Let’s face it. Water is our greatest resource. We can’t live without it. That’s why it’s beyond important that we the people aren’t wasteful with it. That means being aware of how much water we use and don’t use when it comes to things like taking showers, washing clothes, using the dishwasher, watering our gardens and purchasing new clothing (yes, purchasing new clothing). Do you know the amount of water it takes to make a pair of jeans?
Approximately 1,500 gallons of water is used to produce one single pair of jeans, which is mind-blowing. From growing and producing cotton (the main ingredient in jean material), to creating the fabric, washing, bleaching and other treatments of the textile. All of these processes take water.
On average people use 80-100 gallons of water a day, meaning one pair of jeans uses around the same amount of water you use in 15 days (that’s half a month!).
In fact, it takes incredible amounts of water to create most fabrics. This is in part why the textile industry is the next largest polluter of clean water globally to agriculture (and they go hand-in-hand).
Our “modern” world went from producing organic fabrics to synthetic fabrics, like polyester, which is created from plastic fibers. The end result is microfibers ending up in our oceans through washing of polyester clothes. Other synthetic materials include rayon, nylon, acetate, spandex and acrylic.
Every piece of apparel takes water to create it. One t-shirt takes about 750 gallons to produce, which is equivalent to filling up 10 bathtubs! It’s important everyone not only learns that new clothing production is sucking up incredible amounts of water and is spitting out polluted water into our oceans, but that by purchasing new clothing, you’re endorsing these unsustainable practices.
Your choices matter and make bigger impacts on this reality than you may imagine.
How much money have you given to big clothing manufacturers who pump out cheaply and irresponsibly produced clothes? All that these actions have done is say, “yes, we support you, endorse you and love you” (maybe for the wrong reasons). There’s nothing we can do about the past, but we can change our ways by redirecting our cashflow to support brands and companies that are working diligently, responsibly and sustainably to make this world a better place for everyone. By investing your hard earned money into vintage, second-hand and upcycled clothing, you’re saying no to fast-fashion and joining the fight against it.
Resources: TheFashionLaw.com | EasyEcoTips.com | SustainabilityMag.com | Treehugger.com