Five ways the clothing manufacturing process can be environmentally supported and how companies are learning to de-risk their development
Worried about the pollution in the textile industry and the impact your clothes are having? Worry not, here are five ways the clothing manufacturing process can be environmentally supported and how companies are learning to de-risk their development.
With the ever-increasing scrutiny of manufacturing processes within the fashion industry, and the strengthening of consumer demands in the face of fast-fashion trends, it has never been more important for clothing manufacturers to consult and de-risk their approaches in order to reduce environmental impacts and secure the safety of their business in the long term. These five areas represent equally critical elements of the textile and clothing industry in ensuring an environmentally conscious production process from start to finish.
1: Materials
There is an array of eco-friendly materials at the disposal of clothing manufacturers both large and small. Preliminary focuses tend towards using organic materials that lessen or remove the usage of harmful chemicals, solvents, dyes and treatment processes. Using recycled materials, whether partially or fully, is also starting to be utilised by most fashion companies as well. ‘Rapid renewables’ like bamboo are starting to become a notable replacement for cotton garments. It grows faster, doesn’t require pesticides, absorbs 5x more CO2 than equivalent hardwood trees, and requires less laundry care.
2: Design
Fusing environmentally conscious design and production approaches can help to create a corporate identity that will increase in salience as environmental issues become more pressing. By creating and marketing designs that have increased durability, improved functionality and less resource-intensive production processes, companies can de-risk their development from the pitfalls of fast fashion and acquire new customers through an emphasis on quality and eco-consciousness. Examples of this could be ensuring all outsourced materials and design elements are fully recycled or utilising natural dyes that are less likely to fade and facilitate the disposal Most importantly, communicating the intent behind designs will help consumers to adapt their thinking towards more long-term purchasing.
3: Water
Clothing manufacturing processes are infamous for their water usage. Although strides have been made in using more sustainable materials and production methods to reduce water consumption, the real focus for companies is to develop processes for recycling their wastewater back into the production process. New York-based brand DL91961 is a leading example for the fashion industry, having recycled 98% of their wastewater, 892.5 million gallons to be exact, in 2019.
With Waste2Fresh’s approach of catalytic degradation and selective separation and extraction techniques, it represents a key change in transforming and upscaling solutions to this issue by creating a closed loop cluster and ensuring a near zero discharge. As an EU-funded project, Waste2Fresh aims to increase resource and water efficiency by 30% compared to state-of-the-art, across textile and energy intensive operations around the globe.
4: Logistics
It is also the responsibility of clothing companies to make sure that they utilise efficient and sustainable supply chains and logistics in order to reduce the environmental impact of the products they make. This can include sourcing materials within the country of production or using the least damaging mode of transportation to get there. When shipping to the consumer, ensuring that your packaging is recycled and optimised for space, whilst also using a carbon-neutral delivery partner will help to ensure a holistic approach in de-risking your development. Danish fashion house ‘Bestseller’ has recently partnered with a carbon-neutral shipping company using biofuel with the aim to work towards becoming climate positive. Whether by ocean, rail or lorry, there are numerous logistics providers who have adapted to this model to accommodate the demands of the fashion industry.
5: Cradle to Grave
As highlighted, the full lifecycle of a garment needs to be considered even after it has been sold onto the consumer. Whether offering lifetime repair warranties or buyback schemes in order to recycle/upcycle old clothes into new seasons, promoting post-purchase routes to environmental friendliness will not only help to improve your company image but also help to reinforce positive consumer behaviours. Even ensuring detailed care instructions are given with each product in order to maximise their full potential lifespan can help to reduce the rapid turnover of clothing. Patagonia exemplifies this approach in its dedicated approach to longevity, having repaired 56,000 garments this season and produced 64% of their fabrics from recycled materials.
Conclusion:
These five areas show the multi-faceted considerations that clothing manufacturers need to undertake in environmentally supporting their business and de-risking the development of future products. It also underlines the importance of the relationship between the corporation and consumer, and how clear communication can help the other to reinforce positive patterns of behaviour and uphold modern standards and approaches within the world of textiles and clothing.