PRODUCT CARE AND LIFECYCLE
The environmental impact of a product does not cease once it is purchased, even if the item has been manufactured to high ecological standards. Especially in the case of clothing, the methods employed in the care of the product and the lifecycle considerations afforded to them, play a major role in the sustainability of the item.
We advise the following care recommendations with these considerations in mind. Employing them will reduce: energy use, the introduction of harmful chemicals into the environment and the amount of material going to landfill.
PRODUCT CARE AND THE ENVIRONMENT
To minimize the negative environmental impact that clothing poses, we recommend the following tips:
Decrease washing frequency - Wash items less often by wearing them more than once prior to washing them. An overemphasis with hygiene often means we wash clothes more often than necessary. It is often enough to treat a stain area or hang and air a garment to refresh it.
Do full-load washes. Loading the washing machine fully before putting it through a load reduces the amount of energy consumed in comparison to running several non-full loads.
Choose an eco-labelled detergent - The phosphates found in washing detergents can pose ecological harm once they find their way into water systems following its discharge from waste water. The ideal detergents to use are eco-labelled/green products that are phosphate-free, plant-based and biodegradable. Washing powders are preferable to liquid detergents. Concentrates are preferable to standard detergents.
Avoid Fabric Softeners – Fabric softeners contain cocktails of chemicals that impart a softening effect as well as ones that fragrance the clothes. The softening chemicals (commonly, quaternary ammonium compounds or ‘quats’) are known to have the capacity to trigger asthma. Hundreds of untested chemicals may comprise the fragrance chemicals. Fragrances are best avoided as some are suspected hormone disruptors and very often are culprits in causing respiratory and skin allergies [Environmental Working Group, ewg.org]. Safe alternatives to commercial fabric softeners can be made cheaply at home using ingredients such as white vinegar, Epsom salts, and baking soda.
Wash using lower water temperature – A cold wash cycle significantly lowers energy consumption. An 80% reduction in carbon footprint is achieved by lowering the wash temperature from 60 degrees Celsius to 30 degrees Celsius.
Air dry clothes and avoid dryer sheets – Air drying is preferable to machine drying of clothes. The fragrances used in dryer sheets pose the same potential health problems that were pointed out above with their use in fabric softeners. Additionally, in the case of dryer sheets, the chemicals pose an added burden as they become airborne once emitted through the dryer vent creating toxic air pollution in the process.
Avoid or minimize the need for ironing - In order to avoid wrinkles and the need for ironing, hang clothes promptly after the washing machine has ended its programme. Once dry, shirts are best hung on a clothes hanger in order for them to retain their shape.
PRODUCT LIFECYCLE AND THE ENVIRONMENT
Disposal, Reuse and Recycling
Globally, only 20% of textiles are recycled each year, however, up to 95% of the textiles that are landfilled each year could be recycled.
When in good condition, consider handing down clothing items for re-use or disposing of them through recycling businesses. Where possible, increase the life of the item through repair.
Extending the useful life of clothing from one year to two years reduces carbon emissions over the year by 24%
An alternative disposal method is composting. Natural fibres readily decompose and their breakdown occurs rather rapidly under the right conditions. This is not the case for clothing made from synthetic fibres. Nylon, for instance, takes between 30 to 40 years to decompose.
Organic Cotton
Cold machine wash and then air dry. If ironing, use a warm iron. Iron inside out.
Tumble-drying is not advised as it may shrink the fabric.
Information Sources:
Carbon Trust (2011) International Carbon Flows – Clothing.
Fashion Revolution (2015) It's Time for a Fashion Revolution.
One Million Women (2016) How to Compost Fabrics.