Sustainability
in Textile Industry
Parimal Alwekar
Department of Textile
Technology
DKTE Engineering College ,Icchalkaranji,
India
Introduction
From thousands of years humans are
using natural fibers obtained from both animals and plants sources from these
different industries are making useful products and having different type of
applications. The synthetic fibers have made lots of changes they need
chemicals to make those fibers because of increasing demand synthetic fibers,
natural are growing in less demand but synthetic are not suitable for
environment hence new researches and technologist to find new innovation way of
growth, development cultivation and use of natural fibers in sustainable way.
The environment awareness among customers resisted the use of synthetic fibers
and forced the textile companies to use again ecological natural fiber. So, to
minimize the use of synthetic fiber Cotton is a giant of natural fibers and has
a big market share in textile products, but its cultivation involves the
extensive use of pesticides, growth fertilizers, chemicals and consumption of
large amount of water that gives rise to environmental and economic distress. Other
than cotton there are natural fibers like hemp, flax, organic cotton and bamboo
that can be used instead of cotton that are resource efficient.
Keyword: Sustainability, Textiles, Composites, Conclusion.
Sustainability:
The most suitable
definition of sustainability recommended by the word commission on Environment
and Development is 'meet the needs of present without compromising the ability
of future generation to meet their needs and desires'. Sustainability is
working on four features like economy, culture, environment and society. We
have to save our planet in future to overcome and solve these issues we need
complete and efficient management.
It plays a vital role in
textile processing and in all steps. in recent time sustainability is leading
to fashionable products. As today requirement is to produce goods that are
ecofriendly and have ability to serve the customer as well as environment and also
support the economy of the company. Let we take an example, a cotton T-shirt.
we can see no of steps involved making this T-shirt. First the growth of cotton
with harmful pesticides and chemicals for growing and further steps involves
these types of harmful aspects which will impact on earth or environment. In
recent time sustainability is leading to fashionable textile products hence we
can produce organic cotton which does not require harmful pesticides.
Textiles
Some sustainable textile includes:
- Organic cotton
- Bamboo
- Hemp
- Soya fiber
- Wool
- Pineapple Fiber
- Banana Fiber
- Milk protein
Organic Cotton
The conventional cotton is very environmental
unfriendly. It requires lots of chemicals, pesticides and fertilizers while
growing it causes pollution to the environment and also for the human health it
is harmful. Hence now a day Organic cotton is grown without use of chemical,
pesticides and without making much more harmful to environment. It is much more
environment friendly.
Advantages of organic cotton:
- Creates healthy environment and boost up towards sustainability.
- Elimination of risk of using harmful chemicals
- Organic cotton also ensures our food security and health care by providing contamination free food
Bamboo
It is very fast-growing woody plant.
It helps to improve quality of soil. It is very sustainable. It is regenerated
cellulosic fiber. It can be made by mechanically and chemically. In chemical
method high or strong solvent are used, it is not considered as sustainable way
to create fabric
Bamboo grows naturally
without growing any herbicides, pesticides and irrigation. It grows with
natural rainfall. There is no need of plantation of bamboo because it grows
from stalks cut off and buried in the ground and this starts growing and it
starts grow.
Mechanical Method
Woody part is crushed and treated
with natural enzymes to break down the bamboo in to soggy substance and
material is spun out by combed yarn it is very rough like linen
Chemical Method
In chemical method sodium hydroxide
is used then crushed. Dipped into the caustic soda and converted into cellulose
material.
Applications
- Bedsheets, Garments
- Also, in countries when cyclone and earthquake hits commonly
- Used in paper industries
- Shoes, hats, bags, rafts, tiles and also as a fire wood
- It is highly durable, stable and tough and has substantial tensile strength.
- It has antibacterial nature, so it is used in bandages, masks, nurse wears and sanitary napkins. Keeps your odor free and feeling and smelling fresh.
- UV proof, antibiotic and bacteriostatic curtains, television covers, and wallpapers. It is naturally treated with UPF 40 protection to cut out 97.5% of harmful UV rays. Perfect for travelling cover ups and outdoor activities. Protect yourself from skin cancer.
- It is breathable and thermoregulating means we stay comfortable whatever the weather keeps you cool in summer and warm in winter
- It is more absorbent than cotton helps to weak moisture away from the skin
- It is biodegradable a greener material that will simply return to Earth.
Hemp
Pesticides or insecticides are not
needed when growing hemp and hemp actually improves the condition of the soil
that it is grown in. It is grown in. It
is also drought resistant and can be grown in most climates. The fabric can be
made from the hemp plant without using toxic chemicals and it can be processed locally,
reducing the cost and pollution associated with transport.
Applications
- Hemp is used to make centuries to make rope, canvas and paper. Also used in clothing, home furnishing textile and floor coverings.
- In China, hemp is degummed for processing on flax or cotton machinery.
- Blending with cotton, linen, silk and wool gives hemp of soft feel.
- Hemp fibers are used mainly in the special paper industry.
Soya
Soya cloth is made from a byproduct
that occurs during the food manufacturing of the soya bean. The fabric is soft,
drapes well, and is comfortable
Look for soya cloth that is
certified organic. The material is free of petrochemicals. It is most
sustainable plant in the world, being completely biodegradable.
Application
- Soya is soft and light weight that similar to cashmere, machine washable and wrinkle resistant.
- Additionally, it is an ideal textile for sport wear, as it is breathable, has anti -bacterial and UV resistant properties and contains amino acids that are good for the skin and body.
- It can be easily blended with other fibers, bringing it unique characteristics.
- Natural anti- bacterial agents providing with moisture absorbency.
Wool
Wool can be environment friendly
fabric with some conditions- The animals need to be treated well and live in
humane conditions. The sheep manure should not enter the water supply. Another
consideration how the wool is manufactured
Applications:
- Wool is a multifunctional fiber with a range of diameters that make it suitable for clothing, household fabrics and technical textiles.
- Its ability to absorb and release moisture makes woolen garment comfortable as well as warm.
Pineapple fabric
Pineapple leaves are used to obtain
Pina, a textile fiber that is used to make fabrics. The Pina fibers are
extracted from pineapples leaves by hand scraping decortications or retting. Pineapple
crops are natural resource.
Spanish Red or Native Philippine Red
pineapples take about 18 months to reach maturity The pineapple fibers are and
ivory white color and naturally glossy. This delicate cloth is translucent,
soft and fine with a high luster.
Applications:
- The fibric has generally natural glow similar to silk, and is better in quality. This gloss protects the fiber and as a result, Pina does not require any treatment with toxic material.
- It is easy to wash and care for, no dry cleaning required.
- It is an eco- textile for clothing.
Banana Fiber
The banana fiber is extracted by
hand stripping and decortications. Thus it 100% eco - friendly fiber. This
fiber looks like bamboo fiber and ramie fiber. It is strong, shiny, light
weight and biodegradable. It can even absorb moisture very efficiently. Banana
fiber where used for making ropes and mats till recent past. With its many
qualities getting popular, the fashion industry is also fast adopting this
fiber for making various fashion clothing and home furnishing.
Applications:
- To make currencies, bond paper.
- It is very good replacement of wool pulp in paper industry as it has high cellulose content, thus reducing environmental impact of deforestation.
- Banana fiber as a natural water purifier.
- It is used as base material for bioremediation and recycling.
Milk Protein Fiber
These fibers are used to make yet
another and eco friendly yarn. The milk yarn is dewatered, that is all the
water content is taken out from it and then skimmed. With the help of
bio-engineering technique, a protein spinning fluid is made. Wet spinning
process converts this fluid into high-grade textile fiber. The skin friendly
milk yarn goes to make glossy and luxurious fabrics similar in appearance to
silk fabrics that have antibacterial and antifungal properties too. Their
hygroscopic character makes them one of the finest moisture management fabrics.
They can be blended with a number of fibers to get many characteristics blend
them with bamboo to get cool fiber and with wool fiber to have a thermal
protective fiber.
Applications
- It is hygienic and flexible.
- It is moisture absorbent, permeable and heat resistant.
- It is sensitive to skin and as it has the same pH as the human skin.
- It is environment friendly and is considered as green product.
Composites:
They combinations of dissimilar
material to perform a task that neither of the constituent material can perform
alone. Since hardly any material is used in its pure form, composites have a
broad meaning and usages.
Sustainability,
industrial ecology, eco efficiency and green chemistry are guiding the
development of the next generations of material, products and processes. Biodegradable
plastics and bio- based polymer products based on annually renewable
agricultural and biomass feedstock can form the basis for a portfolio of
sustainable, eco-efficient products that can complete and capture markets
currently dominated by products based exclusively on petroleum feedstock.
Natural/biofiber composites (bio composites) are emerging as a viable
alternative to glass fiber reinforced composites especially in automotive and
building product applications. The combination of bio fibers such as kenaf,
hemp, flax, jute, henequen, pineapple leaf fib, and sisal with polymer matrices
from both nonrenewable and renewable resources to produce composite materials
that are competitive with synthetic composites requires special attention.
Conclusion:
Sustainability has become an
essential attribute of today’s textile and clothing industry, the process of
transforming textile industry into more sustainable one is very sensitive,
needs a lot of knowledge, skills and commitment. Use of sustainable fibers in
textile is a part of his process and a step towards this milestone. Organic
cotton and bamboo fibers, banana fiber ETC have demonstrated strength in the
market of textile fashion; these are much better and useful alternatives of
dominant and high impact fibers. Cotton has captured big market shares because
of its properties but cotton growing is not favorable for the environment it
requires lots of water, pesticides and fertilizers.
Use of these fibers in
the textile fashion industries is very limited or in very little percentage in
different composites, these fibers have potential to use in fashion products
and other industries to make the environment green.
References:
- Eco-Textile: For Sustainable Development Dept. of Textile industry.
- Eco- Friendly Textiles: A Boost to Sustainability Literature, Home science Dept. TMU
- Sustainable and environmentally friendly Fibers in Textile Fashion
- A study of organic cotton, bamboo fibers.
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