Green Apparels: A Sustainable Way of Apparel Manufacturing
By Dr. M. Parthiban, Dr. M. R. Srikrishnan and Dr. P. Kandhavadivu
Contents
Preface vii
1. Perception of sustainable green consumption practices and it’s impact on greener lifestyles 1
Gopalakrishnan D & Prakash M
2. Implementation of sustainability initiatives for green production in apparels 33
SenthilKumar S & Vinayagamurthi P
3. Eco-hazards in manufacturing of apparels 69
Manjula S
4. Dyeing Industry wastewater using reverse osmosis treatment practiced in CETP –Part I 83
Dr. Rameshkumar M & Dr. Saravanakumar T
5. Evolution of anti-pollution face mask using three layer composite fabrics 107
Dr. Srikrishnan M R, Niresh J & Archana N
6. Eco-management in Apparel Industry 147
Dr. Parthiban M & Dr. Srikrishnan M R
7. 3P’s concepts for Sustainable Development 153
Dr. Parthiban M & Dr. Kandhavadivu P
8. Enzymatic approach to sustainable apparel production and green applications 161
Gopalakrishnan D, Dr. Meenu Srivastava & Apoorva Gupta
9. Reduction of carbon-footprints in apparel industry 181
Dr. Parthiban M & Dr. Kandhavadivu P
10. Eco-testing of apparel products 189
Amutha K
11. Environmental Sustainability in Textile Production and Processing 221
Dr. Senthil Kumar P
Preface
The textile and apparel industry which includes fibres and textiles for technical and apparel production, is one of the world’s most important and highly integrated global markets. As the world population increases, consumption of textiles and apparel products also increase. This influences numerous industries within the service and extractive sectors. For example, the textile industry has strong links to energy, water, chemicals, petroleum, agriculture and consumer products as well as to the retail, transport, leisure, sports and high fashion segments of the economy.
All textile production influences the society and the environment. Increasingly, the textile industry has recognized and is taking responsibility for the impacts of their activities in these areas. Voluntary third party certification of sustainability efforts and performance has become an important part of creating and communicating value and transparency by textile firms. There is a clear need for better reporting and certification systems to communicate more clearly how textile factories are addressing the reduction of environmental and social challenges while increasing efficiencies in social, environmental and economic performance.
This book will provide the concepts of developing environment friendly and sustainable clothing for the future. The book focuses on the legal regulations, ecological considerations and different standards recommended by various countries and certifying agencies. It also speaks about the characterization of environment friendly apparel products and the concepts related to the development of earth positive apparels. The book also speaks about the cleaner production technologies for future dwells on novel technological aspects related to wet processing industry.
Perception of sustainable green consumption practices and its impact on greener lifestyles
Gopalakrishnan and M. Prakash
Abstract: Green fashion provides consumers with healthier and more ecofriendly apparel choices. The fashion supply chain is one of the most polluting industries in the world, being a huge consumer of water, electricity and chemicals, and discharging massive quantities of wastes to land. Going green has seeped into the nation’s consumer consciousness. Synthetic fabrics and clothing fibres processed with heavy chemical agents are facing a declining popularity because of the harmful and enduring effects on the planet and people’s health. Concerned consumers are also becoming increasingly health conscious and actively support greener lifestyles. A review of the environmental impacts associated with apparel across the entire product life cycle revealed that impacts from the production and processing and apparel consumer use stage dwarf those of transportation and product end-of-life. Global pollution and increased awareness are prompting consumers to seek healthier living choices including clothing in these countries. However, the same has not happened in India. Neither textile manufacturers are doing much for sustaining green fashion, nor the lack of awareness about green fashion among customers driving them to go green not only in their own interest but also in the interest of environment. And while some industries have received more attention than others, research has shown that even for consumers with knowledge of environmental impacts resulting from apparel production and manufacture, purchasing green over conventional apparel has not historically been a concern for many consumers. The business interests of these manufacturers act as deterrents for going green. They said that they need to look at all sides of this issue including the end cost of the process. The areas to look at include not only the cost, but also time and even pollution levels caused by the transition to green. Stakeholder’s and customer’s pressure on sustainability has pushed business practices. This is the reason that green clothing is hitting the runways, not only as a fashion, but as a way of life in many countries around the globe.
However, a few contributions have offered a comprehensive analysis of the practices employed in the fashion supply chain to reduce its environmental impact. In this paper, a theoretical perception and impact of sustainable green consumption practices in the greener lifestyle is presented.
Key words: green products, greener lifestyles, green consumption, sustainability
1.1 Introduction
Contrary to the rapid progress made by the textile industry in advanced countries in their efforts to minimise ecological destruction and offer consumers natural products choices, with reduced or eliminated highly toxic ingredients, not much has been done by the textile industry in India. A major driver of human impact on Earth systems is the destruction of biophysical resources, and especially, the Earth’s eco-systems. While going green can be a worthy endeavour for any textile industry, there are drawbacks to opt for green fashion and help the green movement in the interest of nation.
The environmental impact of a community or of humankind as a whole depends both on population and impact per person, which in turn depends in complex ways on what resources are being used, whether or not those resources are renewable, and the scale of the human activity relative to the carrying capacity of the eco-systems involved. The story of those concerned with textile industry is quite simple. The extent of awareness regarding green fashion among Indian citizens is considered to be quite low. This is the reason that green fashion has not become sustainable in India in spite of the increasing awareness about environmental degradation, environmental pollution and its hazardous effects on the health of the people.
A review was performed across different topics to identify consumer preferences that may influence the implementation of sustainability practices for outdoor apparel brands. Topics reviewed include factors that influence consumers to purchase green apparel and whether the outdoor apparel brand’s main consumer base, the outdoor recreationalist, is more likely to be concerned with the environment than the average consumer and how that may affect their preference when purchasing apparel. Lastly, it was explored whether a company or brand’s commitment, real or perceived, to environmentally friendly practices or production of environmentally friendly products will help to sell more items.