Why Fashion Needs to Make a Bigger Effort to Be ‘Plastic-Free’?

Introduction:

During the pandemic, the Fashion industry waxed poetic about taking a look at itself and the amount of clothing and number of deliveries it was pumping out. A few short years later, experts say much has stayed the same. But if fashion is to move to the future, these same authorities say sustainability must be at the forefront, which means moving away from synthetic, microplastic-producing textiles. And Plastic Free, July might be the opportune time to examine the benefits of moving toward natural fibers like cotton.

Created by the Plastic Free Foundation in 2011, Plastic Free July is a global movement working toward a world “free of plastic waste.” Microplastic pollution, including tiny particles from synthetic textiles, is part of the problem the foundation says needs “drastic measures” to remedy.

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Consider that this past July Fourth holiday, Earth recorded its hottest day on record. The United Nations says fossil fuels are “by far the largest contributor to global climate change,” as the greenhouse gases they emit blanket the planet and trap the sun’s heat, leading to global warming and climate change.

Yet, from high fashion to fast fashion, the industry continues to rely heavily on fossil fuel-based textiles like polyester, nylon, and acrylic—even though such fabrics are responsible for microplastic fiber pollution that takes up to 200 years to decompose. These fibers come from our clothes, especially during the laundry cycle, when nearly 730,000 synthetic fibers can wash out with the effluent into our waterways, where they enter our food and water supplies.

Microplastics pollution:

It is estimated that at least 15 million tons of microplastics are polluting the ocean. The tiny fibers are also raining down from the sky. And, when inhaled, microplastics can pose serious health risks, especially to our respiratory systems.

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Despite all this, ChangingMarkets.org says there has been no significant change over the last five years by the fashion industry in its usage of synthetic fibers, despite its long-stated desire to be more sustainable. A combination of choices by consumers, retailers, and brands will be needed to stem the microplastic tide.

“Disrupting the stream of synthetic microfiber pollution starts right in our wardrobes,” says Cotton Incorporated’s Jesse Daystar, vice president, and chief sustainability officer. “We can select fibers that originate from and return naturally to the earth, reinforcing the earth’s natural cycles rather than feeding a cycle of ongoing plastic pollution.”

Unlike petroleum-based textiles, cotton biodegrades relatively quickly because it is made of cellulose, an organic compound that is the basis of plant cell walls and vegetable fibers. The fibers break down naturally in landfills, like other crops such as food and plants.

But since all clothes shed fibers during the laundering process, it becomes clear the more sustainable option is material that also biodegrades in water. Once again, cotton degrades far more quickly. When comparing cotton versus synthetic microfibers, research showed that after 243 days, cotton had 76 percent degradation than polyester.

Why Fashion Needs to Make a Bigger Effort to Be?

Plastic-Free’During the pandemic, the fashion industry waxed poetic about taking a look at itself and the amount of clothing and number of deliveries it was pumping out. A few short years later, experts say much has stayed the same. But if fashion is to move to the future, these same authorities say sustainability must be at the forefront, which means moving away from synthetic, microplastic-producing textiles. And Plastic Free, July might be the opportune time to examine the benefits of moving toward natural fibers like cotton.

Created by the Plastic Free Foundation in 2011, Plastic Free July is a global movement working toward a world “free of plastic waste.” Microplastic pollution, including tiny particles from synthetic textiles, is part of the problem the foundation says needs “drastic measures” to remedy.