We are always trying to conserve water and be careful about how much of it we consume in daily living. But did you know your favourite shirt involved the consumption of thousands of liters of water? This is equal to 900 days or more of drinking water.
The fashion industry is the second largest consumer of water only after agriculture, consuming around 79 billion cubic meters of water per year. How is it possible for clothes to take up so much water? The answer lies in the process of cotton fabric production.
Cotton Fabric & Water Consumption
Cotton is one of the most widely used fabrics in the world despite its high water usage. Many of our clothes are made of cotton fabric. The production cycle involves growing the cotton, manufacturing, dyeing, and other processes. Each cotton plant needs roughly 10 gallons (38 lbs.) of water. On average, 1 kilogram of cotton needs 20,000 liters of water. This amount of cotton would be enough for one t-shirt and one pair of pants only!
Even more water goes into processing cotton, making the clothes, and coloring/dyeing them. Garment manufacturing is responsible for over 20% of all industrial water pollution. The world consumes over 5 trillion liters of water per year simply for fabric dyeing.
Considering how much water is used to make a single piece of cotton clothing, now think about how much water went into making all your clothes. All of your family’s clothes. The clothes of everyone in your city, nation, and around the world. It’s crucial to realize that clean water isn’t always accessible where and when humans need it. Six countries possess half of the world’s drinkable water. Over a billion people do not have access to adequate safe, clean water.
Sustainable Clothing Practices
On an individual level, you can help reduce water consumption in the fashion industry by making sustainable choices with your clothing:
1. Buy second-hand clothes
Browse your local thrift stores, consignment, or resale stores. You’ll be surprised at the good quality finds you can get.
2. Make your clothes last longer!
Wash your clothing less or wash them by hand. Air dry instead of using the dryer. Remove stains as soon as possible. Mend torn areas.
3. Donate old/unwanted clothing
Instead of throwing clothes away, donate them to your local thrift store or sell them at a resale store.
4. Purchase quality clothes
Opt for quality over quantity. It’s tempting to jump on trends and buy into fast fashion. However, by buying durable clothes, you’ll save both the environment and your wallet.
5. Look for reliable certifications
Some key ones include 100% organic, GOTS certified organic, recycled, Fair Trade, or Better Cotton Initiative.
6. Buy clothes that are made entirely of organic cotton
Organic cotton production uses no hazardous pesticides and cultivates healthy soil rather than harming it. It uses 88% less water, and consumes 62% less energy than conventional cotton.
Conclusion
Making clothes takes a toll on the environment, especially cotton clothes. But we can make sustainable choices with our clothes! Many businesses are trying to make their clothes more environmentally friendly. Yes, they will charge more than their fast-fashion competitors, but their clothing is of greater quality and will last far longer!
We at Green Schools Green Future seek to provide our future leaders with sustainable education. It’s important to always think about our earth and preserve it.
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