Thread Lightly: T-Shirt Sustainability Unravelled

One of the oldest and most commonly used fibres in the apparel and textile industry. It’s the second most produced fibre globally. Depending on the location, it takes on average 10,000-20,000 litres of water to cultivate just one kilogram of raw cotton. Chemical pesticides are used which are harmful to both biodiversity and the environment and pose a serious threat to the health of cotton farmers.²

Fashion footprint facts:

• Producing one cotton shirt requires around 2,500 litres of water.³
• Cotton uses 4.7% of the world’s pesticides and 10% of the world’s insecticides.

Alternatives:

• Organic cotton: free of chemical pesticides and genetically modified seeds.
• Recycled cotton: uses less water, requires no pesticides or GM and reduces textile waste.

This synthetic fibre uses less water than cotton but sheds microplastics when washed, contributes to high energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions during production and is non-biodegradable staying in landfills for centuries.

The polyester-cotton blend is breathable, durable, affordable and comfortable, but recycling is challenging due to the intricate separation of fibres, however, recent technological advancements have improved feasibility and accessibility.

Fashion footprint facts:

• 125 megajoules of energy is needed to produce one kilogram of polyester.
• 14.2 kg of carbon dioxide is emitted when producing one kilogram of polyester.

Alternatives:

• Recycled and bio polyester.⁴

Global demand for this renewable, natural, biodegradable and recyclable fabric has led to extensive growth in sheep farming, raising concerns about animal welfare and methane emissions.⁵ This has motivated the wool industry, particularly in Australia, to actively research methods to address these concerns, focusing on mitigating methane emissions and improving farming standards.⁶

Fashion footprint facts:

• Australia produces 90% of the world’s fine apparel wool.

Alternatives:

• Certified organic wool: guarantees no pesticides and parasiticides and good livestock management are used.

Made from cellulose – typically sourced from wood pulp – viscose production contributes to deforestation of ancient and endangered forests. The manufacturing process uses large amounts of air- and water-polluting chemicals. While viscose is seldom recycled, some companies are adopting sustainable materials and practices, offering hope for reduced environmental impact.⁷

Fashion footprint facts:

• 150 million trees are logged annually in viscose production.

This strong and naturally biodegradable fibre made from flax plants is more eco-friendly than cotton, using less water and pesticides, but its retting process can be chemical-heavy. This process can be avoided by using water retting which is a common feature of certified organic linen.

Fashion footprint facts:

• Overall, linen is one of the least environmentally damaging fibres used today.⁸