View of SUSTAINABILITY ISSUES IN TEXTILE INDUSTRY - REALITY AND CHALLENGES

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ACCENT JOURNAL OF ECONOMICS ECOLOGY & ENGINEERING Peer Reviewed and Refereed Journal, ISSN NO. 2456-1037

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Vol. 08, Special Issue 01, (IC-STSS-2023) January 2023 IMPACT FACTOR: 8.20 (INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL)

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SUSTAINABILITY ISSUES IN TEXTILE INDUSTRY - REALITY AND CHALLENGES

Ms. Rupali Kapoor

Lecturer Fashion Technology Dept., Govt. Women’s Polytechnic College Indore

Abstract- Sustainability is a major issue in the age of the modern world. For the textile and apparel sector, this has been a very strong concern for many related bodies and areas. Over the past few years, growing awareness of the environmental and social concerns related to the fashion industry has led priority on the implementation of sustainability initiatives.

Environmental sustainability in business refers to durability, but in terms of which natural resources the production process might draw upon, how resources are to be used and replenished, the overall impact of the end product on the environment, and where the end products up following its disposal. The main environmental problems related to the textile industry are typically those associated with water body pollution caused by the discharge of untreated effluents. Other environmental issues of equal significance are the emission of Volatile Organic Compounds, excessive noise or odor as well as in air and workspace safety.

Achieving sustainable principles without compromising competitiveness can be ensured through new product development, quality and productivity improvement, cost control and adopting green and eco-friendly initiatives gradually. All these competitive parameters of the industry will contribute to adopting the respective sustainable principles.

1 INTRODUCTION

From a hunter-gatherer civilization that moved into a region to exhaust its resources in a season before setting up camp or moving on to return the following year to do the same, the development of a surplus economy brought about the permanent settlement. Slash-and- burn farming replaced the natural wilderness with often uniform crop plantations, and the camps gave way to settlements, then villages, towns, and cities that put pressure on the environment. Sometimes environmental pressures (one of those pressures being a growing human population) forced people to make these changes, and often they ended up having to move somewhere else where the environment and their practices could better support them leading further changes to their existing environment. There was no real concept of sustainable living, although people from the ancient past understood that the soil had a maximum fertility that could be depleted and replenished with livestock. It is common knowledge that many companies have collapsed due to their inability to adapt to the conditions caused by these unsustainable practices. Whether it was the introduction of alien species that upset the balance of the ecosystem, the cutting down of too many trees at once, or even the inability to adapt to the natural fluctuations of the climate, we are much more aware in the modern world.

1.1 Sustainability in the textile industry

Cultural change often led to the survival of these societies beyond what could be expected under the circumstances. Although some Renaissance and Enlightenment philosophers expressed concern about resources and overpopulation and whether it was sustainable in the long term, these people were not taken seriously at the time other than as a hypothetical question. It would take until the 20th century before we understood the impact we could have on our environment. Environmental damage, pollution, land destabilization by cutting down trees, and fossil fuels, and other environmental issues have led to a growing concern about the environment and whether we have or may have damaged our ecosystem. The United Nations was founded after World War II and UNESCO was established in 1945 to promote the importance of human culture and science. Today, their mission is to "contribute to peace-building, poverty eradication, sustainable development, and intercultural dialogue through education, science, culture, communication, and information". By the end of the 20th century, the science of climate change was firmly established. Already in the 1980s, we knew about the problems of the greenhouse effect and the destruction of the ozone layer and coming very late into this century, we realized that some of our resources - especially fossil fuels - are limited and that we should try to

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switch to renewable energy sources. It was then that we saw the economic, social, and scientific birth of the environmental movements.

2 OVERVIEW OF THE TEXTILE INDUSTRY

The textile industry is a major contributor to many national economies and includes both small and large operations around the world. This industry is one of the largest industrial outlets in the world in terms of its production or output and employment. The textile production process is characterized by high consumption of resources such as water, fuel, and various chemicals in a long process that generates a significant amount of waste.

Common practices of low process efficiency result in a significant waste of resources and severe environmental damage. The main environmental problems associated with the textile industry are typical problems associated with the pollution of water bodies caused by the discharge of untreated wastewater. Other equally important environmental problems are, in particular, air emissions of Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) and excessive noise or odor, as well as workplace safety.

Sustainability practices can have environmental, social, and economic impacts throughout the textile industry. In this lesson, to learn more about the ways manufacturers can communicate, reduce costs, and build a reputation. Sustainability, the practice of using business practices and production methods that do not destroy natural resources, is a concept that affects more than just the textile industry. It reaches every industry on the planet, from the food supply for restaurants to the energy consumption of hotels.

Sustainable living is becoming an increasingly important issue in the 21st century as the impacts of human production and waste become inescapably evident. The goal of sustainability is to create cycles of behavior with the greatest long-term benefits for the greatest number of people. There are three defining elements: economic, social and ecological, thanks to the use of recycled material for the production of clothing, it provides another sphere of economic world profit. Sustainable Clothing will provide a new market for additional employment opportunities, a continuous net flow of money in the economy and a reduction in raw materials and indigenous resources. Reducing sources or limiting the use of raw materials and indigenous resources can ultimately reduce carbon emissions during the manufacturing process, as well as the sources and carbon emissions associated with the transportation process. This also prevents the unsustainable use of extracting materials from the earth by using what has already been used (ie recycling).

2.1 Major environmental and social challenges in the textile industry

Textile is one of the most dangerous engineering processes. In particular, the wet processing industry produces a huge amount of wastewater that greatly pollutes our water base. Thus, the sustainable development of the textile industry must bear in mind the negative environmental impacts and appropriate mitigation plans must be put in place.

2.2 Principles to achieve sustainability

Textile is one of the most furious engineering processes. Particularly, the wet processing industry produces a large amount of wastewater that greatly pollutes water bodies. Thus, the sustainable development of the textile industry must bear in mind the negative environmental impacts and appropriate mitigation plans must be put in place. To achieve sustainable development, these are the five basic principles that the industry must adopt.

But achieving all these demand some cost. Businesses cannot accept sustainable principles that threaten competitiveness. This is the balance that the industry must explore to gradually adopt sustainable practices so the additional costs associated with the transition to sustainability do not influence competitiveness.

Some sustainable textile innovations

• New alternate threads

• Recyclable material

• Yarns from marine animals

• Natural dyes

• 3D paintings

• Digital print

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• Virtual sampling

• Self-cleaning cloths

• Charging fabrics

3 5 R TO APPLICATION IN SUSTAINABLE TEXTILES

1. Reduce - A major figure in the field of decluttering and reduction is Marie Kondo, whose principles and philosophies offer a useful starting point for reducing your spending habits and your wardrobe, as well as offering great tips on how to keep it organized and make use of everything you already own. So you reduce what you feel the need to buy.

2. Reuse again - The consequences of fashion waste are a major area of concern and a major contributor to the ongoing pollution of our planet. A recent study outlined that 95% of the textiles that end up in landfill each year could be recycled (especially as technology advances). The fashion industry is also one of the most intensive when it comes to the use of resources such as water, waste, land clearing, materials and more. Today, reuse is essential to minimizing your fashion footprint, and we need to normalize new clothes. We already have so many clothes in our closets, including many that we love and cherish, so of course we should want to wear them again and again.

3. Recycle - With the arrival of a new year or season, many of us want to start fresh and clean out our closets. But what to do with those old clothes you haven't worn in the years. If your item is unsalvageable, you can donate it to a company that will recycle it for you, for example; Patagonia and their Worn Wear program. The brand accepts used Patagonia clothing that works perfectly and is in good condition. When you trade in your quality, popular Patagonia gear, you'll earn credit toward purchases at Patagonia retail stores. Similarly, Swedish stockings will cover your nylon waste, Nike Grind is a collection of recycled materials developed by Nike, consisting of pre-consumer manufacturing scraps, recycled post-consumer shoes from the Reuse-A-Shoe program, and unsold footwear.

4. Repairs - Repairing, restoring and salvaging is something previous generations knew all too well – but has this handy pastime been threatened by changing attitudes to fashion and consumerism? This step is where reducing your fashion footprint gets creative and offers you a chance to channel your inner granny for innovative ways to patch, sew and extend the life of your garment.

5. Resell - Found any items you're ready to part with? Don't worry – selling used goods is easier and more affordable than ever.Uploading photos takes five minutes and is a great way to make some extra cash while maintaining a minimal fashion footprint (after all, we don't want this minimization process adding more clothes to the landfill). If online isn't your vibe, then hosting a market stall or good old fashioned yard sale is a great alternative. Who knows, you might even meet like-minded people in the process.

When you consider these tips and the fun task ahead, making commitments or challenges to yourself is a helpful way to stay motivated and committed to the process and don't forget:

there's a lot to be said for the positive impact that individuals can have by focusing on their own habits to reduce their fashion footprint and set a positive example for those around them to do their part as well.

Thus, sustainable production is the production of products in a way that does not pollute, conserves energy and natural resources, and is economically sound and safe for employees, communities, and consumers. The industry must constantly look for less hazardous options for production and ensure an appropriate mitigation plan accordingly. It is also important to run intensive awareness-building and knowledge-sharing programs and strengthen law and enforcement agencies to ensure a clean environment.