How The Fabric Industry Is Becoming More Sustainable?

In the past, the fabric and upholstery industry has contributed to the emission of greenhouse gases and water pollution. It has been an energy-intensive industry that involves a significant amount of chemicals to produce fabrics for the trade. Cotton farms often use insecticides and pesticides to ensure a good yield during harvest and during the production process of upholstery fabrics, more than 50 types of chemicals have often been used.

Today, however, the fabric industry is committed to becoming more sustainable and many manufacturers are finding new and safer ways to manufacture their products using sustainable, environmentally safe furnishing fabrics.

With That in Mind, We are Going to Take a Look At What Today’s Fabric Industry is Doing to Become More Sustainable:

Reducing The Use Of Toxic Chemicals- it is important for today’s factories to process wastewater internally and reuse recycled water. This is reducing water consumption and the surrounding waterways won’t become polluted. Fabrics manufacturers are also looking for alternative substances that have fewer impacts on the environment.

Producing Much More Durable Fabrics- fibres in fabrics for the trade are often consisted of cotton or polymers. Repeated use will weaken these fabrics, causing tear and wear. Once furnishing fabrics become discoloured and visibly tattered, the furniture will no longer be usable. Each year, millions of metric tonnes of clothing and fabrics go to landfills. Some are recycled into bags, shoes, and other products, but most slowly degrade in nature. It may take a few years for cotton to bio-degrade, but it will take centuries for synthetic fabrics to break down. By producing durable fabrics, the fabric industry is helping to reduce waste.

Allowing Easier Repair, Upcycles And Redesign- many furniture manufacturers are looking beyond the current use for their products. High quality upholstery fabrics make furniture easier to repair, upcycle, and redesign. The upcycling movement in the home fashion industry is helping to improve sustainability.

Avoid Blends- the recycling process could work only a single type of fabric. A blend of cotton and polyester will make the recycling process difficult or impossible to do. Old cotton fabrics can be cut to small pieces and be allowed to bio-degrade, while polyester must be recycled. Coatings, additives and ornamental trims should be avoided, because they make recycling more difficult.

Contact Create Fabrics

To learn more, contact Create Fabrics today and speak with a fabric expert who will assist you and answer any questions you might have.

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