Hi fellow buddies, welcome back! Previously I talked about a post about the production of clothes emitting greenhouse gases which contribute to air pollution and clothes consisting of microfibres and the chemicals from dyes that pollute the air. In this post, we will focus on how we can reduce air pollution and its damages to our environment and our health with regard to the decisions we made.

The following infographic is some tips which I have consolidated and think that it is helpful in our decision making and is beneficial to our environment and our health. 

Photo on tips to reduce emission on clothes

It is recognizable that the presence of microfibers is inevitable at this point in time where the materials we use are largely made of fibers and it will eventually become microfibers. Since it is a challenge to eliminate it completely, the following are ways to reduce the presence of microfibers and pollutants in the air.

Use of Linen, Hemp and organic cotton
First up from the infographics, the choice of linen, hemp and cotton over other materials like new synthetic material can reduce the greenhouse gas emissions that are produced by synthetic materials made from fossil fuels. They also don’t require pesticides or fertilizers which have the potential of contributing to air and water pollution. 

Use of Recycled synthetic materials
Alternatively, if you think that it is difficult to do so, you can also go for products that are recycled synthetic materials so that the use of fossil fuels, plastic waste, and greenhouse gases emitted can be reduced. This idea has gained traction in recent years as people are taking the environmental impacts more seriously. Upon this, more companies including brands like Nike make their clothing and accessories using recycled plastics. Although this may not solve the problems related to synthetic materials, at least it is a good start as more people start gaining awareness and more companies operating with environmental responsibility.

The option of using recycled synthetic material can also be extended to other products such as cosmetic bottle packaging where companies like Innisfree collect empty plastic bottles after it is used. They encourage consumers to recycle their used bottles by incentivizing them through a membership reward system (Innisfree, (n.d.). This is commendable as there might be extra costs incurred by the companies for them to recycle their bottles and incentivize the consumers. 

Purchase unblended products
It is also recommended to buy clothes or products made solely from a single material so that it is easier to recycle as the process of separating different materials won’t be as energy-intensive. Lesser energy would equate to lesser fossil fuel burnt to produce electricity and thus, lesser greenhouse gases emitted (Notman, 2020).

Support companies which produce less emissions
We can also consider switching to those brands that prioritize environmental protection so that they continue to improve with our support and recognition. Doing so will discourage those companies that are not environmentally conscious to improve their business models and reduce their emissions. Apart from other factors, being environmentally conscious can then be a competitive advantage for companies to strive for, and eventually, more companies will make an effort to reduce their emissions. Otherwise, they will be deemed as being irresponsible towards our environmental crisis. An example of a company with a carbon-free business model is Tencel which has introduced a Carbon-free campaign for its clothes. 

Consider buying upselling clothes
Last but not least, we can also support upselling products as this will reduce the need to burn fossil fuels to produce raw synthetic material. This will also reduce the dyes needed as items are reused. Henceforth, reducing the chemicals present in our atmosphere from the use of dyes and also less pollution in our waters (Cline, 2019). 

Initially, another tip that I wanted to provide was to use natural dyes from food, fruits, and flowers. However, upon researching, I discovered that not all materials absorb natural dye well thus requiring repeated applications of dye and will then incur intensive usage of energy and water. Otherwise, there are also synthetic dyes that help with the absorbency of certain materials. But more often than not, synthetic dyes are made of chemicals and have the potential to pollute the air and our waters. Furthermore, it requires a substantial amount of chemicals, water, and energy in the dyeing process (Bomgardner, 2018). Thus, a better solution to address the usage of chemicals, energy, and water is needed and I’m glad I chanced upon it in an article! So, there is a technology called ColorZen which reduces 90% of water, 95% of chemicals used, and a significant amount of energy (ColorZen, n.d.). It is really a relief that companies are addressing critical environmental issues that are faced by our earth.

Come to think about it, we are actually capable of improving our ways of doing things to reduce air pollution. I understand that change isn’t always easy and we may not be comfortable with changes. But, changes now are necessary so that we won’t have to bear the unthinkable climate change in the future. We are all in this together and together, let’s move towards a greener future. I can do it and so can you! 😁

References:
Bomgardner, M. (2018, July 12). These new textile dyeing methods could make fashion more sustainable. Retrieved from https://cen.acs.org/business/consumer-products/new-textile-dyeing-methods-make/96/i29

Cline, E. (2019, November 04). Wear Clothes? Then You’re Part of the Problem. Retrieved from https://www.nytimes.com/2019/11/03/opinion/climate-change-clothing-policy.html

ColorZen. (n.d.). Environmentally Friendly Solution to Cotton Dyeing. Retrieved from https://www.colorzen.com/

Farag, N. (2016, June 27). Know Your Materials: What Each One Means for Sustainable Fashion. Retrieved from https://repeller.com/sustainable-fashion-materials/

Innisfree. (n.d.). Eco-Recycling. Retrieved from https://us.innisfree.com/pages/about-innisfree-share-recycling

Notman, N. (2020, January 27). Recycling clothing the chemical way. Retrieved from https://www.chemistryworld.com/features/recycling-clothing-the-chemical-way/4010988.article

Tencel. (n.d.). Reduce Carbon Emission: True Carbon Zero by Tencel™. Retrieved from https://www.tencel.com/true-carbon-zero