Greta Jimenez
The fashion industry is a major contributor to water pollution, with the culture of fast fashion and its high environmental impact being a significant source of water contamination. The industry is the second-largest consumer of water, using 93 billion cubic meters annually, and is responsible for 20% of global wastewater. The production of textiles, including cotton farming, is highly polluting at every stage, from the use of pesticides and fertilisers to the dyeing and finishing processes that release toxic chemicals into waterways. With the anticipated increase in greenhouse gas emissions by 2030, it is essential to address the industry's water pollution and promote sustainability. This can be achieved through consumer choices like buying second-hand, supporting sustainable brands, and reducing water usage during laundry, as well as industry initiatives to prioritise ethical practices and reduce their water footprint.
What You'll Learn
Fast fashion's impact on water quality
Fast fashion has a significant impact on water quality. The fast-fashion business model involves the mass production and rapid sale of low-cost replicas of the latest clothing trends. This has led to an increase in clothing waste due to early discardment, overproduction, and cheap fabrication. The fast fashion industry is the second-biggest consumer of water and is responsible for about 10% of global carbon emissions. It is also a major contributor to water pollution, with textile dyeing and finishing being the second-largest water polluter in the world. The production of synthetic textiles also contributes to plastic waste and microfiber pollution, contaminating water sources.
Cotton, the most commonly used natural fiber in the fashion industry, has a significant impact on the global water crisis. Cotton farming requires large amounts of water for irrigation and treatment, leading to the depletion of local freshwater and groundwater resources. The use of pesticides and fertilizers in cotton production further contaminates water sources and harms ecosystems.
The manufacturing processes in the fast-fashion industry are heavily dependent on water. The production of a single cotton t-shirt, for example, uses enough drinking water to sustain one person for three years (approximately 2,700 liters). The dyeing process also requires a significant amount of water, with an estimated 200 tonnes of water needed to produce one tonne of dyed fabric.
The wastewater produced during the manufacturing process often contains chemicals and is discharged into rivers and waterways, causing environmental damage. While there have been advancements in environmentally friendly wastewater treatment methods, the final stage of water treatment remains challenging.
To address the impact of fast fashion on water quality, companies should focus on reducing water consumption, minimizing contamination, and producing higher-quality garments that stay in style longer to reduce production and consumption. Consumers can also play a role by choosing garments made from natural fibers that require less water, such as linen or organic cotton, and reducing the purchase of synthetic fibers.
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Textile dyeing and finishing processes
The fashion industry is a major contributor to water pollution, with the textile sector being a significant polluter of surface and groundwater reservoirs. The dyeing and finishing processes used to colour and treat textiles are particularly harmful to the environment, especially when using synthetic dyes.
Textile dyeing involves the use of a wide range of dyes and pigments, with azo dyes being the most commonly used, comprising 50%-70% of all dyes. These dyes are highly stable and resistant to chemicals due to their azo groups and aromatic rings. Unfortunately, the dyeing process releases dye-containing effluents that can contaminate nearby water bodies. Inefficient procedures can result in 15-50% of azo dyes being discharged into wastewater. This wastewater is characterised by high levels of colour, fluctuating pH, biochemical oxygen demand (BOD), chemical oxygen demand (COD), total organic carbon (TOC), and suspended solids (TSS). The uncontrolled increase in these pollution indicators can disrupt biological treatment plants and deplete oxygen levels in water, inhibiting photosynthesis and affecting aquatic life.
The washing of tinted or printed textile articles produces large volumes of liquid effluents laden with dyes, pigments, and chemical products. These effluents can contain heavy metals, such as lead, arsenic, and mercury, as well as pesticides and other toxic substances. The presence of these pollutants in aquatic environments poses serious risks to the quality of water and can cause significant alterations to the ecological conditions, affecting both fauna and flora. The long-term dangers include the persistence of carcinogenic aromatic products and the formation of by-products from chlorination.
To reduce the environmental impact of textile dyeing and finishing processes, several measures can be taken. Firstly, consumers can advocate for better regulations and support companies that prioritise sustainable and ethical practices. Buying clothes made from natural and sustainable materials, choosing second-hand or vintage clothing, or even renting clothes can also help reduce the demand for new garments. Additionally, consumers can support initiatives that promote AirDye processes, as they significantly reduce water consumption during dyeing. Increasing public awareness and education about the environmental and health impacts of synthetic dyes can also drive the industry towards more sustainable practices.
In summary, the textile dyeing and finishing processes have a significant impact on water pollution due to the use of synthetic dyes and the release of toxic effluents. By implementing sustainable practices and making conscious choices, consumers can play a crucial role in reducing the environmental footprint of the fashion industry.
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Environmental impact of synthetic fabrics
The fashion industry is the second-largest consumer of water and a major contributor to water pollution, especially fast fashion. The production of synthetic materials such as polyester, nylon, and polyamide, which are derived from fossil fuels like petroleum and gas, requires huge amounts of water, energy, and chemicals. This can lead to the release of toxic substances, including lead, arsenic, and benzene, into waterways. The dyeing and finishing processes used to colour and treat these fabrics also contribute to water pollution as they release colourants and harmful chemicals into wastewater when untreated.
Synthetic clothing is a significant source of microplastics, which are tiny synthetic fibres that are released during the production process and throughout the life of the garment, particularly during washing. These microfibres can enter water systems and take hundreds of years to decompose, disrupting marine life and ending up in the human food chain. The laundering process of synthetic clothing contributes to nearly 35% of all the microplastics that end up in the ocean.
The extraction of raw materials for synthetic fabrics also impacts biodiversity. The process of obtaining fossil fuels can disturb ecosystems, leading to the potential loss of food, medicines, and natural fibres. Furthermore, the combustion of petroleum, a fossil fuel, releases polluting emissions such as carbon dioxide, contributing to global warming.
The water footprint of polyester, a commonly used synthetic fabric, can be as high as 71,000 cubic metres per tonne of fibre. The high demand for synthetic fabrics has led to increased production, which in turn has resulted in greater water pollution. To reduce the environmental impact of synthetic fabrics, consumers can opt for natural and sustainable materials, buy second-hand or vintage clothing, or rent clothes instead of purchasing new ones. Supporting companies that prioritize sustainable and ethical practices can also help mitigate the environmental consequences of the fashion industry on water pollution.
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Water pollution from pesticides and fertilisers
The fashion industry is the second-largest consumer of water and contributes to about 20% of industrial wastewater. The fast fashion culture has induced destructive consequences for the world's water supply, with 93 billion cubic meters of water used by the industry annually. Cotton, the most widely used natural fabric for clothing, requires large amounts of water for irrigation and treatment, depleting local freshwater and groundwater resources. To increase production, pesticides and fertilizers are often used to increase cotton output.
Pesticides and fertilizers can enter our waterways and degrade water quality. They can filter through the soil and make their way into the groundwater, which is used for drinking water. Even if the water is processed at a wastewater treatment facility, not all pesticides and fertilizer nutrients are removed during treatment. Pesticides and fertilizers can be toxic and pose serious health risks, especially for young children. They can also be deadly to aquatic organisms, affecting the entire food chain.
To ensure that pesticides and fertilizers do not end up in waterways, it is important to apply them under the right weather conditions, such as when the weather is calm, with wind speeds less than 10 mph, and no rain or snow forecast. It is also crucial to limit the use of highly toxic pesticides or use them in ways that minimize their movement into water.
The fashion industry has been linked to water pollution, with brands prioritizing profits over communities' clean water supplies by cheaply disposing of untreated factory waste into streams and rivers. However, some companies, such as Gap Inc. and H&M, have acknowledged their role in water pollution and have enforced measures to reduce water use and contamination. Consumers can also play a role in reducing water pollution by making ethical choices, such as buying second-hand garments, supporting ethical brands, and living a sustainable lifestyle.
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Leather production and water contamination
The fashion industry is the second-largest consumer of water and a significant contributor to water pollution. Fast fashion, in particular, has induced destructive consequences for the world's water supply, with an anticipated 50% increase in greenhouse gas emissions by 2030.
Leather production is one of the most polluting industries within fashion. The process requires huge amounts of water and chemicals, generating liquid effluents with a high pollution load. The average water demand for leather production is 8.6 cubic meters per ton of shaved leather, with washing responsible for the highest consumption. The raw wastewater is poorly biodegradable, with high conductivity and elevated concentrations of salts, sulphides, ammonia, and other volatile compounds. The leather industry also has significant impacts on eutrophication, where runoff waste creates an overgrowth of plant life in water systems, depleting oxygen levels and creating "dead zones".
The use of different chemicals during leather processing produces solid, liquid, and gaseous waste, leading to soil, air, and water pollution, as well as health risks. The presence of carcinogens in the wastewater further increases the need for treatment. The tanning process, in particular, consumes a large number of chemicals, with retanning and fatliquoring being the heaviest consumers. Tannery waste contains various pollutants, including salt, lime sludge, sulfides, and acids.
The production of leather also has indirect effects on water contamination. Raising animals for leather requires large amounts of water, feed, pastureland, and fossil fuels. Animal agriculture contributes significantly to climate change and is a leading source of water pollution. Factory farms produce 130 times more excrement than the entire human population, and livestock pollution is acknowledged by the EPA as the greatest threat to waterways.
Vegan leathers, on the other hand, contribute far less to water pollution and depletion. They are made from materials such as recycled plastic, pineapples, cork, mushrooms, and polyurethane. By shifting towards vegan leather alternatives, the fashion industry can significantly reduce its impact on water contamination.
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Frequently asked questions
The fashion industry is the second most polluting industry, contributing to 20% of global wastewater. Fast fashion, in particular, is a major source of water contamination and pollution. The production of synthetic fabrics requires a lot of water, energy, and chemicals, which can lead to the release of toxic substances into waterways.
There are many sources of water pollution from the fashion industry, including agricultural cultivation, animal feeding, cleaning of machines, textile pre-treatment, and laundering processes. The use of pesticides and fertilisers in cotton farming can also contaminate nearby water sources, creating "dead zones" where marine life cannot survive.
The dyeing process is the second-largest polluter of water globally. Dyes, unless natural, often contain toxic compounds and are discharged untreated into water supplies, leading to further pollution. This is a serious threat to biodiversity and human health in areas of cotton production.
Consumers can make a difference by buying second-hand garments, supporting sustainable and ethical brands, and living a more conscious lifestyle. Buying clothing made from natural and sustainable materials, such as linen or organic cotton, can also positively impact water quality.
