Textiles: from production to waste management, human rights and pollution

This sectiopn of the course describes artificial textile materials, including polyesther, viscose, and nylon.

Blended fibers and materials are very commonly used in the fashion industry, particularly due to their beneficial synergistic properties when collectively integrated into a single fabric. However, the recycling of these mixed materials remains extremely difficult if not impossible to manage.

As time passes, more and more new and innovative materials appear in the fashion industry. In many cases, brands and companies producing these new materials put out various claims, such as the eco-friendliness of their products or specific fashion-forward ‘green’ initiatives.

This section covers the issues around textile waste management, including recycling and producing textiles with mixed fibre content.

In some countries and regions there are regulations in place for the banning of hazardous substances in clothing production, while other countries have yet to establish any such regulations at all. This lack of consistency and implementation highlights the important need for government authorities to take the initiative to tackle the ongoing issues faced by the fashion industry and its negative impacts on the environment and population.

This lesson considers the consumption and production of textiles which has increased rapidly in the EU over the last few decades. With the advent of fast, cheap fashion, the push for innovation and functionality, and the production of new fabrics and finishings comes increased use of large quantities of chemicals. Impacts on health are felt by workers, consumers, and wildlife from production through to use and disposal of clothing and other textile sites. While contamination of the environment also contaminates groundwater, harms wildlife and the drain on raw materials harms the environment.

Textile, use and disposal can lead to a variety of adverse environmental effects from water polution through processing and dying to microplastic from disposal. This section considers the effects.

The violation of human rights remains a serious challenge in the textile and garment industry. It is important to ensure better protection for all workers including female workers from toxic chemicals in the textile and garment industry.