When we talk about environmental destruction, we often blame our daily lifestyle and continuous reducing fossil fuel and the harmful CO2 combustion produced. Yes, industrialization is one of the reasons for environmental degradation, but it is not the only reason. The fashion industry plays a key vital role in the destruction of our ecosystems.
This article will discuss how the fashion industry contributes to deforestation. You might have heard people saying that “forests are the lungs of the Earth”, but somehow people remain unaware of the fact that a healthy ecosystem means pure oxygen, which leads to healthy living. Ever since humankind got a sense of how to cover their body since then, we have been using the by-products of forests, but these days the need is converting into a toxic habit and greed. If you keep your knowledge about the environment and fashion, then you might already know the carbon footprint produced by the fashion industry. Statics says if you can save only one acre of forest from the destruction, that can protect us from 400 metric tons of carbon emission. When we talk about deforestation, multiple other environmental destructions come with it that we all have studied in our primary classes.
Let’s discuss some of the stupid decisions made by humankind and how we can reduce our contribution as an individual to it and make others aware other about it too.
Fashion Out Of Forests
While we are talking about the destruction made by fashion industries, do you know that the textile industry is among the fourth number of climate emissions produced by their industries? According to statics, if we compare the numbers of man-made cellulosic fibres in 2018 to this year, you will find it is a hike of 24 per cent. The production was 28 per cent in 2018, and this year it is 52 per cent, and this process has put the forests in the endangered category. The order to produce the fibre of the so-called next generation, instead, we are preparing for their deathbed if there won’t be enough forests to produce fresh air. The shoes and clothes we carry are all made from the deforestation and degradation of tropical rainforests, and the cellulosic and leather fibres are all forest products.
People aren’t much aware that viscose and rayon are made from trees; it sounds like an environment on fire, right? as per Canopy statics, less than 20 per cent of the Earth’s ancient forests are the reason which the biological diversity is maintained, which is also in danger these days. According to the records, the viscose and rayon used in the fashion industry are mostly made from ancient and endangered forests, estimated to be up to 30 per cent. Doing so, you are not just killing the lungs of this ecosystem but also making wild animals homeless. There are more than 200 million cut down each year just for the production of cellulosic fabrics.
While talking about the topic, keep in mind that just because you do not want to use textile materials that are made from cutting down the trees, then be sure you are also not using cheap non-biodegradable products, which will be equally harmful to the environment that is why you have to be more attentive as an individual. Be a bit calculated about your carbon and deforestation footprint and try to follow a more sustainable fashion. For instance, if you need any, then go for Best Vegan leather bags or more of their kind, which is sustainable and vegan and eco-friendly.
Solution And Alternatives
After reading what all this while, you might be doing, but now you are aware of the situation, let’s talk about the solutions. You might have heard about reducing carbon footprint but never heard of reducing reduction deforestation footprint. The purpose of both is the same, so let’s see some of the ways we can least reduce the rate of destruction.
- First of all, you need to pay attention to what you are buying, avoid leather and all the viscose and rayon products and look out for their products. Due to technology and everyday innovations, many great alternatives are more sustainable and good for the environment.
- Hemp is a much-loved textile in the sustainable fashion community, and for a good reason. Hemp is one of the alternatives to wool, significantly land efficiently because of how deeply this plant grows; hemp can be grown without any pesticides and tiniest water if sustainable agriculture is practised. This bast fibre is often blended with organic cotton to make it cosier to rug up in.
- Like Tencel, which is a suitable option, bamboo lyocell is produced in a closed loop. Some of you might know that bamboo grows even after being cut down. They do not need much water to grow and grow without pesticides. You should go for bamboo instead of rayon because they are more sustainable and is good for knitted garments, which are quite breathable and soft.
Pineapple leather is another good alternative for leather which are 95 per cent biodegradable. You won’t believe that the useless pineapple leaves get used in the production of pine leather. This means no additional land is needed to produce the material, which is then coated with a bio-based resin for longevity.
When we talk about saving forests from getting cut down for our fashion and luxury, we are also talking about being concerned about the environment and pollution. This is why it is importnat for your fashion peace to be sustainable, vegan and eco-friendly.
Final Conclusion
The Earth is burning, which is obsessively a metaphor, but if you go into the meaning of these words, you will agree that indeed Earth is burning. When you cut a tree, you are not only reducing the oxygen percentage of the environment but also taking the homes of many innocent animals. This results in ecosystem disbalance, leading to climate changes and multiple other environmental hazards. So hope the above article might be helpful to you.
