Textile Insight

September / October 2020

Issue link: https://viewer.e-digitaledition.com/i/1293937

Contents of this Issue

Navigation

Page 25 of 36

return the remains of cotton plants to the soil to provide nutrients for improved soil health 4 . Finally, gin byproduct, which is also natural plant matter, is used in numerous applications ranging from fabric dyes to medical supplies. "Products made with cotton can be part of the circular economy – thereby minimizing the unnecessary use of resources and reducing the creation of waste, pollution and carbon emissions whenever possible," says Dr. Daystar. "While cotton can be a natural and sustainable option, as leaders and innovators in the textile industry, we know it's our responsibility to continue to find new ways to reduce the environmental impact our fibers have on the planet – today and well into the future." Leading the Way in Manufacturing Innovation Beyond the field, the cotton industry strives to support designers and manufacturers who want to provide consumers with environmentally friendly options for apparel, home textiles and much more. From unique programs that encourage apparel recycling, like the Blue Jeans Go Green™ program, to promoting awareness of the microplastics problem, the U.S. cotton industry is committed to science-based solutions, continuous improvement, and innovation. Most recently, 3D simulation technology is being used to help reduce fabric waste produced as a result of apparel samples by allowing designers to visualize the color, texture, form and fit of a fabric – digitally. e use of digital materials can lead to little to no wasted materials, faster production, lower labor and energy, and less shipping. Cotton Incorporated's CottonWorks™ program, the industry resource for cotton innovation and inspiration, is now offering a collection of downloadable digital fabric files to provide inspiration for designers looking to discover what's possible with cotton – without the environmental impact of producing and distributing physical samples. Completely Reusable & Recyclable Cotton e reuse applications for cotton are plentiful – from the use of cleaning rags around the house to the secondhand market where items can be sold and reused over and over again – durable cotton has a long shelf-life before its final days of consumer use. But where do used textiles go when they've hit the end of their lifecycle? According to the Council for Textile Recycling, the average American disposes of 70 pounds of textiles each year 5 . Assuming a small percentage of that is donated, that leaves the potential for millions of pounds of remaining textile products to end up in landfills or other disposal environments. Fortunately, cotton offers a broad array of opportunities for recycled content. Pre- and post-consumer cotton textiles can be recycled 2 and used to create new products – both textiles and non-textiles. Textile applications include apparel, home goods, and fabrics made using nonwoven manufacturing techniques. e wealth of non-textile applications for recycled cotton include insulation, filters, and automotive uses. Cotton fibers can also be used in non-textile processes such as 3D printing and injection molding. For those cotton products that can no longer be reused or recycled 2 , they could be returned directly to the earth by composting rather than being sent to the landfill. Cotton degrades more rapidly than synthetic alternatives in industrial compost 1 , wastewater, salt water and freshwater environments 6 . The Microplastic Impact According to the International Union for Conservation of Nature, there are 9.5 million metric tons of plastic released into the oceans every year. 7 By 2050, scientists project there will be more plastic than fish in the world's oceans. 8 How does the textile industry play a role in this complex environmental issue? Take polyester, for example. is synthetic fabric is made of polyethylene terephthalate, also referred to as PET, and more commonly known as the main ingredient in single-use water 9 . Research demonstrates that when laundered, synthetic fibers shed very small microplastics 10 into waterways – contributing to plastic pollution in rivers, lakes, and oceans. According to studies, 80 percent of tested water samples from major metropolitan areas around the world were contaminated with these hard-to-detect pieces of plastic 11 . Research indicates that petroleum-based microfibers such as polyester and rayon account for 35 percent of primary microplastic pollution 12 . In fact, natural fibers like cotton may play a role in the global solution. Textile manufacturers that incorporate cotton into their fabrics and products could also help reduce the incidence of microplastic pollution. As a 100 percent natural cellulose fiber that comes straight from the earth, cotton is biodegradable – in both soil and aquatic environments, unlike synthetic fibers like polyester 1,4 . According to a biodegradability study conducted by Cotton Incorporated, North Carolina State University, and Cotton Research and Development Corporation, cotton breaks down 97 percent faster than polyester in marine environments 4 . Coming Full Circle As concerns around population growth, environmental health and climate change continue to increase, the textile industry can play a critical role in supporting the health of our planet by choosing circular fibers such as cotton in lieu of synthetic alternatives. The world looks to manufacturers and consumers alike to make environmentally responsible purchasing decisions that can help us reduce our carbon footprint and maintain a healthier planet. Cotton is ready to help close the loop. n 1. In composting tests, cotton fabric samples underwent a weight loss of approximately 50-77% after 90 days in a composting facility. Li, Lili; Frey, Margaret; Browning, Kristie (2010). Biodegradability study on cotton and polyester fabrics. Journal of Engineered Fiber and Fabrics, 5(4), 42–53. https://www.jeffjournal.org/papers/Volume5/5-4- 6Frey.pdf 2. Cotton products are recyclable only in a few communities that have appropriate recycling facilities. 3. Field to Market: The Alliance for Sustainable Agriculture. 2016. Environmental and Socioeconomic Indicators for Measuring Outcomes of On-Farm Agricultural Production in the United States (Third Edition). ISBN: 978-0-692-81902-9. 4. Feng Jing, Yalong Kang, Jianxin Tan, Baogeng Tian, Fangxia Ma & Jianguo Liu (2016) Decomposition characteristics of cotton stalks from fall to spring as affected by con- tinuous cropping, Acta Agriculturae Scandinavica, Section B — Soil & Plant Science, 66:6, 510-515, DOI: 10.1080/09064710.2016.1184305 5. https://www.weardonaterecycle.org/ 6. Cotton Incorporated and North Carolina State University, Biodegradability Research (2019). https://www.cottonworks.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/Understanding- the-Plastics-Problem_pages.pdf 7. International Union of Conservation of Nature (2018) https://www.iucn.org/news/asia/201801/innovative-and-collaborative-future-plastic-waste-management-sri-lanka 8. World Economic Forum (2016). The New Plastics Economy - Rethinking the future of plastics.; 9. https://www.thomasnet.com/articles/materials-handling/plastic-bottle-manufacturing/ 10. Zambrano, M. et al. (2018). Microfibers generated from the laundering of cotton, rayon and polyester based fabrics and their aquatic biodegradation. Marine Pollution Bulletin 142 (2019) 394–407. 11. Kosuth, M., Mason, S., & Wattenberg, E. (2018). Anthropogenic contamination of tap water, beer, and sea salt. PLOS One. 12. Boucher, J. and Friot D. (2017). Primary Microplastics in the Oceans: A Global Evaluation of Sources. Gland, Switzerland: IUCN. 43pp textileinsight.com September/October 2020 ~ Textile Insight • 25

Articles in this issue

Links on this page

Archives of this issue

view archives of Textile Insight - September / October 2020