How Many Chemicals to Make One Dye?

Thursday 29th of January 2009 03:53:47 PM

How Many Chemicals to Make One Dye?

The focus on the environment has led to an evaluation of the entire manufacturing process in the fashion industry. The impact anything or anyone has on the natural world in terms of the use of natural resources is called a “carbon footprint”. The fashion industry has been notorious for having a large carbon footprint simply because the creating process causes much environmental damage.

“Earth Pledge” is concerned with tracking carbon footprints and claims, “At least 8,000 chemicals are now used to turn raw materials into textiles and 25% of the world’s fields are used to grow non-organic cotton. This causes irreversible damage to people and the environment, and still two thirds of the garment’s carbon footprint will occur after it is purchased.”

To reduce the carbon footprint of any garment from elegant couture to sweats will require changes at every level of production. The way raw materials are produced will have to be amended and a reduction in the use of synthetic dyes will be required. Dyes are considered to be major pollutants. They require the use of environmentally harmful chemicals to make and there is a large amount of chemical by-product created during the creation process.

There are signs that companies are beginning to take their social responsibility more seriously. There is ongoing research into making commercial grade dyes without the use of chemicals. For example, vegetable dyes are showing promise as alternatives for clothing colouring. In another example, Fujitex is working on using plant extracts to create clothing dyes.

Reducing the carbon footprints now left by the textile and fashion industries is going to take a lot more money and a lot more time. These industries have been slow to change in the interest of providing consumers with the kind of fashion they have demanded. But as buyers become more interested in taking personal responsibility for their own carbon footprint, it is clear garment manufacturers will need to provide eco-friendly fashion.

( c) Image by Oliver Tam, www.sxc.hu/