Environmental Issues
In Apparel
Manufacturing
Menu: Issues and Solutions
 Toxic Pollutants
 Waste Materials in Our Landfills
 Apparel Production Using Up Nonrenewable
Resources
 Textile Waste
 Pesticides and Insecticides in Our Soil from Fiber
Crops
Issue:
Toxic Pollutants in the Environment
 Synthetic fibers production release toxic pollutants
into the air and water supply
Solution
 Federal laws in the 1970’s eliminated the release of
these pollutants
 Clean Air Act
 Clean Water Act
 Resource Conservation & Recovery Act
 Toxic Substances Control Act
Issue
Those Processes Now in Other
Countries
 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hXANySLTgnQ
 Pollution in China
Solution
 How do you think we can help eliminate pollution in
other countries?
Issue
Waste Materials in Our Landfill
Solution: Recycling
 Apparel manufacturers are converting waste material
and unwanted existing products into new products
 What can be made from water bottles?
From Water Bottles to……
Products
Number of 20 ounce bottles
T-shirt
19 bottles
Fiberfill Ski Jacket
14 bottles
Fiberfill Sleeping Bag
114 bottles
Carpeting
19 bottles per square foot
Issue
Nonrenewable Resources
 Apparel Production depleting nonrenewable
resources which cannot be replaced
 Example: Petroleum used to make synthetic fibers
Solution
Renewable Resources
 Using natural products that nature can replenish
 Examples: Trees and plants
Fibers From a Renewable Resource
 Lyocell: wood pulp of eucalyptus trees
 Sorona: corn
 Rayon: bamboo fibers
Issue
Textile Waste
 The EPA estimates 13.1 million tons of textile waste
was generated in 2012.
 5.2% of municipal waste
 What can be done to reduce the amount of textile
waste?
Solution
Eliminating Textile Waste
 Donate for reuse or resale
 Turn in to companies to recycle like Patagonia
 Repurpose textile products
Issue
Soil Pollutants
 Insecticides and Pesticides used in fiber crops
Solution
Organically Grown Fibers
 Environment friendly
 Genetically modified seeds and planted resistant to
pests
 Grown without harmful pesticides and fertilizers