With the textile industry being the second-largest contributor of pollution, there has been a strong enough movement towards sustainable and eco-friendly fashion. There are a lot of different materials that may become the fabrics you wear in the near future, so let’s take a look at some of them.
In an ideal world, the textile industry would cut down waste from pre and post-production, reduce the harmful effects on the environment, while keeping costs minimal. Polyester and cotton are the most dominant materials in the industry but they both have disastrous effects on the environment and humans.
More and more sustainable materials are making their way into mainstream brand collections, creating and promoting better alternatives.
Present Fabrics
Cotton
Cotton strangely requires a high amount of toxic pesticides, which are harmful to humans, animals, and sea life. Manufacturing cotton also uses an extraordinarily high amount of water.
Organic Cotton
Organic cotton has been a suitable alternative for cotton as it uses no pesticides, no harmful dyes, and lower water quantities while rejuvenating the soil and agriculture. Organic cotton is an all-around winner, The only downside to manufacturing 100% organic cotton is that it requires a more specialized process due to a lack of toxins, therefore it can be more expensive.
Polyester
Polyester can take up to 200 years to break down, it being a man-made fiber. Produced from two types of synthetic oils, it is cheap and easy to manufacture. But it can be harmful to the water systems they pollute and human inhalation.
Bamboo
Bamboo has entered the textile market with a bang as it is fast-growing, relatively cheap, and has a low impact on the environment. Some chemicals may be used in its production but more and more companies are starting to look into sustainable ways to manufacture it.
Wool
Like cotton, wool too is a biodegradable fabric that can be further broken down into simpler components. With a production process that is low impact, it is the forerunner when it comes to sustainable fashion.
Future Fabrics
The textile industry is going back to its roots and looking to manufacture natural textiles from plants, the ocean, and even food waste to produce sustainable textiles. And a large portion of ‘sustainable fashion’ items are manufactured using a mix of recycled material i.e, polyester and natural fabric. This creates an ideal scenario that makes use of fabric that would otherwise be sitting in a landfill.
Hemp
Hemp is currently already being used in certain types of clothing, however, it hasn’t gone mainstream just yet. Made from the marijuana plant, it too like bamboo, is fast-growing and has a low impact on the environment.
Chitin Fibre
This fiber is derived from food waste, predominantly from crustacean’s shells. It is extremely cheap and versatile as it incorporates waste from the food industry. It also decreases the use of artificial dyes due to its bonding properties.
Seaweed
Seaweed is apparently very versatile and eco-friendly, but it may have trouble going mainstream as it is seaweed.
Banana Fibre
Very similar to Bamboo in its versatility, it has been suggested to be better than Bamboo as it is one of the strongest fibers. Banana fiber will soon be making its way for commercial use since it is extremely eco-friendly and it is biodegradable.
Coconut Fibre
Also known as Coir, it is made from coconut husks that have been discarded. It lacks in versatility as it is a very rough material, however, it could be used for things such as bags, shoes, or brushes.
In Conclusion
There are a lot more exciting fabrics out there. The key point to focus on is not just the fiber itself, it’s the way they are manufactured and disposed of. You can learn more about sustainable solutions in our blog. Sustainable Solutions In the Textile Industry.