Yes, we’re nagging about textiles – that’s our purpose. Our vision is to spread knowledge about textiles and their impact on the environment.
We hear a lot about aviation and its environmental consequences; of course, we would like to fly less. But the fact is that the total emissions of greenhouse gases from textile production are about 1.2 billion tons annually. It’s more than the emission from all international aviation and shipping together!
Textiles represent an unusually long emissions chain from the raw material itself, such as the cotton plant, the utilization and the laundry. Today, it is impossible to describe accurately how much environmental impact textiles have. A lot is happening behind the scenes, with potentially harmful substances occurring without our awareness. All of this is happening to achieve maximum efficiency and lower consumption costs so we can buy more. What we do know is that the impact on the environment is huge – really huge, during cultivation, production and use. At the same time, the textile industry is vital for the world economy and provides work for millions of people worldwide. It’s a complicated equation. That’s why we need to think of new ways – to ReThink [1].
In addition to greenhouse gases, textile manufacturing releases hazardous substances that affect the health of textile workers and those who ultimately use the clothes. Moreover, when we wash clothes, many synthetic materials release microplastics, around half a million tons per year, contributing to ocean pollution. Trends indicate that these negative impacts are rising uncontrolled.
We need to rethink to reduce emissions, and the tips we want to give this week are:
- Only consume what you need. It may seem like a cliché, but consider whether you can do something different from your previous routines.
- Try to buy something second-hand, Tradera, Blocket, or other online or in-store sites
- Maybe you are handy and can re-sew/re-design
- Or why not swap with a friend
- Challenge yourself and tell at least two people in your area about the environmental impact of textiles.
Source
1. Ellen McArthur Foundation – A New Textiles Economy: Redesigning fashion’s future 
