Though animations of our pre-historic ancestors wearing potato sacks may not be accurate. Humans have come a long way in fabric evolution and fashion wear. Recently, greater importance is being given to the issue of sustainability in the textile sector in order to preserve the environment and our planet.
Econyl
One of the sustainable alternative in fabrics is Econyl, used in the production processes of swimwear or activewear, among others. It is a recycled substitute for nylon, created from wasted products, mainly fishing nets, designed by an Italian company Aquafill. It is stretchy and durable.
Econyl is created with waste that would have taken years or centuries to decay. Such waste is vastly polluting the oceans, seas, and landfills. Making that waste useful again is a great way to achieve circularity and not further pollute the environment with the production of new nylon.
Due to the recycling process, significantly less waste is produced and fewer resources are used compared to nylon production. Producing Econyl takes half the energy of producing pure nylon. As a result, fifty percent less carbon dioxideis emitted, improving the environmental print. However, producing recycled nylon for swimwear or activewear is much costlier than virgin nylon.
Sustainable fabric vs non-sustainable fabrics
Linen
Linen is made of a fiber found in the flax plant, requiring 60 percent less water than a cotton plant. Furthermore, linen flax plants require fewer pesticides, fertilizers, and other chemical compounds compared to cotton. Best part! Linen can grow in poor quality soil by sending nutrients back into the ground through its stem, making it a sustainable option.
Organic Hemp
Hemp is a plant-based fabric created with a plant from the same name. Like linen, it does not require much energy, water, or fertilizer and is one of the fastest growing plants. Furthermore, hemp can be grown on the same soil without exhausting its nutrients and natural composition. It has very similar properties to linen.
Recycled Polyester
Recycled plastic bottles are collected to create the recycled polyester fabric or rPet through chemical or mechanical processes. Recycled fabric requires fewer resources to produce it and causes lower carbon emissions than the virgin version.
Rayon
Rayon is manufactured from cellulose collected from wood pulp. It is also created from bamboo, soy, and cotton. The plant is processed with chemicals, energy pools, and high amounts of water to reach cellulose. The process releases chemicals into the air, harming workers and the environment.
In addition, due to the need of wood for the production of rayon, the deforestation that is taking place is worrying.
Polyester
Polyester is a syntethic fiber derived from petroleum. The transformation of petroleum releases toxins into the athmosphere that are dangerous. Every year, 700,000 microfibers are released into the rivers from polyester. As a result, the material harms organisms present on earth. Furthermore, polyester production also requires intense energy reserves, thus burdening our planet. Polyester poses a grand challenge against sustainability since more than 50% of the global fashion industry uses it as a primary fabric.
Other synthethics fibers that we may avoid are the acrylic or virgin nylon. Also derived from petroleum and has a very similar negative impact on the environment as polyester.
Did you know this about recycled cotton/organic cotton?
Recycled cotton is a forward step in sustainability to prevent further textile waste. Since recycled cotton utilizes fewer resources than cotton or even organic cotton, it is an excellent choice to reduce the cost of production. Unfortunately, recycled cotton is produced at a minimal scale presently.
Organic cotton has the same attributes as virgin cotton, minus the harmful effects on the environment. Organic cotton is produced with non-GMO seeds grown without pesticides or harmful fertilizers. In terms of sustainability, organic cotton will save seventy percent of water compared to planting and harvesting virgin cotton. Furthermore, organic cotton prevents the farmers from being exposed to hazardous chemicals and dated farming techniques such as crop rotation or no-till farming.
Browse our sustainable fashionware
The use of sustainable fabrics allows to reduce environmental damage. At MonBali we believe in the importance of betting on sustainable fabrics so every day we try to find the most sustainable materials as well as carrying out a production that is conscious with the environment and society.
For more information, contact customer support at +34 6295 12281 or email hello@monbalicollection.com.
We welcome you to promote sustainability with us.
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