&M recycles only 35% of the clothing it receives. The cost of collecting old clothes and processing them into fiber is high, as is the energy required for the process. For example, in Hong Kong, it can cost shoppers $65 to convert an old garment into a new one, and it takes three days to recycle one garment in Stockholm. These options are not ideal for shoppers, who are unlikely to pay such high prices to recycle their clothes. Additionally, the energy consumption and pollution associated with transporting and collecting old clothes, manual sorting and stripping, shredding old fabrics, spinning new threads, weaving new fabrics, and manufacturing new clothes cannot be ignored.
However, it's better late than never, and the top ten fast-fashion companies are now investing more money in developing sustainable solutions. As the scale of the recycling system increases, the energy, pollution, and cost of recycling will predictably decrease. Commercial-scale recycling programs are the direction and future for all practitioners in the textile industry.
What can we do as part of the protective workwear industry?
Manufacturing FR garments presents unique challenges due to the complexity of protective workwear. Achieving a certain level of protection requires treated fabrics or other materials beyond cotton. Moreover, much of the protective workwear may be contaminated and cannot be recycled, indicating a need for production-stage improvements.
While it's difficult to recycle FR-treated garments, using recycled cotton and polyester in FR-treated fabrics can help reduce the carbon footprint from growing water-intensive plant cotton or extracting crude oil.
Improving the quality of protective garments can help extend their service life and protection, effectively reducing their carbon, water, and waste footprint. PPE clothing is a necessity in hazardous work environments and is not like fashion clothing. Longer-lasting clothing can reduce the frequency of clothing purchases by workers. At Baihoo, we are committed to providing high-quality, durable, and comfortable FR clothing with this belief at the forefront. Additionally, we collect and reuse fabric waste from our garment manufacturing process to make mop heads.