Introduction:
The eco-friendly product helps to conserve energy and promote green living which also helps in the prevention of air, noise and water pollution. They also prevent human health from deterioration and have proved to be a boon for the environment. So in today’s world of global warming being environmentally friendly or eco-friendly is becoming more and more important.
Steps to Become Eco-friendly:
Eco-friendly Fabrics:
The fabrics that are safe for the environment, biodegradable, or can be recycled easily are known as Eco-friendly fabrics. Eco-friendly building materials are a type of materials that don’t harm the environment from the production to the use or disposal, it can easily be recycled. It’s highly beneficial in the long run.
Here’s are the list of some of the most sustainable fabric innovations which could help in the drive for a more sustainable way of life. The eco-friendly fabrics are trending with a tag of earthy goodness attached to them.
ORGANIC COTTON:
It is the most natural fabric in which gallons of water are not needed for production. However, there are more sustainable ways of producing the fabric, which take into account the wider environment and habitats of the rest of nature. Organic cotton farming uses62% less energy and88% less water than conventional cotton. The certification regarding ethical cotton tells us that the garments which are worn by us are without any chemicals. Even the certified organic cotton with the GOTS label is also there in the T-shirts or garments which is a pertinent certification that ensures fair any and safe conditions. This means that the manufacturing process doesn’t use toxic fertilizers or pesticides which are harmful to our environment, including the workers.
ORGANIC HEMP:
Hemps are the most eco-friendly natural fabrics and are healthy for the soil.
Hemp is a great protein source with a high amount of vitamin E, iron, magnesium, calcium, zinc and is the most eco-friendly natural fabric around. It was the plant of choice to help clean and remediate the soil and its growth is healthy for the soil as it requires much less water than cotton. It emissions carbon dioxide from the atmosphere which further helps to reverse climate change.
It has so many benefits like it is naturally sun protective and antimicrobial. Moreover it is harder to grow; so it tends to be slightly more expensive than other sustainable organic fabrics, though we can expect to see more of it in the future.
ORGANIC LINEN:
Linen and hemp both are almost super light and identical in terms of sustainability. The only difference is that the Linen is derived from the fibres of the flax plant. There is no need for pesticides or fertilizers and requires very little water compared to hemp and cotton. It doesn’t need to be replaced for years as its material itself is hard wearing and it also dries quicker than cotton. It was used by the ancient Egyptians because of its coolness and durability. Especially during summer, it’s a favourite among the people because it’s very cool and absorbs sweating very fast.
RECYCLED POLYESTER:
Recycle polyester is better as compared to that virgin polyester and is super versatile and can form many different functions and feels. It can be used to make everything from light stretch active wear to and fluffy sustainable fleece. Now as people are aware of the eco-friendly environment and also aware of preserving resources, so they started working on giving away plastic bags, bottles, and everything that is non-degradable. This helps to end up landfills of micro-plastics that come out of the washing or throwing the waste.
MODAL:
Modal is known for its top-notch comfort and is a semi-synthetic fabric. It is made up of beech trees. The process used to produce the modal is the same as that is rayon fabric but is done with far less waste and chemicals used for the same closed-loop production. It is also carbon-neutral and made only from wood harvested from certified sources. Thus when it comes to comfort and breathability, modal is the best thing that comes first in the mind of the people.
BAMBOO AND LYOCELL:
It’s high time to preserve our resources as well as our environment. So there is a requirement of the products that are friendly to the environment. Lyocell is one such product. Lyocell is a raw material that is cellulose from wood pulp. The fibres used are biodegradable and the production process has a low environmental footprint. As no chemicals are used the wastewater is recycled. Lyocell is just like Hemp having a natural fibre with a low environmental impact.
Nowadays awareness among people also increases as before when clothes were washed, which are made from manmade fibres releases microfibers into waterways and are harmful to other species. Likewise, bamboo is also processed with minimal toxic chemicals. Bamboo is also one of the best materials for the growth and sustainability of the environment by reducing pollution and wastes.
PINATEX:
It can be easily suspect from the name itself that pinatex comes from pineapples and has entered the fashion world as a replacement for leather. It’s made from the scrap pineapple leaves that are otherwise burned. It can biodegrade naturally and it reduces waste. It is frequently combined with wood-based PLA. So to reduce waste and pollution, switch to sustainable and animal-free products and it’s the best option available. It also requires less water and no harmful chemicals used in it. The leftover leaf waste is used for fertilizer or is recycled.
SCOBY LEATHER:
Scoby-based leather is biodegradable and doesn’t require any animal’s skin. It does not even require any tanning chemicals or any heavy metals. It is comparatively cheaper than genuine leather. So why can’t we try something different which is completely friendly to nature? The product is a resemblance of leather and we get it at a cheaper rate and that too without the use of any dead animal skin. So this scoby leather is good to use.
APPLE ECO LEATHER:
You guess it right. As the name suggests it a product made by Apple. This leather is formed from the waste of apple juice. So the apple juice industry helps in making the environment eco-friendly by not throwing the waste of apples but is transfer to other industries who are specializing in recycling waste. The product made from it is fully waterproof, breathable, and super durable. The most famous products produce from it are purses, sneakers, and handbags. Apple eco-leather is very useful for the environment as it is biodegradable. It is made up of waste of apple juice, so is produced without huge investments.
SHEEP WOOL:
Wool is considered an alternative to petroleum-based synthetics like nylon and polyester. It is a natural fibre. It does not require a lot of chemicals during the processing stage and is durable. Some farmers produce wool using some techniques of sequester carbon from the atmosphere thereby helps in reducing the environmental impact. The strength and resilience of the fabric are that it lasts for a long time. So it is both water-repellent and flame-resistant.
SILK:
Due to its antibacterial properties, silk is great for the skin. And due to its complete compostability, it is great for the planet. It is either produced by wild silkworms or in most cases domesticated silkworms. It uses a humane type of sericulture. It is also known as the Ashima silk which is a nonviolent production process that allows the silkworm to live a humane life and naturally evolve into a butterfly. They are bread under natural conditions.
They can emerge on their own and carry on with their lives after the silk is collected. So no harm to any animal was done while production of any type of silk fabric.
COFFEE GROUND FIBER:
The textile industry has been implementing new technology and developing the fibre which is innovative and better for the industry in terms of social and environmental sustainable point of view. Coffee ground fibre is a technical composite fibre mainly manufactured from coffee grounds. The process of making fabric out of coffee grounds is just similar to that used to bamboo into viscose-like material. . The finished product dries quickly and provides natural UV protection.
This is then used to create technical composite fibre which can be used for knitted and woven clothing. A single cup of coffee can make the two T-shirts.
It is possible to mix the coffee fibre with other materials like polyester and more traditional material like nylon. The benefits of these products are more numerous. It may smell like a latte all day, but it will be dry, comfy, and eco-friendly.
CUPRO:
Cupro is a type of vegan silk alternative made with recycled cotton garments or cotton linter, a waste by-product of cotton farming. Linter is the short fuzz that sticks to seeds after harvesting. While this is both a recycled and semi-natural fabric it is one of the least sustainable on this list. For some, the main purpose of cupro fabric is just to make money from accumulated waste.
QMILK:
Qmilk has been self-proclaimed to be the “material of the future.” It sure sounds pretty futuristic. The material uses casein, a milk protein sourced as a by-product of the dairy industry, to make a fabric that’s natural, compostable, flame retardant, and silky smooth. Thus it is also a product that is eco-friendly and best for the environment.
Conclusion:
It is thinking of some people that it requires a lot of money, effort and time to make an eco-friendly product. The truth is that there are a lot of eco-products that you can start using right now which can help you to reduce waste and make this planet a better place to live. Eco-products are also known as environment-friendly products or green products as they cause minimal harm to people and the environment.
The intent is focused on not creating harm to the environment, and preventing as much harm from occurring to the environment through your interactions with it. It goes beyond an idea and extends to actual practices that influence how communities, businesses, and individuals conduct themselves. Being eco-friendly goes far beyond just turning off lights when you leave the room or separating your garbage for recycling – it is about changing the purpose of how you live.
Not only the old and traditional production department but also traditional packaging methods and materials contribute to global warming and other environmental issues. Using eco-friendly packaging allows you to reduce the amount of plastic that you use. Using non- sustainable petrochemical resources which are a part of all traditional plastics requires a lot of energy.