Textiles in turmoil – Forest becomes fashion
The forest industry provides a sustainable textile material alternative and plays an active role in the future of fibers. Many new innovations are surging, being currently in early commercialization phase. Cellulose-based fibers can bring new high-value added production to the pulp industry and materials such as Lyocell will drive the conversion of paper pulp to dissolving pulp.
Call for change
The pandemic has cancelled fashion shows and fairs, and lockdowns have caused people to see a lesser need to supplement their stay-at-home wardrobes. An overall uncertainty has dragged a sector reliant on consumer confidence to an extended hibernation. The textile industry comprises non-essential goods, but while the apparel does not go bad, it goes off, causing entire seasons of clothing left unsold. While matching supply and demand during a pandemic is difficult for all sectors, the imbalances in the textile industry have accented long prevailing problems of waste accumulation and an urgent need for reform.
Today, the fashion industry is responsible for a tenth of global carbon emissions and a fifth of global wastewater discharge.
Nearly 90% of the fiber input sees incineration or disposal as their end-of-life solution. Polyester and other oil-derived materials comprise 65% of the textile fiber demand and cause major waste problems, including the release of microplastics. Cotton, comprising some 25% of the textile fiber demand, needs significant amounts of water and land, hence competing with food crops.
Focus on fiber and circularity
Regulatory action has started to target these problems. By 2025 all EU member states are required to separately collect textile waste. New bills targeting manufacturers to take responsibility for collection and recycling of their plastic waste could also encompass producers of synthetic microfiber textiles.
Additionally, actions to drive change are needed both from end-consumers and producers. Firstly, altered consumer behavior, including increased reusing, recycling, and re-purposing of textiles is crucial. This needs incentives and facilitation throughout the value chain from fiber suppliers and brand-owners to governments and regulators. Secondly, changes to fiber materials with a focus on recyclability and the environmental impact during production is needed. This implies increasingly favoring monomaterials and technological development in making textile recycling more widely available and financially competitive.
And meanwhile forest becomes fashion, perhaps the post-pandemic runway will be greener than before.
Related content: https://visionhunters.com/forest-and-bio-based-industries-a-part-of-the-solution-in-mitigating-the-global-environmental-crisis/#plastics-in-the-ecosystem
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