Closing the Loop
The textile and clothing industry significantly strains resources and is the second most polluting industry worldwide, following the crude oil industry. The production of cotton, which requires a staggering amount of water, is where the waste generated in the textile industry begins. It takes over 20,000 liters of water to produce just 1kg of cotton, the equivalent of a single t-shirt and a pair of jeans. Irrigated land accounts for 73% of global cotton production, and the industry's excessive water use is a pressing issue. In China, which produces approximately half of the world's garments, textile manufacturing contributes to over 11% of the wastewater discharged.
Many clothing manufacturers are now implementing leasing and rental programs for their products. By offering incentives for customers to return their used clothes, these companies can significantly reduce material waste. This innovative business model provides added supply chain security and positively impacts the environment. Mud Jeans is a great example of a company utilizing a closed-loop system, leasing their jeans to customers and taking back used pairs in exchange for new ones. Through the life cycle assessment of their products, Mud Jeans can maximize their potential and employ mechanical textile recycling to transform discarded jeans into new pairs. This approach is both economically and environmentally sustainable.
Mud Jeans takes a unique approach to the fashion industry by implementing a circular design process that allows customers to lease or buy their products. The process involves producing the jeans, leasing or selling them, using and returning them, upcycling, and finally recycling. As part of their sustainable efforts, Mud Jeans also upcycles some returned jeans and sells them as vintage pairs with the former owner's name printed inside. This innovative approach to fashion reflects a cultural shift toward valuing use and service over ownership. Additionally, Mud Jeans uses recycled fibers to create their sweaters, a blend of 80% used and 20% virgin cotton.
Unfortunately, agriculture is the largest source of pollution in most countries, and cotton production is no exception. Despite being planted on only 2.4% of the world's cropland, cotton accounts for 24% and 11% of global sales of insecticides and pesticides, respectively. Textile and clothing waste is not limited to just biological waste, such as topsoil erosion, water, and pesticide use. It also includes material waste, such as leftover scraps from creating garments after cutting the pattern. Shockingly, the cutting process accounts for 16.36% of waste from the total material intake. For example, if a factory purchases 272.4 m2 of textile to produce 100 t-shirts, 44.57 m2 of that material would end up as cutting waste.
