Otto International’s Post

Clothing. Producing way too much stuff. Unsustainable. Global fiber production for 2023 was up to 124m tonnes (up 8m tonnes) of which synthetics for 2023 were up to 75m tonnes (up 8m tonnes too 🤔 ) We're making more clothes every year. The growth in volume is outstripping population growth by 7x. Thanks for Textile Exchange for keeping tabs on this (their latest report is below and speaks for itself). The inexorable rise in volume is completely at odds with planetary constraints, biodiversity and nature loss, shifting out from fossil fuels. To address these challenges the apparel industry has to reduce volumes. By a lot. Switching materials won't cut it. The volume is extracting too much. Causing too much damage. And creating too much waste (fashion produces 92 million tonnes of textile waste a year according to 'wastemanaged'https://lnkd.in/ejXNwnen.). These numbers are mindboggling. Too many clothes. Too much waste. Too much damage. An ecologically devastating treadmill. There is a better way. But it requires bravery, imagination, collaboration, leadership but above all speed. #overproduction #apparel #goodgrowth

Pampa R leather is a remarkable material that is both eco-conscious and innovative. Made entirely from recycled rubber, Pampa R leather represents a significant shift towards reducing waste and repurposing materials that would otherwise contribute to environmental degradation. So how is it made? Pampa R leather is crafted using discarded rubber products that are processed and transformed into a new, durable material. This process involves collecting rubber waste, such as old tires and industrial rubber scraps, which is then cleaned, shredded, and treated to create a flexible, leather-like material. This method not only recycles waste but also reduces the demand for virgin raw materials, thereby conserving resources and lowering carbon emissions. One of the standout qualities of Pampa R leather is its exceptional durability. Rubber is naturally resilient and resistant to wear and tear, making it an ideal material for footwear. Products made from Pampa R leather are robust and long-lasting, capable of withstanding harsh conditions without sacrificing comfort or style. This longevity ultimately contributes to a reduction in consumer waste, as products that last longer need not be replaced frequently. A Better Alternative to Traditional Leather Concerns over toxins and allergens are paramount in the production of materials. Pampa R leather addresses these concerns by adhering to strict safety standards to ensure that no harmful substances are present. This commitment to health and safety makes the material suitable for sensitive skin and reduces the overall environmental toxin load. Traditional leather has a heavy environmental footprint, associated with high water usage, pollution, and the ethical implications of animal use. In contrast, Pampa R leather offers a sustainable alternative that alleviates these concerns. By recycling existing rubber materials, it prevents additional environmental strain and promotes a circular economy.

Our clothes are filled with plastic, even where you least expect it. 👚👖   According to a recent report by Fibershed, polyester production has soared by nearly 900% since 1980. Polyester and nylon alone account for 69% of all materials used in clothing globally.   From labels to buttons, and threads to zippers, the fashion industry’s reliance on plastics is pervasive. But a wave of plastic-free products is leading the way in sustainable fashion.   Championed by PlasticFree.com, brands including Mover Plastic Free Sportswear, NFW, Ananas Anam Ltd, and Bananatex® offer natural alternative materials to minimise the plastic in your clothes.   Read more to find out how you can reduce the plastic footprint in your wardrobe: https://lnkd.in/ePr7QDqJ

Check out the key takeaways from the Textile Exchange’s Materials Market Report - CTA on textile-to-textile  #fibers #recycled #circularity

For the foreseeable future, polyethylene terephthalate (PET) polyester will remain by far the most widely used fibre type in textile and garment production. As such, the establishment of infrastructure for the fibre-to-fibre recycling of PET is critical. Already, some work is under way to scale up a fibre-to-fibre recycled PET (FFrPET) industry, and some companies are making major investments in recycling facilities and related recycling projects. At the same time, much work is being carried out in order to develop processes for recycling textiles containing difficult fibres, such as elastane, and "next generation" fibre producers are attempting to ramp up scale in response to growing demand for PET alternatives. https://bit.ly/3VchSe4 #recycling #recycled #sustainability #textilewaste #circular #waste #circulareconomy #PET #polyester #plastic #fibres #textiles #packaging #clothing #fashion #fibretofibre #FFrPET #elastane #spandex #lycra

Microplastics vs. Natural Fibers: The Case for Cotton 🌿 As the fashion industry continues to grow, so does the concern around synthetic materials like polyester, which contribute to microplastic pollution. When washed or worn, these fibers release microplastics into the environment, affecting both human and wildlife health. Cotton, as a natural and biodegradable fiber, presents a viable alternative to synthetics. According to the Cotton Incorporated survey, 57% of consumers already prefer cotton-rich activewear, and ongoing innovations like moisture-wicking and water-repellent technologies are helping cotton meet performance demands. As consumer awareness of microplastics rises, the shift towards natural fibers like cotton becomes more urgent. As Faircot SA, we are proud to be part of the cotton supply chain that supports a more sustainable future for textiles. Read more about Cotton Incorporated’s research and innovations in tackling the microplastic issue. #cotton #sustainability #microplastics #naturalfibers #fashion #textiles https://lnkd.in/eXct7zf9 For more cotton updates, Follow -> Faircot SA

We're consuming and discarding clothes at an unprecedented rate. 📈 Textile Exchange just released their Materials Market Report 2024, and here's the gist: more plastic-based clothing (think polyester and polyamide), with virgin synthetics on the rise, outpacing recycled alternatives. Meanwhile, cotton and wool are on the decline — though there’s plenty of talk about certification schemes at the wool grower level, often of questionable value (especially for the growers themselves). But let’s be clear: shifting to renewable or decomposable fibres alone isn’t enough. We need to design clothes built to last. This cannot be about sheer volume. The idea that we can "recycle our way out" of this problem is a myth. Less than 1% of global textiles come from pre- or post-consumer recycled materials. We need better, and we need less. 👇

[Interview] 🩳 👗 What is the future of clothing? Paulien Harmsen is researching alternatives to polluting polyester and cotton, such as the use of a wider range of raw materials for natural, semi-synthetic and synthetic clothing fabrics. She hopes that in future a type of polyester will be designed without the use of fossil raw materials and with the right properties for textiles. Some plant fibres are unsuitable for direct processing in the same way as cotton because they are too short or not strong enough; https://buff.ly/3RK2hjo If you are motivated to step into action on the subject, join our brand new ReThink Textile Hackathon to propose practical solutions to the fast fashion problem with expert support. More information: https://buff.ly/48NSwH9. #fastfashion #rethinktextile #wur #sustainablefashion #sustainablematerials

New research shows synthetic clothing generates plastic pollution equivalent to the weight of 820 Eiffel Towers annually. Watch this video to hear Cotton Incorporated explain why companies should opt for natural fibers, even for categories like activewear: https://bit.ly/3LjoOA3

For the foreseeable future, polyethylene terephthalate (PET) polyester will remain by far the most widely used fibre type in textile and garment production. As such, the establishment of infrastructure for the fibre-to-fibre recycling of PET is critical. Already, some work is under way to scale up a fibre-to-fibre recycled PET (FFrPET) industry, and some companies are making major investments in recycling facilities and related recycling projects. At the same time, much work is being carried out in order to develop processes for recycling textiles containing difficult fibres, such as elastane, and "next generation" fibre producers are attempting to ramp up scale in response to growing demand for PET alternatives. https://bit.ly/3VchSe4 #polyester #PET #fibretofibre #textilewaste #recycling #plastic #fibres #textiles #apparel #clothing #fashion #sustainability #infrastructure #nextgen