If you’re reading this, chances are you’re someone who cares about the environment enough that you’ve already started contributing in your own way. But have you considered the carbon footprint of clothing?
You probably already turn off your energy-conserving lights when you leave a room. Perhaps you recycle, or take public transport when you can. You avoid products with excessive amounts of fancy plastic packaging. Maybe you’ve even bought second-hand furniture before. Whether these are actions you’ve taken consciously with the environment in mind, or are simply your way of life, they are doing good.
These simple, everyday actions help to conserve valuable (and often finite) resources. These actions reduce your carbon footprint, helping to limit the severity of climate change. Without them, there would be more carbon dioxide released into the atmosphere and more pollution of natural habitats. It’s really that simple. You’re already doing good!
The Carbon Footprint of Clothing
We’re not going to pretend that climate change is going to disappear if we all change our lightbulbs and recycle our garbage. And that’s not because these actions aren’t helpful (they really, tangibly are), but because there are so many other facets of modern society and our daily habits which need to be improved. For example, did you know that there are a lot of carbon dioxide emissions tied up in what you’re wearing right now? Unfortunately, the carbon footprint of clothing is quite large.
These CO2 emissions arise from two points in the item’s lifecycle: (1) the production process, and (2) how you use and look after the item.
The worldwide clothing industry is responsible yearly for about 850 megatons of carbon dioxide emissions. To put that figure in perspective, consider the fact that as a nation, Australia emits about 390 megatons each year.
Because of this massive contribution of the clothing industry to CO2 emissions in the atmosphere, the way we buy and treat our clothing has a correspondingly massive potential for improving the environment.
1) Before you buy
Globally, about half of the CO2 emissions that make up the carbon footprint of clothing come from electricity usage. This is because most of that electricity is generated by coal-fired power stations and other non-renewable energy sources. There might not be a whole lot you can do to influence the energy policies of other countries, but by using your superpowers as a conscious consumer you can choose to purchase products that are the product of a responsible and low-carbon production process.
Buy carbon neutral
Warby Parker is an American eyewear brand that sells high-quality, low-cost prescription glasses, donating a pair of glasses to someone in need for every pair sold. They are one of the few companies in the world that are truly carbon neutral – they have mapped out their carbon footprint from production to shipping, and neutralised it all by purchasing carbon offsets. Plus, they’re rated ‘Great’ by the Good On You Ethical Detectives!
Possibly include here a few words on this: http://fashion.telegraph.co.uk/article/TMG8445588/Worlds-first-carbon-neutral-bra.html. Depending on getting brand ratings for Humanitees, and XTM snowgear.
Asos was the first fashion retailer to gain carbon-neutral certification from The CarbonNeutral Protocol for all of their in-house operations and shipping. As a purely online retailer, they generate fewer carbon emissions than a traditional store, but they remain committed to using recyclable and reusable packing options that minimise waste, deliveries that avoid air travel where possible, staff programs that encourage green activities, and have invested in diverse reforestation programs from California to Tanzania. Unfortunately, they do not yet offset the clothing and products they ship.
Buy local
Locally, there are some awesome brands that are carbon-neutral, support carbon-positive projects, or have goals that aim for very low carbon emissions overall. These labels are really deserving of our love – and spending your dollars on the products that do good is the best way to tell these companies that they’re doing a good job!
3fish is a printing service for brands, so you can order carbon-neutral tees, hoodies, or totes for your business, band, or community group. Definitely deserving of their Good On You ‘Excellent’ rating.
Humanitees offsets all of their carbon emissions before they send you your new tee, which are organic and fairtrade, too! They plant trees on your behalf and your tee will arrive in environmentally-friendly packaging.
As the weather starts getting chillier and the snow starts falling, snowbunnies will be happy to know that XTM Snowgear will keep them kitted out in carbon-neutral gear perfect for the slopes. They’re certified NO CO2 by the Carbon Reduction Institute and rated ‘Great’ by Good On you!
Buying from local producers is itself a way to cut down on the miles your clothing has to travel, save on non-renewable fuels and avoid unnecessary carbon emissions that add to the carbon footprint of clothes. Plus, it can be fun to support local designers and makers!
Buy organic
Apart from specific brands, the types of clothes you decide to buy can also make an impact for the better. Lots of carbon in clothes is tied up in the fabrics themselves.
Cotton is a natural fibre and is a great choice for its durability and breathability. However, the current methods of cotton production are very carbon intensive, and require the heavy use of pesticides and fertilisers.
In India, 72% of carbon-equivalent emissions are from fertiliser and pesticide production. (In Australia, it’s just 56%, but our emissions from the fuel and electricity used in cotton production are triple that of India.)
If you’re concerned about these impacts on the world’s climate and ecosystems, then you can minimise harm by purchasing items made from organic cotton, which by definition is grown without any of these pesticides, requires less energy and water, uses sustainable fertilising practices, and does not involve genetic modification. (A side note on genetic modification: Genetically-modified cotton can have environmental benefits. For example, the insect-resistant Bt cotton has reduced chemical spraying in Australia by 80% and reduced the environmental impacts like pesticide pollution in rivers by 64%. So there are good arguments for and against genetically-modified cotton.)
Buy less, buy better
By far and away the best you can do is reduce your consumption all-round, and when you do consume, to be conscious and intentional about what you are adding to your wardrobe. We’ve discussed this on the blog before, but it’s worth saying again that buying good-quality clothes that will last, in classic looks that will remain in style and can be matched with many outfits is a thousand times better than buying many different fast fashion pieces that fall apart quickly.
Part of this means actively avoiding the ugly trend that is fast and disposable fashion. Choosing clothing in versatile or classic styles and colours helps (whatever ‘classic’ may mean for your personal style!), as does avoiding impulse purchases that only get worn once. By consciously curating a closet full of versatile, high quality and beautiful pieces which truly reflect your personal style, you’ll feel less of that nagging urge to constantly buy new clothes.
Imagine opening your wardrobe every morning to find that every item is your favourite, everything fits you properly and is comfortable and won’t fall apart after a few wears. Wouldn’t that be amazing? It may take some thought, but the result would be so worth it.
The stats back me up on this one: say you wear a white cotton t-shirt 50 times a year. Well, you could buy 12 shirts and wear each one 4 times, producing 98kg of carbon dioxide emissions, or you could buy one good shirt and wear it 50 times, producing just 15kg of CO2. Not to mention the money you’ll save, it’s clear that the more often you wear an item of clothing, the better it is for the planet!
Buy secondhand
Of course, you don’t have to buy something brand-new at all. Visit a local charity op shop, buy second-hand online, raid your friend’s wardrobes or get the down-low on second-hand and vintage shopping from Eleanor!
2) After you buy
When it comes to the clothes you already own, there are still ways to go green without putting in too much effort at all.
Wear what you have!
Simply putting your clothes to use more often before getting rid of them means that you’ve reduced your emissions-per-wear (not to mention cost-per-wear!).
Post-purchase, the way you wash and dry your clothes can either use lots of electricity (which in Australia is mostly coal-powered…), or not that much. It’s up to you – but using less electricity for washing is pretty simple.
Choose to air-dry
The first step is to ease your reliance on your dryer. Hang them out to dry and let the sun and wind do their totally natural thing. (You can dry delicates flat, and turn colourful items inside-out to save them from fading.)
Choose the ‘cold’ cycle
It is also absolutely necessary to pay attention to the washing instructions! Read the label and you’ll be surprised how many items can be washed in cold water. This not only saves on heating, but will for the most part increase the longevity of your clothes. If your machine has an ‘Eco’ setting, use it to save water and power!
We posted even more hints about washing your clothes in a sustainable way last month – so be sure to read it!
Judge when it needs washing
Don’t wash your clothes too often if you can help it. You probably know that denim jeans don’t need regular washing, but neither do most pants. (The brand director for Levi’s – rated ‘Good’ by us! – washes his jeans every six months.) And it’s so much more energy efficient to attempt to spot clean an area before you throw the whole garment in the wash. This handy guide recommends washing your undies, socks, and stockings after one wear, but that shirt you wore out to dinner for four hours? Back in the cupboard – it won’t need washing yet, unless you spilt food on it. I usually wash my bras after one wear, but I also get away with wearing my leggings a few times before they go in the laundry basket. Adjust for your preferences and lifestyle!
Say goodbye responsibly
Once your clothes have well and truly reached the end of their life, it’s time to think about where they’ll go next – and landfill is your last resort destination. If your garment is in good condition – say you’ve grown out of it, or dislike the colour – then your options are to sell it or to donate it. Charity shops are great, because you’ll be supporting the community as well as giving your clothes new life. Local vintage shops might even buy your best pieces off you. Check out our post about second-hand love here.
If you find that your clothes are simply too worn to sell or donate, don’t fret – it may still have potential in another form. Can that t-shirt be turned into a cleaning cloth? Can that jumper be re-knitted into a tea cosy? Can those socks become a weird art project? (Yes, yes, and yes!)
You can also contact your nearest charity store to find out if they accept damaged clothes – many stores can donate your worn clothes to be made into industrial rags. PlanetArk has some details on the types of clothing that’s best for rags. They also suggest that natural fibres might be helpful for your local community garden or Landcare group.
Following these suggestions really is as simple as turning off the TV at the switch and composting your banana peels. Recognising and reducing the environmental impact of the clothes you wear isn’t life changing, but collectively, our individual habits are definitely changing lives and changing the planet for the better.
What other ways do you try to reduce the carbon footprint of your clothing habits? Maybe you change out of your work clothes into PJs as soon as you get home to keep them clean longer, or have a favourite brand for quality classic pieces? Let us know in the comments!
Don’t forget to check the Good On You ethical rating for the labels in your wardrobe. If your favourite brand isn’t listed, please email us so we can start investigating!
Hannah Clare McFarlane is a writer, editor and booklover, who enjoys physics and making ice cream. A vegetarian and conscious consumer, she lives in Sydney’s inner west where she and her partner are learning to possum proof their vegetable garden.
Image Credits:
‘Within Nature’ by Luke Gram
Vintage shopping in El Raval, Barcelona
‘Vibes’ by @longcheng
By 3Fish Wardrobe
By XTM
‘Earnest Cotton Farm’ by Matthew Howard
‘Hanging Laundry 01 (Ardennes)’ by Niek Bokker
‘Soon Owls’ by Imogen Harvey-Lewis
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