Waste production occurs in every phase of garment manufacturing, like spinning, weaving, dyeing, and finishing.
Waste in the textile/clothing industry begins with the manufacturing processes. Textile processing, considered a water-intensive industry, uses high volumes of water for dyeing, washing, and finishing.
Even though wastewater from textile manufacturing contains complex pollutants, biological treatments, chemical precipitation, absorption, and membrane technology can be used to treat it.
Government regulators and community advocates are pressuring the textile industry to adopt sustainable practices and reduce water consumption. This clashes with pressure from their internal stakeholders to consistently increase the ROI.
Another aspect of sustainability is encouraging companies to implement and maintain responsible strategies that treat wastewater at an acceptable level, preferably with biological processes.
What You Need To Know
These are just a few of the horrifying statistics we found around textile manufacturing. These stats are enough to demonstrate the excessive waste associated with the manufacturing side of the fashion industry, and they don’t take into account the after-sales wastage that is also massive.
We encourage you to do further reading:
- The World Economic Forum in 2021 recognized fashion and its associated supply chain as the third largest polluter on Earth.
- According to the United Nations Climate Change News, the fashion industry causes roughly 10% of global greenhouse gas emissions. These emissions are attributed to extended supply chains and energy-intensive production.
- The fashion industry produces almost 20% of wastewater globally.
- According to Green America, textile dyeing is the second largest water polluter on Earth.
- Approximately 15% of cloth meant for clothing ends up on the cutting room floor.
How You Can Help Reduce Textile Manufacturing Waste
How you can personally contribute to lowering textile manufacturing waste is not so direct. You can send a message via:
- Buying Power: Demonstrate your commitment to reducing clothing industry waste by only buying from responsible brands, retailers, and outlets.
- Zero Waste: Preloved clothing is a zero waste solution, and regardless of your geographical location, there is bound to be a secondhand clothing store in your vicinity. And, given that people donate on average after wearing a garment seven times, you will find some amazing options.
- Upcycle Fashion: Repair and reuse clothing showing signs of wear. Or transform it into a new garment with the help of your imagination.
- Recycle: As more companies are becoming aware of the waste in the fashion industry, they are creating recycling programs that you can participate in.
You can also connect with organizations lobbying the government to regulate the fashion industry, volunteer your time, talk to friends and join networks of people dedicated to taking action.
The threat is real, and we all need to stand up.
Take Action
So, like us, you can see what’s happening and want to take action. Where do you start? Here are some organizations that are doing great work and maybe looking for passionate community members to get involved:
- Support sustainable fashion designers, or consider studying with one of these programs if you want to join the industry.4
- Centre for Sustainable Fashion challenges and questions the fashion status quo.
- Waste & Resource Action Programme delivering systemic change across supply chains.
- TRAID Change your clothes for good.
Contact Us to Join the TERUM Social Network
Do you want to know more? Do you want to join a network of change-makers dedicated to halting climate change and creating a socially and financially equitable world? Contact us and get started. Everyone is capable of making a difference.