by Coral Rose
One of the
most important issues facing the world today is climate change. Just how does
that transcend to the apparel business?
Designers and
buyers are now asking “what is the source of our raw materials? Where were the
materials harvested, processed, produced?” What went into the process (inputs) and what came out (impacts) this
“new thinking” is a total mindset shift at the design level.
IPCC and leading scientists believe that
climate pollution must be stopped in the next 10 years or else dangerous climate
change may likely be irreversible. What does climate change and carbon
footprinting have to do with clothing?
There are two parts
to the equation. Our primary footprint is the direct emissions of CO2
from the burning of fossil fuels including domestic energy consumption and transportation.
Our secondary footprint is a measure of the indirect CO2 emissions from
the whole lifecycle of products we use -- those products' manufacture and
eventual breakdown. Products like clothing? Yes.
Carbon
reduction labels already appear on well-known brands in the UK such as Walkers
Crisps, Boots Botanics shampoo and Innocent Smoothies as well as EarthPositive apparel, which is a first for
clothing.
It is
imperative that here in the US business move quickly from sourcing and creating
“organic and sustainable apparel products” to clothing products that are third
party certified “carbon neutral.”
Last
week Lenzing, an Austrian based, global company held an eco-symposium in Paris. Lenzing presented the results of a study carried out by the University of
Utrecht. The study considers 11 different environmental impacts including Greenhouse Gases( GHG) the report compares over half a dozen fibers including cellulose fibers. Fibers researched in the study are cotton-conventional cotton both from the USA and China, Polys; PET, polypropelene and Lenzings
Modal® TENCEL® and Viscose®
The results of this study are stunning and document that
Lenzings Modal® is the ONLY Carbon Neutral fiber amongst those studied.
Lenzings TENCEL® runs a close second.
What
we need is strategy of quick change;
While many if
not hundreds of companies and industry wide-organizations, some collaboratively
are working to define what is the definition of ‘Sustainable Textiles’ as well as products,
that is exactly what has led this
industry into the wild west where anything goes.
A much simpler solution would be to quickly
move to products that are certified ‘Carbon Neutral’ and set the definitive
criteria.
CO2 Neutral Apparel Thoughts:
1.)
“Shopping to Save the World” may soon be
a thing of the past if consumers realize consumption is actually one of the
primary causes of the degradation of our planet. Consumers may shift to
service, re-use, repair businesses. Consumers may be looking for a Carbon
Neutral label. What is your strategy of quick change for a world of consumers that
consume less?
2.) Lenzings Modal ® is a CO2 carbon neutral fiber
produced in a closed loop system. That is the fiber of
the 21st Century. Find a way to utilize Modal® into your fiber
blends. What is your strategy of quick
change in utilizing more third party
certified organic and sustainable fibers?
3.) The price of oil is high over $100 a barrel, and producing polyester from petrochemicals a vital non-renewable resource can also be very polluting. The price of food is rising because of crop land being used for bio-fuels. Water shortages are approaching us quickly. Cotton, a thirsty crop, it is also grown on valuable agriculture land, which someday may be needed to feed us. Cotton is currently 40% of all textiles(organic cotton represents less than 1% of that 40%) What is your strategy of quick change in a world where crops are being used for food and fuel and land for cotton becomes more valuable?
As we continue on this road to a sustainable future it is important to be out in front........at all times.
Every day, we need to look at 'What are the Horizon Issues?' and re-prioritize our day!!!!!!
Comments