Water Footprint of the Fashion Industry and a Way to Reduce It When buying clothes, people rarely think about the environmental toll it took to make that particular piece of clothing. But the impact of the fashion industry on the environment is a discussion worth having. Water consumption of the fashion & Textile industry has long been a cause for concern in a world where 2.7 billion people lack an adequate supply of water. Water consumption of the fashion industry & Textile Industry. Fast fashion relies heavily on the supply of fresh water for its survival. From the irrigation of cotton crops to the household washing of clothes, fashion is a thirsty industry. It is currently the world’s second most water-intensive industry with annual water consumption of around 79 billion cubic meters. Source The fashion and textiles industry is also a major polluter of water at various stages of the supply chain. From agricultural runoff causing algal blooms and choking rivers to releasing toxic chemicals used in dying back into the water, fashion’s role in polluting water runs deep. Here, we will take a deep dive into the water footprint of the fashion industry, and we will also explore some ways we can reduce it over time. Water Consumption of the Fashion Industry Source To start, here are a few facts that would effectively paint a picture of the extensive water consumption of the fashion industry. Water consumption of the fashion & textile industry is very high. How can that much water possibly be used in fashion? To answer that, you need to look at the entire supply chain of fast fashion products. Here, we will talk about the usage of water in the textile industry to give you a better understanding. Water Impacts and Dependencies Textile and clothing production uses and pollutes a massive amount of water across the supply chain. Both surface water and groundwater is used to feed this industry. This contributes to freshwater depletion, especially in water-stressed regions. On the other hand, increasing pollution leads to eutrophication. It is a process that causes algal blooms, dead zones, and fish kills to occur in a body of water. Needless to say, fashion contaminates drinking water sources and has a devastating impact on aquatic life. The most critical water impacts and dependencies in textile and clothing manufacturing occur at the following stages of the supply chain: This image perfectly illustrates the water impacts and dependencies across the supply chain, and its broader environmental impact. Source Cotton – A Thirsty Crop Cotton and polyester are the two most dominant fibres used in the textile and apparel manufacturing industry by market volume. On average, cotton makes up around 35% to 40% of textile production. And it also contributes to the massive water consumption of cotton fashion industry. Growing cotton accounts for around 69% of the water footprint of the textile industry. It takes as much as 10,000 to 20,000 litres of water to produce just one kilogram of raw cotton. Cotton is the second most produced fibre in the world, and the majority of cotton is cultivated in countries that are already experiencing severe water stress. The irrigation required for cotton crops puts stress on the local water supply and depletes aquifers and groundwater supplies. These natural resources take thousands of years to replenish. It doesn’t end there. Once the raw cotton is harvested, it needs to be spun, dyed, and finished before it can be used to make apparel. This processing requires around 100 to 150 litres of water for each kilogram of cotton fibre. Source Cotton cultivation and processing also play a huge role in polluting the world’s water sources. Cotton production accounts for around 16% of all insecticides sold around the world. That and all the chemicals used in cotton processing often end up back in the water. Water Consumption in Various Stages: Dyeing, Finishing, and Processing Conventional methods of wet processing and textile dyeing require massive amounts of freshwater withdrawal and wastewater disposal. Dye houses in China, India, and Bangladesh have a well-documented track record of exhausting local water supplies and polluting local rivers and streams with wastewater. The apparel industry uses over 5 trillion liters of water every year to dye around 28 billion kilograms of textiles. Water consumption of the fashion & textile industry is very high. The figure is so staggering that it’s hard to put into perspective. But there’s more! Apart from dyeing, water is also used as a solvent in various pre-treatment and finishing processes, which include things like washing, bleaching, and scouring. Impact of the Fashion Industry on Water Pollution You cannot talk about the water consumption of the fashion industry without mentioning the role this sector plays in water pollution. Fashion industry water pollution occurs at various stages of the supply chain – from cotton cultivation to fibers and textile processing and apparel manufacturing. Cotton cultivation accounts for 4% of artificial phosphorus and nitrogen fertilizers used around the world. Estimates suggest that growing cotton requires around 8 million tons of synthetic fertilizers and 200,000 tons of pesticides every year. The processing of fibre and textiles also pollutes water. Around 8,000 synthetic chemicals are used for turning raw materials into textiles. Textile treatment and dyeing account for approximately 20% of the world’s industrial water pollution. Source Another way fast fashion pollutes water is through microfibers. Many synthetic fabrics such as nylon and polyester are made from plastic. When these fabrics break down, they form “microfibers” that spread through the natural environment. The plastic-based fabrics such as nylon and polyester produce microfibers when the clothes are washed. These microfibers are essentially microplastics that do not degrade over time. Laundry water contains a significant amount of microfibers, which ultimately end up in the ocean. Studies show that 35% of the microplastics found in the ocean come from washing clothes that are made of synthetic fabrics. Industrial Hemp Can Help Solve the Fashion Industry’s Water Challenge While the world has long been aware of […]
