Green Chemistry Usage by Clothing Companies
Annotated Bibliography
Lauren Weiss
1. Alberts E. Recycled Plastic Clothing: Solution or Threat? [internet]. Earth Island Journal.
2014 [cited 2015 October 23] Available from:
http://www.earthisland.org/journal/index.php/elist/eListRead/recycled_plastic_clothin
g_solution_or_threat/
This article provides a unique opinion on creating clothing out of recycled plastic bottles.
It says that this process could be creating more harm than good by polluting the oceans
with tiny synthetic threads that shed when the clothing goes through the wash then
eventually ends up in the oceans. This can harm marine life.
This shows that there is always another side and most of the time when we try to make
one thing more environmentally friendly there are unforeseen repercussions.
2. Claudio L. Waste Couture: Environmental Impact of the Clothing Industry. [internet]
Environmental Health Perspectives. 2007, 115(9); A448-454. Available from:
http://ezproxy.prin.edu:2048/login?url=http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=
true&db=eih&AN=26996779&site=ehost-live
This article looks at the practices in the clothing industry and analyzes the life cycle and
the environmental impact of that cycle. It discusses the impacts of growing
consumerism on the earth. It also addresses the depleting effects of the clothing
industry on cotton farms and the land.
This will help add to my paper in discussing the importance of green chemistry in the
clothing industry.
3. Drennan K. Big Brands that are Leading the Way [internet]. Alternatives Journal. 2015,
41(3); 38. Available from:
http://ezproxy.prin.edu:2048/login?url=http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=
true&db=eih&AN=103367854&site=ehost-live
This article describes many different companies and how they are leading the way in the
clothing industry. These companies are shifting to more environmentally sustainable
products as well as making sure that there are safe and good workplace conditions.
Nike, Patagonia and Eileen Fisher are mentioned in this article and there is a summary
on what each of these companies are doing to help the environment and people.
4. Fowler, S.J. Incorporating sustainable business practices into company strategy.
[internet] Business Strategy & the Environment. 2007 [date cited 2015 October 16],
16(1); 26-38. Available from:
http://ezproxy.prin.edu:2048/login?url=http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=
true&db=eih&AN=23462013&site=ehost-live
This is a report of a case study done on Patagonia and their sustainable and
environmental friendly practices. It analyzes the progress being made by the company in
their three strategies; pollution prevention, product stewardship, and sustainable
development. It also discusses how Patagonia is accomplishing these in parallel to each
other and not in sequence.
This article provides an overview of the many projects that Patagonia has invested in
and how other companies can learn from their model.
5. Kasiri M, Safapour S. Natural dyes and antimicrobials for green treatment of textiles.
[internet] Environmental Chemistry Letters. 2014, 12(1); 1-13. Available from:
http://ezproxy.prin.edu:2048/login?url=http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=
true&db=eih&AN=94380717&site=ehost-live
The article discusses the methods of extraction of natural dyes and then the properties
that they possess. It goes into the history of dyes and their usage. It also reviews the
dangers and health hazards that come with synthetic dyes.
Many clothing companies that are “going green” are shifting from toxic synthetic dyes
to natural ones and this article will give me some of the science behind these
differences.
6. Lloyd E. “Greening” the Supply Chain: Why Corporate Leaders make it Matter. [internet]
Journal of Land Use & Environmental Law. 2011, 27(1);31-68.
Discusses the reasons that companies are switching to green chemistry and how the
new social norm of sustainability is helping that. The article also analyzes the
effectiveness of these practices in an economic and environmental sense. Then the
article analyzes the legislation influence on company policies.
This article does a case study on Nike which is one of the companies that I will be
looking at in this paper. It provides a little more than just the environmental view,
bringing in economics.
7. Muthu S, Li Y, Hu J, Mok P. Recyclability Potential Index (RPI): The concept and
quantification of RPI for textile fibers. Ecological Indicators. 2012, 18; 58-62.
The authors analyze the ten most common textile fibers on the RPI scale. They discuss
the need for consumers to recycle their purchases and the need for companies to
provide recyclable products in the textile industry.
This will provide some background on the differences between different textile fibers
and more context in how these companies made a conscious choice to change their
products.
8. Popescu V, Muresan A, Constandache O, Lisa G, Munteanu C, Sandu I. Tinctorial
Response of Recycled PET Fibers to Chemical Modifications during Saponification and
Aminolysis Reactions. Industrial & Engineering Chemistry Research. 2014, 53(43);1665216663.
Once you stop trying to deconstruct the title, this article shows how to create clothing
articles from PET bottles. It also compares the performance of virgin PET fibers and
recycled PET fibers.
This will help me explain the chemistry behind the usage of recycled plastic bottles in
making clothing products.
9. O’Driscoll J. Pop Culture: How PET plastic bottles are spun into polar fleece [internet].
Alternatives Journal. 2015, 41(3); 32-33. Available from:
http://ezproxy.prin.edu:2048/login?url=http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=
true&db=eih&AN=103367850&site=ehost-live
The article talks about using recycled plastic bottles to create synthetic polyester fleece.
It describes the process with steps and diagrams. It then weighs the pros and cons of
choosing fleece over other fabrics.
Patagonia is one of the companies using this process to produce their clothing line.
10. Wardencki W, Curylo J, Namiesśnik J. Green Chemistry—Current and Future Issues.
[internet] Polish Journal of Environmental Studies. 2005, 14(4); 389-395. Available from:
http://ezproxy.prin.edu:2048/login?url=http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=
true&db=eih&AN=17494403&site=ehost-live
This article goes through the history and idea behind green chemistry, as well as the
twelve principles it’s based on. Then it provides examples on how green chemistry is
being implemented today. Finally, it talks about green analytical chemistry and how to
teach green chemistry.
This article will help me describe green chemistry and its goals before diving in to the
green chemistry associated with the companies.
11. Nikeresponsibility.com [internet]. Nike Incorporated. C.2014 [cited on 2015 October 24]
Available from: http://www.nikeresponsibility.com/report/
Nike made a website outlining all the different projects they are working on to become
more sustainable. These include their strategies for reducing harmful chemicals,
reducing waste, and creating sustainable water usage.
12. Six-year comparison between organic, IPM and conventional cotton production systems
in the Northern San Joaquin Valley, California. Renewable Agriculture & Food Systems.
2007, 22(1); 30-40.
This article compares three ways of producing cotton in California. It considers
chemicals used for pesticides in these production strategies. It also looks at the
strategies and their respective cost of production and the effects of the prices on
production.
Patagonia switched to only organically farmed cotton in 1996, on the website it
mentioned suppliers from California. This article will give me insight on why they made
the switch and what positive environmental impact that is playing.
13. Patagonia.com [internet]. Patagonia Inc. c.2015 [cited on 2015 October 23] Available
from: https://www.patagonia.com/us/environmentalism
This is the home page of Patagonia where you can find all the different projects they
have been involved in to create a green product. They detail their responsibility to the
environment and who supplies them in “the footprint chronicles.” The website
summarizes the aspects of their products including organic cotton and recycled
polyesters.
14. Bluesign.com [internet]. bluesign technologies. c.2000-2013 [cited on 2015 October 24]
Available from: www.bluesign.com
The bluesign system is a five principle system that outlines how to create a sustainable
textile business. Nike, Patagonia, and Eileen Fisher are members and hold themselves to
the bluesign standard. The website describes the principles and criteria for bluesign
companies and the participants.
15. Eileenfisher.com [internet]. Eileen Fisher. c.2015 [cited on 2015 October 23]. Available
from: www.eileenfisher.com
This is the home website for the Eileen fisher clothing line. It describes their process for
getting organic cotton. It also has the companies five-year plan for 100% sustainability.
I can use this source to talk about this company and its attempts to become more
sustainable.