As per the recent Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change report on global warming, ignoring the planet’s current situation has become impossible. Recycling, sustainable development, and eco-friendly cannot be used as mere buzzwords. Still, organizations need to actively keep up with waste and recycling news and understand how to better their operations.
Can the Textile Industry be Sustainable?
Whether the brand uses natural fibers or synthetic ones, there are numerous challenges to sustain the textile industry. Resources used in producing both natural and synthetic material are energy- and chemical-intensive and replete resources rapidly.
From using petrochemical to agricultural resources, the textile industries make massive use of resources to meet the basic need for clothing and produce trendy clothes that help make a fashion statement. But, how is this relevant to waste and recycling news? Understanding wet processing may help shed some light.
What is Wet Processing?
Whether it’s synthetic or natural fiber, none of them come with vibrant colors and prints. Wet processing is a crucial step in the textile industry that helps impart vibrant colors, patterns, comfort, and an esthetically pleasing look to the garments that you see in stores.
Why are People Talking about Wet Processing Now?
Unfortunately, wet processing is a water-intensive process, making gallons upon gallons of water a precious resource. In the textile industry, it has remained a cause of concern for decades, especially because it is not just the amount of water used but also the contaminants such as chemical dyes which mix with the water throughout the process.
The end product of wet processing is a chemical-laden effluent that is difficult to be processed for recycling or biodegrade. Hence, not only does it lead to the depletion of natural resources, but it also leads to problems with creating new resources. Accordingly, textile brands need to follow waste and recycling news to ensure that they can reduce their impact on the environment.
What can be done?
Looking at the explanation above, it may seem like the industry is stuck in a vicious cycle. However, there’s no need to ring the alarm bells just yet. With the advancement in technology, the textile industry has already been using Effluent Treatment Plants for decades.
However, the efficacy of these treatment plants may vary according to the laws of the country and state. Approved certifiers need to check the effectiveness of the process regularly to ensure that the requirements are fulfilled.
Textiles and Recycling
Globally, brands have taken steps to ensure sustainability and conscious processes which do not harm the environment, from following Global Organic Textiles Standards to incorporating sustainability ideas and more. Organizations need to delve deep into waste and recycling news to follow global ethical standards to ensure that their products are designed to be fashionable and good for the environment.
Fashion is not a bad thing, and it can be an excellent form of self-expression. However, it is crucial to consider the environmental impact of what you are wearing. Understanding the different processes that help manufacture the clothes you see in stores can help you make more conscious decisions. Keep up with waste and recycling news to understand how the clothes you wear and discard can harm the planet.