What is Sustainable Textile?

Nowadays, sustainable textiles are a hot topic in the media. Sustainability is also a topic addressed in most fashion shows. So, what is sustainable? What is sustainable fashion? First, let’s look at the meaning of these words:

Fashion

A fashion trend or the choice of the newest generation in appearance, design or behavior.

Although clothing is the main component of fashion, accessories, shoes and purses can also be combined with outfits to create new looks.

Sustainability

Sustainability can be called the ability to be permanent. In the 21st century, it is generally used to refer to this ability of the biosphere and civilization. It can also be defined as ensuring change in a balanced environment where the exploitation of resources, the direction of investments, the direction of technological development and institutional change are in harmony and the potential to meet human needs and desires is preserved both today and for the future. (Source: Wikipedia)

Let’s look at the details together…

Sustainability in Textile

Sustainable materials are the basis of sustainable textiles. Synthetic textiles are used to make many of our contemporary fabrics. Most synthetic materials are actually created using petroleum, which is something many people don’t know about. Fibers made from petroleum include spandex, nylon, and polyester. Oil, on the other hand, may not be sustainable as its supply is potentially inherently limited and inherently extractive.

Sustainable textiles refer to fashion, clothing, shoes, bags or accessories designed to last a long time without using many resources.

Therefore, we must learn how to create textiles sustainably if we want to ensure their economic sustainability. Reducing pesticide use is a key strategy to achieve this. Integrated pest management systems use non-chemical techniques to protect plants such as cotton. The amount of land, water, and chemicals (including petroleum products) required to grow a crop or care for animals is another factor to consider.

What is Sustainable Textile?

Textile is a very important part of our lives. They are used for clothing, home decoration and other purposes. They also have a significant impact on the environment. The textile industry is one of the most polluting industries in the world. Textile production consumes 10% of global energy and produces 30% of all industrial waste. The environmental impact of textiles is huge and must be addressed to achieve the sustainable development goals set by the UN 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

To tackle environmental challenges, we need to focus on sustainable textiles that can reduce pollution and resource consumption while still functioning as a textile material. There are many ways to make textiles more sustainable, such as using recycled materials or natural fibers instead of synthetic ones, reusing old ones, etc.

Sustainable textiles are a type of environmentally friendly fabric. They are made from natural fabrics such as cotton and hemp or recycled materials such as plastic bottles. These fabrics are durable and biodegradable.

What is Sustainable Fabric?

Sustainable fabric use is a very important aspect of the fashion industry. Sustainable fabrics are textile materials produced in a way that has minimal or no negative impact on the environment. The most common types of sustainable fabrics are natural fibers, recycled materials and organic fibers.

There are many benefits to using sustainable fabric. One benefit is that if they are made from recycled materials or renewable resources like bamboo, they can reduce the amount of pollution and greenhouse gas emissions in a community. Another benefit is that these fabrics are more durable and longer-lasting than other fabrics, meaning less waste ending up in landfill and less money spent replacing clothing items.

Sustainable fabrics are often created using natural or recycled resources, with the aim of minimizing the production process, the quality of the fiber, or the overall environmental impact of the fabric. These fabrics can also help manage waste, save water, reduce emissions and regenerate soil, but as mentioned before, no fabric can be completely sustainable.

Various textile products have received the “sustainable” label for a variety of reasons, and you’ll often find the term “sustainable fabrics” used to incorporate a multitude of environmentally friendly materials. But, like fabrics, durability is a shifting goal, and no single fabric can do it all. However, it is believed that better materials will contribute to the development of a more open fashion industry through ethical production and environmentally friendly procedures.

Sustainable Textile Products

Textile is the second most consumed commodity in the world. The textile industry is one of the most polluting industries, with a significant environmental impact on water and air quality, soil and biodiversity.

A sustainable textile product is one that can be reused or recycled without compromising its function. Sustainable textiles are made from renewable resources such as cotton, hemp or bamboo fibers that can be grown without pesticides and fertilizers; They are produced using low-impact processes such as organic dyes or waterless printing.

The use of sustainable textiles is a growing trend in the fashion industry. More and more companies are using sustainable textiles in their products, which will help reduce the environmental impact of textile production.

Some companies use recycled materials, such as plastic bottles or old fishing nets, to produce textiles. Other companies use organic cotton or wool instead of synthetic materials such as polyester. Sustainable textiles are also more durable than other materials, so they can be reused and last longer than other types of clothing.

Sustainable textiles must also be produced with social equality in mind: they must not exploit workers or use child labor in their production; they should not use workshop conditions  and should not use hazardous chemicals in their production processes.

Sustainable textiles are textiles made from renewable materials such as cotton, hemp, fiber, polyester and bamboo. These products have a lower environmental impact than those made from synthetic or non-renewable materials.

The first step in finding sustainable textiles is to do research on the companies that produce them. Companies like Patagonia and Nike have become leaders in the sustainable textile movement as they use their power to influence other companies to make better decisions. Gama Recycle is also one of the producers of sustainable textile materials and a pioneer in Turkey.

Here are a few sustainable textile products;

Recycled Polyester / Regenerated Polyester

Recycled polyester is PET (PET is a chemical used to make polyester) made from plastic water bottles that have been turned into fibers. The fabric is recycled and prevents plastic from ending up in landfills. At Gama Recycle, we also recommend using recycled polyester because when a garment cannot be made entirely from natural fibers (for example, stretchy garments such as underwear or leggings), it is less harmful than its virgin equivalent and produces fewer carbon emissions during production.

The most common textile in our clothing is polyester. It is found in 52% of our clothes.

Petroleum, a non-renewable fossil resource, is the source of synthetic fabric polyester. As is well known, the conversion of crude oil into petrochemicals results in the release of pollutants into the environment that are hazardous to both human and ecological health.

Recycled Wool

It can be a sustainable material depending on how it is produced. Wool is also highly insulating, biodegradable and does not shed microfibers made from plastic. Another excellent ecological choice is recycled wool. In addition to keeping used wool clothing out of landfills, this practice saves water, uses less space for sheep to graze and does not require artificial dyeing.

Recycled Cotton

Recycled cotton uses far fewer resources than regular or organic cotton and prevents the production of new textile waste. Therefore, it is a great sustainable choice.

Cotton can be recycled using used clothing or surplus textiles. The quality of cotton cannot be as high as that of brand new cotton. Therefore, new cotton and recycled cotton are often combined.

Recycled Textile Fibers

Many researchers are currently focusing on textile production from textile waste. Considering how much textile waste we produce, both pre-consumer and post-consumer, it makes perfect sense to reuse textile waste rather than disposing of it. However, this form of fabric is not yet widely accessible due to the difficulty of separating fiber blends and other technological challenges.