Americans like to buy denim so much that ordinary consumers buy four pairs of jeans each year. In China's denim hub Xintang province, 300 million pairs of shoes are produced each year. It is shocking that the jeans that need to be dyed are dyed by toxic chemicals and hundreds of gallons of water. The environmental damage caused to rivers, ecosystems, and communities in China, Bangladesh, and India is the subject of a new documentary called “River Blue: Can Fashion Save the Planet". .(Ecowatch.com)
How are jeans made?
Jeans manufacturing method: material production
True blue jeans yarn is made of 100% cotton or 98% cotton and 2% elastane. The yarn is then killed by using natural or synthetic indigo dyes. The plastic or leather used to make the brand label is the steel used for the zipper and buttons through the last material.
Jeans manufacturing method: manufacturing process
The cotton is woven, dyed, and dried. The clothes are then sewn, pre-washed and washed with a detergent or other mechanical techniques.（attitudeorganic.com)
Jeans environmental impact
At least 32.5 kilograms of carbon dioxide are generated every year when using one pair of jeans, so Attitude Organic believes that the term "contaminated jeans" is applicable. Let us see how we reached such a high level. Have you ever heard someone ask: "How much water does it take to make jeans?". 25,000 liters per kilogram. At Attitude Organic, when they read this number, they were very surprised ... Irrigating a lot of cottons also consumed a lot of chemicals, changed the river, and made the soil salty. It also needs to disseminate large amounts of pesticides that kill many organisms. Among them, the residents and factory workers pose a major health risk.
In this process, as the cowboy capital of the world, nothing is more obvious than the environmental pollution in Xintang Township in southern China. It produces one in three pairs of jeans. Due to limited supervision, by 2013, the Xintang River water was dark blue and smelled bad, which was the result of manufacturers directly pouring wastewater containing chemicals into local waterways. Unsafe amounts of toxic metals, such as mercury, lead, and copper, have been found in the water. Residents use diets and daily needs to introduce chemicals into the skin. The health of workers and residents whose ecosystems have been damaged by chemicals has been seriously threatened, with rashes, lesions, and infertility that some locals believe. Denim has also undergone a particularly energy- and water-consuming and destructive dyeing and finishing process, first of all to give the fabric an iconic indigo color (originally a vegetable dye, but today it has been replaced by a synthetic version). After dyeing, the cotton yarn is washed and bleached several times with a cleaning agent contaminated with water to make the fabric soft, fade, or deform. Most of our favorite shades and styles (worn, pickled, lightly washed) require additional treatment and chemical treatment. In short, producing a pair of jeans requires a lot of water and energy, and causes serious pollution to the environment.（nrdc.com)
How to go for sustainable jeans?
In today's clothing industry. Consumers must also understand the impact of their consumer behavior on the environment. This is all a shared responsibility. "If you want to change some shopping habits, here are some tips:(NRDC.ORG)
1. Avoid excessive consumption. Wear denim for as long as possible, and give up "fast fashion", which refers to the term for making cheap fashion clothing that can only be used for one or two quarters.
2. Rebuild existing jeans when needed, instead of completely throwing them away.
3. Shopping in a second shop store can extend the life and reduce the carbon footprint of each pair of jeans, or exchange with friends. Another way can donate to charity
4. When you buy a new product, choose durable items that can be used for years instead of months.
5. Finally, look for sustainable denim brands
The best sustainable denim brands
Some well-known denim brands have begun to comprehensively reform their production practices and use innovative methods and technologies to reduce waste and pollution.
By comparing the energy data required for jeans production in 2007 and 2015, Levi's implemented a series of ecologically conscious changes and established strategic partnerships. In 2011, the designer proposed a new product called Water <lessTM Technology to protect the precious resources of nature. This technology can save at least 96% of water resources. Levi's is also maintaining a continuous cooperative relationship with the Better Cotton Program and the Sustainable Apparel Alliance and said that it will fully switch to sustainable cotton to design its brand by 2020.
Everlane's denim brand has always been based on its strict eco-centric standards. The day of last year finally came to the unveiling of Saitex. Saitex is a LEED-certified facility that can recycle 98% of water and rely on alternative energy sources for power supply. Not even waste material will be wasted-Saitex will rebuild excess denim into bricks and then use it to build affordable housing.
At the forefront of high fashion, Edun is launching some of the most fashionable sustainable denim on the market. In order to meet the spirit of its brand, its jeans are made in Kenya by artisans and have passed the fair trade and organic certification. Like Levi's, Edun has partnered with the Better Cotton Initiative, which aims to greatly reduce the environmental impact of cotton production.
AYR jeans have always maintained impressive environmental performance: each pair of aloe jeans is made from recycled denim and can be produced with just a glass of water from start to finish. The brand was born and bred in downtown Los Angeles, and each season also donates part of its proceeds to charities. This time, the brand will directly flow 20% of its sales to the Fresh Air Fund, which will help children in low-income communities to enjoy outdoor summer activities and participate in leadership programs throughout the year.（fashionista.com)
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