Advantages of Rapid Apparel Production for Environmental Friendliness

In the ever-evolving world of fashion, a growing number of brands are recognising the importance of environmental sustainability. From textile waste reduction to the adoption of recycling initiatives, these companies are spearheading a movement towards a more eco-friendly future.

Textile waste encompasses any piece of fabric that is no longer useful for its original purpose. This includes fabric scraps, leftover fabrics, damaged fabrics, clothing samples, unsold garments, and second-hand clothing waste. A significant source of this waste is pre-consumer waste, such as unsold items with retailers and damaged stock. Post-consumer waste, on the other hand, originates from consumers discarding their used textiles.

The second-hand clothing market is expected to double in the next five years due to the adoption of resale products by millennials and GenZ. However, it's crucial to remember that not all second-hand clothing can be worn again. Textiles that are too damaged should be recycled into new fibres, such as those produced by Evrnu from post-consumer cotton textile waste for quality biobased fibre.

Brands like Levi's, Patagonia, and Nike are at the forefront of this movement. Levi's has programs that include fibre recycling, using waste plastic bottles and black food trays. Patagonia recycles fibres into products, using polyester from plastic bottles and recycled wool for its wool products. Nike's sustainable program includes reprocessing and reusing post-consumer waste shoes for new products. Products from Levi Strauss and Co. have a minimum of 20% of post-consumer waste in them.

The textile industry is notorious for its water consumption, with one t-shirt requiring 2,700 litres of water to produce the cotton needed for its production. Companies are addressing this issue by implementing measures such as using recycled fibres in their garments and adopting zero-waste patterns in manufacturing, which increase fabric yield and minimise scraps.

Fast fashion, characterised by producing clothing in massive quantities, encourages consumers to buy more than they need, leading to increased textile waste. This contributes to pollution, especially microplastic pollution, which derives from clothes, shoes, accessories, towels, sheets, curtains, and more.

Industry initiatives like ReHubs aim to scale textile-to-textile recycling and foster a circular economy, while consumers contribute by reducing fast fashion consumption and increasing reuse and repair efforts. The waste hierarchy pyramid provides different ways to reduce textile waste - Reduce, Reuse, Recycle, in that order. Adopting a comprehensive textile waste strategy that incorporates the 3R principles can address local waste-related issues and reap economic gains.

Moreover, fast-fashion textiles are a significant contributor to greenhouse gas emissions, producing nearly 10% of global greenhouse gas emissions annually. The textile industry and consumers have implemented measures such as EU laws requiring manufacturers to finance the collection, sorting, and recycling of textiles, making products more durable, repairable, reusable, and recyclable.

In conclusion, the fashion industry is undergoing a transformation as brands and consumers recognise the need for sustainability. By embracing recycling initiatives and reducing waste, these companies are paving the way for a greener future in the apparel industry.