Textile Insight

27 • Textile Insight ~ September/October 2021 textileinsight.com Who We Are As the world leader in stays fresh technologies, Polygiene ® wants to change the way we view products – from fast consumables to durables. The company's anti-odor and antimicrobial treatments allow products to be washed less frequently, keeping them fresh for longer and extending their life. The technologies are used in sport, lifestyle, fashion, workwear, footwear and home design – among many other segments. Over 300 global premium brands have chosen to partner with Polygiene. To Learn More www.polygiene.com info@polygiene.com I t is becoming increasingly clear how important changing consumer behavior is to achieve reductions in the environmental impact of textile and apparel products. Many brands are now turning to the Swedish firm Polygiene® for technologies that help provide a solution. As the need for urgent action to tackle climate change becomes more intense by the day, awareness about how changing consumer behavior – in particular using products for a longer period of time – can make a significant contribution to the overall impact of clothes and other gear is beginning to increase. is topic was the focus of a white paper study published last May by the Royal Swedish Academy of Engineering Sciences (IVA). Titled "Textile sustainability from a consumer perspective," it provides a review of research focusing on how the textile and clothing industry can use resources in a smarter way from a con- sumer perspective. For instance, the paper outlines a study completed last year 1 in Sweden, which found that using garments twice as many times in their original purchase form (not refurbishing) cuts the climate impact by almost 50%. is reduction is mainly due to fewer new garments needing to be produced. e IVA paper also points out that ac- cording to the Swedish Environmental Protection Agency, Swedes consume almost 14 kg of textiles per person per year, of which 10 kg consists of clothes (the paper notes that this is likely to be somewhat higher as it does not include personal imports, such as from online shopping). However, Swedes throw away an average of 7.5 kg of textiles per person per year into unsorted household waste, which goes to incineration. 2 Random sample analysis carried out at the request of the Swedish Environmental Protection Agency shows that more than half of this – around 60 percent – is in satisfactory condition and could be used further in its existing form. 3 Climate Gains e paper also finds that reusing a garment in its existing condition (not re- furbishing) "provides greater climate gains compared to fabric recycling because the recycling process requires the resources to go through the energy-intensive production chain again." It notes that according to the EU waste hierarchy, items should always be reused before they go to material recycling and energy recovery. e paper concludes that "extending the active life of our clothes should be the goal with the highest priority." And in its final recommendations, it states: "Today none of the garments in our wardrobe are used enough before we dispose of them. To achieve a more resource-efficient textile sector, existing garments must have a longer life in their original form. No other single action – such as more sustain- ably produced textile fibers or better recycling methods – has the potential to reduce the impact of Swedish clothing consumption as much as doubling the life of the clothes we already own." Extending Product Life An Important Piece in the Puzzle to Less Environmental Impact SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION "To achieve a more resource-efficient textile sector, existing garments must have a longer life in their original form"

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