Originally Posted Here on Eco Textile News
PONTEFRACT – [07.18.08] Textile
eco-metrics, the world’s first tool for simple assessment of the environmental
impacts of textile production and use has been now been launched by Colour
Connections in conjunction with Ecotextile News. It is now available to
access directly from this web-site.
This revolutionary new web-based
calculator takes into account the entire production route from fibre selection
through to fabric production to dyeing and finishing. It also compares the
production impacts of different washing and drying methods over the lifetime of
a garment by consumers.
Using cleverly derived Environmental
Damage Units (EDU’s) the impact of different fibres, fabric weights and dyeing
and finishing methods can be compared in terms of water impact, energy use, use
of non-renewable resources and pollution.
A simple colour coded report is
produced that enables users to see at a glance where a particular product has
most impact and highlights the areas that require attention or, conversely,
where products and methods are good. The easy-to-read colour coded grid
conceals the complex mathematics involved but an overall indicative EDU score
enables easy comparisons between different textiles to be made.
Textile eco-metrics also provides
simple, easy to understand explanations of what is good or bad about a
particular fibre, fabric or process so it can be used to increase the levels of
understanding about what is fact and what is ‘greenwash’ in the world of
textiles and clothing.
Of particular interest to those
committed to a sustainable textile industry are the Sub-Optimal Durability
Units (SODU’s) that are calculated to show just how bad low durability clothing
merchandise is for the environment. For example a product that has a production
impact of 10 EDU’s and lasts for 50 domestic washes is far better than a
similar garment that an impact of five production EDU’s but only lasts five washes
– the latter garment would need to replaced nine times in the same lifetime so
a penalty of 45 EDU’s would be awarded.
Textile Eco-metrics will be
developed on an on-going basis and is available for an annual subscription.
To see how to use Eco-Metrics CLICK HERE.
CLICK HERE for more information on how to subscribe to EcoTextile News.
Copyright © 2008 Mowbray Communications Ltd
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