Towards a more sustainable textile industry

Today the textile industry is one of the most polluting. This is due to the generation of waste from toxic and poorly biodegradable chemicals, which end up being deposited in the seas and rivers, affecting the ecosystem that surrounds them.

Textile production, especially through dyeing and bleaching processes, is responsible for approximately 10% of carbon emissions and 20% of global drinking water pollution, which would be equivalent to the water that a person drinks in 2.5 years.

In addition, to carry out the different fiber treatment processes, a high consumption of water and energy is used, which increases the contamination rates even more. As an informative data, to generate 1 kg of cotton, between 2000-3000 liters of water are needed.

However, in recent years, sustainability has become one of the main trends in the textile industry, becoming an essential requirement demanded by customers in the textile sector.

For this reason, since February 2021 additional measures have been implemented in search of a toxic-free textile industry, with a lower carbon footprint and that is governed by a circular economy, giving the materials and resources used the longest life time, and minimizing the generation of residues.

Some of the measures carried out by the companies that are dedicated to the production, treatment and dyeing of fibers to reduce the generation of waste and its contamination are: the reduction in the amount of detergents used in cleaning the fabrics, the reduction in the amount of water used in the tinting tanks, as well as the use of colorants and dyes that are biodegradable and without harmful effects on the environment, etc.

Thanks to the awareness of society, together with the implementation of these measures, it will be possible to move towards a more conscious and sustainable textile industry.