Bronte Wells
The textiles industry is one of the world's largest industries and is responsible for a significant amount of global CO2 emissions, exceeding those from aviation and shipping. The industry's complex supply chains and energy-intensive production methods contribute to transport pollution. Raw materials for textiles are often transported over long distances, with cotton fields in Central Asia, spinning mills in China, clothing factories in Bangladesh, and the final product sold in Europe. The production and manufacturing of textiles, particularly synthetic fabrics, are ecologically damaging, with major textile-producing countries like China, India, and Bangladesh relying on coal. The industry also uses massive amounts of water, with cotton cultivation demanding a substantial amount, often in water-scarce regions, and contaminating significant amounts of groundwater with fertilizers and pesticides.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| CO2 emissions | 1.2 billion tonnes of CO2 per year, or nearly 10% of world GHG emissions |
| Water pollution | 20% of industrial wastewater pollution |
| Water usage | 79 billion cubic meters of water in 2015 |
| Energy usage | Energy-intensive production methods |
| Supply chain | Geographically long and complex |
| Fast fashion | Mass production, low prices, high sales volumes |
| Microplastics | 700,000 microplastic fibres released from a single load of polyester clothes |
| Waste | 85% of textiles go to dumps each year |
| Raw materials | 391 kg of raw materials consumed per average person in the EU |
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What You'll Learn
The transportation of raw materials and finished garments
The textile industry has a significant environmental impact, with high energy, water, and chemical use, as well as the generation of textile waste and microfibre shedding. The lengthy and complex supply chains and energy-intensive production methods contribute to the industry's carbon footprint. The transportation of raw materials and finished garments is a key aspect of this.
Raw materials for textiles can be made from renewable fibres, such as cotton, wool, leather, bamboo, and wood (viscose), or fossil fibres, which are derived from petroleum and used for synthetic fabrics like nylon, polyester, acrylic, and fleece. The production of synthetic fabrics has a higher carbon footprint due to the extraction, refining, and generation of petroleum, which emits large amounts of greenhouse gases.
The textile industry relies on a global supply chain, with raw materials sourced from various countries and transported to manufacturing hubs, often in developing nations. For example, cotton fields may be in Central Asia, spinning mills in China, and clothing factories in Bangladesh, with the final product sold in Europe. This long-distance transportation of raw materials contributes to CO2 emissions.
The manufacturing process for textiles is energy-intensive, and many of the factories are located in countries that are heavily reliant on coal and gas power plants, which are major polluters. The finished garments are then transported to their final destination, adding to the carbon footprint of the industry.
To reduce the environmental impact of the transportation of raw materials and finished garments, there have been proposals for nearshoring or reshoring manufacture to shorten supply chains and reduce emissions associated with logistics. Additionally, the development of new business models, such as clothing rental and circular fashion, which promotes reuse and recycling, can help to reduce the demand for new garments and, consequently, the transportation of raw materials and finished products.
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The use of coal and gas power plants in manufacturing countries
The textile industry is responsible for a significant amount of global CO2 emissions, even exceeding those from international aviation and shipping. The apparel and footwear industries generate 8-10% of global carbon emissions due to their lengthy supply chains and energy-intensive production methods.
Major textile-producing countries such as China, India, Bangladesh, Indonesia, and Pakistan still rely heavily on coal and natural gas to power their manufacturing processes. Over 80% of China's electricity is provided by coal-fired thermal power plants, resulting in a 40% larger carbon footprint for textiles made in China compared to those made in Europe. Other large manufacturing countries like India and Indonesia also have heavily coal-based energy mixes, leading to significant carbon emissions from textile production.
The use of coal and natural gas in these manufacturing countries contributes significantly to the carbon footprint of the global textile industry. Coal, with its carbon-rich composition, has higher emissions than other fuels, including natural gas. The combustion of coal and natural gas releases greenhouse gases (GHGs) into the atmosphere, exacerbating climate change.
To mitigate the environmental impact of the textile industry, there have been calls for a transition to renewable energy sources. Phasing out coal and introducing renewable energy sources, such as bio-based feedstocks and low-emission heat sources, can help achieve decarbonization. However, this transition requires financial incentives and a supportive legal framework to encourage investment in renewable energy projects.
Additionally, the textile industry's water pollution cannot be overlooked. It is estimated that up to 20% of industrial wastewater pollution is caused by textile dyeing and finishing processes. The release of hazardous chemicals and microplastics during these stages further contributes to the industry's environmental footprint.
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The pollution caused by the dyeing and finishing of textiles
The textile industry is one of the most polluting industries, with its detrimental ecological footprint caused by high energy, water and chemical use, the generation of textile waste, and microfibre shedding into the environment during laundering. The industry generates 8–10% of global carbon emissions, exceeding those from aviation and shipping combined.
Textile production is estimated to be responsible for about 20% of global clean water pollution from dyeing and finishing products. The water used in fashion production is staggering, and a large amount of it is used during the textile dyeing phase, including pre-rinsing, dye baths, and post-dye rinsing. It is estimated that up to 200 tonnes of water could be used for every tonne of textiles produced. Mills can use up to 200 tons of water per ton of dyed fabric, which in turn only produces about 1400 pieces of clothing.
The wastewater from textile plants is considered the most polluting of all industrial sectors, taking into account the volume generated and the composition of the effluent. This wastewater contains hazardous chemicals, heavy metals, microfibres, and mordants (bonding agents). Even after treatment, it is estimated that 90% of these dyes are still discharged into rivers, chemically unchanged. When this happens, the chemicals within the wastewater can affect soil fertility, deplete waterways of oxygen, reduce photosynthesis in aquatic plants, impair plant growth, enter the food chain, and cause serious harm or even death to animals in the area.
The use of synthetic dyes in the textile industry has led to air, water, and soil pollution. It is estimated that 8,000 synthetic chemicals are used to bleach, treat, and brighten clothes. Azo dyes, which make up 60-70% of all dyes in the industry, are known carcinogens. The release of these dyes and chemicals into the environment has severe ecological consequences, including the inhibition of plant growth and the promotion of toxicity, mutagenicity, and carcinogenicity.
To reduce the environmental impact of the textile industry, several measures can be taken. These include the development of new business models for clothing rental, designing products for easier reuse and recycling (circular fashion), encouraging consumers to buy higher-quality clothing that lasts longer (slow fashion), and steering consumer behaviour towards more sustainable options. Governments can also implement policies to reduce pollution, such as the EU's waste directive, which includes measures to tackle hazardous chemicals and extended producer responsibility schemes.
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The impact of microplastics and microfibres on the environment
The textile industry has a significant impact on the environment, with high energy, water, and chemical use, as well as the generation of textile waste and microfibre shedding. The complex supply chains and energy-intensive production methods of apparel and footwear contribute 8-10% of global carbon emissions, surpassing emissions from the aviation and shipping industries combined. The release of microfibres and microplastics, mainly from washing synthetic textiles, is a significant concern. A single load of polyester clothing can release 700,000 microplastic fibres, and washing synthetic textiles contributes to the accumulation of hundreds of thousands of tonnes of microplastics in the oceans annually.
Textile production is a major contributor to water pollution, with an estimated 20% of global clean water pollution attributed to the dyeing and finishing processes. These processes also contribute to industrial wastewater pollution, with up to 20% of it caused by the release of untreated dyeing wastewater. The fashion industry is the second-largest consumer of water, requiring large amounts to produce clothing items such as cotton shirts and jeans. Cotton cultivation, in particular, demands substantial water resources and is often located in water-scarce regions, leading to water shortages and pollution that affect local communities.
The production of synthetic textiles, such as nylon, polyester, and acrylic, made from petroleum, has a significant environmental impact. The extraction, refining, and generation of petroleum emit large amounts of greenhouse gases. These synthetic fibres can take hundreds of years to biodegrade, and their presence in the ocean poses a threat to marine life and ecosystems. The burning and recycling of discarded synthetic clothing further contribute to CO2 emissions.
To address these environmental concerns, there is a growing focus on sustainability and circularity in the textile industry. Strategies include developing new business models for clothing rental, designing products for easier reuse and recycling, promoting higher-quality clothing that lasts longer, and steering consumers towards more sustainable options. The European Union has proposed tougher measures to curb excessive textile production and consumption, including extended producer responsibility schemes and the EU Ecolabel to encourage ecological criteria in production.
Additionally, innovations in recycling and end-of-life processes, such as automation of sorting and safe chemical fibre separation, are being explored. The revision of waste directives and the implementation of concrete legislation, such as the EU Strategy on Sustainable and Circular Textiles, aim to reduce the environmental impact of the textile industry.
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The consumption of water during textile production
The fashion industry is the second most water-intensive industry in the world, consuming around 79 billion cubic meters of water per year. This is a startling statistic, considering 2.7 billion people currently experience water scarcity. The production and manufacturing of textiles are some of the most ecologically damaging aspects of the industry.
Textile production is estimated to be responsible for about 20% of global clean water pollution, with industrial wastewater pollution caused by textile dyeing and finishing products. The average dyed fabric production of 15 textile dyeing mills in 2019 consumed 961.26 million liters of groundwater and discharged 640.24 million liters of treated effluent wastewater into the environment. This wastewater is contaminated with hazardous chemicals such as formaldehyde, heavy metals, surfactants, salts, sulfides, and organic processing assistants, which contribute to high levels of watershed contamination.
Textile sectors, particularly those in developing countries, heavily rely on energy and groundwater consumption during production. Textile dyeing mills have become one of the major industries responsible for the continuous depletion of groundwater levels and severe water pollution. The use of pesticides to grow conventional natural fibers and chemicals to extract crude oil for synthetic fibers also contribute to watershed contamination.
The fashion industry's demand for cotton, the most water-intensive crop, further exacerbates water consumption. Cotton requires 7,000-29,000 liters of water to produce just one kilogram of raw cotton. The added irrigation for cotton crops puts stress on local water supplies and depletes aquifers and groundwater reserves that take thousands of years to naturally replenish. The processing of conventional textiles requires around 100-150 liters of water for every kilogram of fiber.
Interventions are necessary to reduce water consumption and address the polluting practices of the textile industry. Water-efficient technologies, such as low-water dyeing and wastewater recycling, can help reduce water consumption. Stricter policies for pollution control and incentives for sustainable practices can encourage industry-wide change.
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Frequently asked questions
The textiles industry contributes to transport pollution through its complex supply chains and long-distance transportation of raw and processed materials. The global nature of the industry, with raw materials sourced from one region, processed in another, and the finished product sold in a third, leads to significant transport pollution.
The textile industry is responsible for a significant amount of global CO2 emissions, estimated at 8-10% of global carbon emissions, exceeding those from aviation and shipping combined. The industry also contributes to water pollution, with up to 20% of industrial wastewater pollution caused by textile dyeing and finishing.
Fast fashion exacerbates the transport pollution associated with the textile industry due to its reliance on lengthy supply chains and the proliferation of the business model to new markets. The constant throughput of natural resources and the pressure to deliver new trends quickly contribute to increased transport emissions.
Nearshoring or reshoring manufacturing can shorten global supply chains and reduce transport emissions. Implementing digital product development systems with advanced 3D design and visualisation technologies can also reduce the need for physical transportation during certain stages of production.
