(Newswire.net — May 20, 2020) — The amount of water needed to grow, dye, and process the cotton for just one pair of denim jeans range from 500-1,800 gallons. That’s almost 6814 litres just for the manufacturing process.
From growing cotton to manufacturing, to transportation, and finally to care for just a single pair of jeans, it requires an insane amount of water and energy.
Industrial Water Pollution
Estimates show that 20% of industrial water pollution worldwide is associated with fashion and garment manufacturing. The water used for growing cotton is sometimes overlooked in calculating a true water footprint, but the fact is, it has a massive impact on the environment.
From the growing of cotton to dying and manufacturing textiles, water is an essential component. For one single T-shirt, it takes 715 gallons of water (2707 litres) to produce the needed cotton. Seventy per cent of all the water people use globally is dedicated to agriculture, including crops like cotton.
Many industrial facilities use freshwater to carry away waste from the plant, which makes its way into rivers, lakes, and oceans. Pollutants from industrial sources include among others:
- Lead
- Mercury
- Nitrates
- Phosphates
- Sulphur
Energy – Washing and Drying
One pair of jeans also requires a great amount of energy, from the growing of cotton to manufacturing to transporting. But did you know that the most energy actually goes into caring for the garment?
One load of washing uses about 40 gallons (151 litres) of water, but one load of drying uses five times more energy than washing. In fact, in 2018 Americans used 10 billion kilowatt-hours washing laundry at home, and 60 billion kilowatt-hours drying it.
By skipping the drying of your pair of blue jeans, you can save a third of its carbon footprint. It is also possible to cut down on energy usage by using cold water for washing clothes. Modern laundry detergents have gotten much better at putting enzymes to work in removing stains and dirt at lower water temperatures, which is perfectly sufficient for a pair of jeans unless it’s oil-stained.
Renewable Energy Industry
If you want to build a sustainable wardrobe for yourself, start by buying used clothes, shoes and accessories. There are many great vintage options out there, both online and in stores – you just have to start looking.
But when it comes to buying a pair of jeans, choosing vintage can be difficult. Denim cloth can be worn out, stretched and lose its fit over time. If you have to buy a brand new pair of jeans, choose an ethical fashion brand.
Producing, manufacturing and transporting can be done by the use of renewable energy such as water, sun or wind energy. It can also be done without the excessive use of water, thanks to advances in subsea engineering. All you have to do is educate yourself, and choose a brand with a conscious manufacturing process.
How You can be Conscious
Many fashion brands are now taking an active part in the fight against climate change. It’s up to you as a consumer to choose a conscious brand. Use apps like Good On You when you shop to make conscious choices.
Otherwise, try to live by RRR: Recycle, Reuse, Resale.