Fashion’s Plastic Paralysis: How Brands Resist Change and Fuel Microplastic Pollution
International fashion brands are doubling down on their use of synthetic fibres – a key driver of microplastic pollution.
→ →Everything you want to know about the sustainability of the textile and fashion industry
Polyester is a synthetic fiber made out of plastic, and it is the most commonly used fiber globally accounting for 60% of the composition of clothing. Although polyester recycling has been discussed as a potentially good solution for circularity in fashion, there are actually many problems associated with the process.
International fashion brands are doubling down on their use of synthetic fibres – a key driver of microplastic pollution.
→ →The common use of polyester in textiles, despite its benefits, poses significant health risks underscoring the need for more informed and health-conscious fabric choices
→ →This article delves into the environmental impacts, production processes, and sustainable practices of viscose and polyester, comparing their strengths and challenges to guide consumers towards more eco-friendly fashion choices.
→ →The report by the UN Special Rapporteur on human rights and toxics stresses that “the stages of the plastics cycle disproportionately affect people living in poverty”.
→ →The vast majority of polyester production is reliant on fossil fuel-based resources, which are not sustainable and risk market volatility due to their finite nature. To reduce the industry’s reliance on these petroleum-based resources, bio-based polyesters have emerged as a more sustainable alternative.
→ →Recycled polyester is lauded as a sustainable solution to reduce the environmental impact of polyester production. But is it really an improvement over conventional polyester?
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