There are around 8,000 synthetic chemicals used in the manufacturing process of the clothing industry, from material procurement to the finished product. Since we cannot cover all chemicals and their function, this article will focus on the most common and harmful substances. These include, but are not limited to, flame retardants, polyfluorinated substances (PFAS)*, lead and chromium, phthalates, chlorine bleach, AZO dyes, and volatile organic chemicals (VOCs)+ such as formaldehyde.
Toxic substances are used during the cultivation of a plant, during the production of a yarn, but also during dyeing or printing graphics. Each manufacturing process uses dozens of toxic substances that persist in the fabric, are absorbed by our body and released into the water during washing, throughout the useful life of a garment.
Regulations for clothing are different in each country. What you buy in China may not be prohibited in that country where the GB/T 18401 regulation is in force, but it may be illegal in Europe under the REACH regulation, or in California where the Proposition 65 regulation is present.
Choosing products made in Europe is equivalent to buying products that comply with the REACH law, which excludes more than 1,000 toxic substances dangerous for the environment and human health. It must also be said that this legislation, although not the best, improves year after year, increasing the number of prohibited substances and reducing the margins of the toxic ones still allowed. Alternatively, we have the classic environmental certifications, such as OEKO-TEX, GOTS and Bluesign. It is not easy to find these labels on clothing displayed in large retail chains, nor is it easy to find them in stores in our cities.
99% of textiles/clothing continue to be dyed with synthetic products and therefore with chemical compounds that, although they fall within the notorious lists of certification bodies, are toxic. We are talking about waste that contains various chemicals, including cadmium, mercury, chromium, etc. All of these substances end up in wastewater, rivers, seas, oceans and aquifers.
There is evidence of the presence of natural dyes dating back to the Neolithic. In China, dyeing with plants, bark and insects dates back more than 5,000 years. Throughout history, people have dyed fabrics using locally available materials, but those dyes that have produced bright, permanent colors, such as marine invertebrate dyes, such as Tyrian violet extracted from a sea snail, or kerme Crimson extracted from an insect called kermes, they quickly became highly prized luxury items in the ancient world.
The environmental impact of synthetic dyes is overwhelming. What can be hypothesized is that, in the production phase of textile dyes, there is a waste of 1-2% and, during their use in dyeing threads or fabrics, the waste is between 1 and 10%.
So what can you do to avoid toxic chemicals in your clothes?
Look for certifications such as OEKOTEX or GOTS or
1) Prioritize organic clothing whenever possible
2) Check product descriptions and information provided by a brand
3) Always wash new clothes before wearing them
At Project Cece, you can find sustainable clothing from hundreds of fair trade brands and filter them by certifications among other factors. Easy!
There are around 8,000 synthetic chemicals used in the manufacturing process of the clothing industry, from material procurement to the finished product. Since we cannot cover all chemicals and their function, this article will focus on the most common and harmful substances. These include, but are not limited to, flame retardants, polyfluorinated substances (PFAS)*, lead and chromium, phthalates, chlorine bleach, AZO dyes, and volatile organic chemicals (VOCs)+ such as formaldehyde.
Toxic substances are used during the cultivation of a plant, during the production of a yarn, but also during dyeing or printing graphics. Each manufacturing process uses dozens of toxic substances that persist in the fabric, are absorbed by our body and released into the water during washing, throughout the useful life of a garment.
Regulations for clothing are different in each country. What you buy in China may not be prohibited in that country where the GB/T 18401 regulation is in force, but it may be illegal in Europe under the REACH regulation, or in California where the Proposition 65 regulation is present.
Choosing products made in Europe is equivalent to buying products that comply with the REACH law, which excludes more than 1,000 toxic substances dangerous for the environment and human health. It must also be said that this legislation, although not the best, improves year after year, increasing the number of prohibited substances and reducing the margins of the toxic ones still allowed. Alternatively, we have the classic environmental certifications, such as OEKO-TEX, GOTS and Bluesign. It is not easy to find these labels on clothing displayed in large retail chains, nor is it easy to find them in stores in our cities.
99% of textiles/clothing continue to be dyed with synthetic products and therefore with chemical compounds that, although they fall within the notorious lists of certification bodies, are toxic. We are talking about waste that contains various chemicals, including cadmium, mercury, chromium, etc. All of these substances end up in wastewater, rivers, seas, oceans and aquifers.
There is evidence of the presence of natural dyes dating back to the Neolithic. In China, dyeing with plants, bark and insects dates back more than 5,000 years. Throughout history, people have dyed fabrics using locally available materials, but those dyes that have produced bright, permanent colors, such as marine invertebrate dyes, such as Tyrian violet extracted from a sea snail, or kerme Crimson extracted from an insect called kermes, they quickly became highly prized luxury items in the ancient world.
The environmental impact of synthetic dyes is overwhelming. What can be hypothesized is that, in the production phase of textile dyes, there is a waste of 1-2% and, during their use in dyeing threads or fabrics, the waste is between 1 and 10%.
So what can you do to avoid toxic chemicals in your clothes?
Look for certifications such as OEKOTEX or GOTS or
1) Prioritize organic clothing whenever possible
2) Check product descriptions and information provided by a brand
3) Always wash new clothes before wearing them
At Project Cece, you can find sustainable clothing from hundreds of fair trade brands and filter them by certifications among other factors. Easy!
https://www.earthday.org/toxic-textiles-the-chemicals-in-our-clothing/ .------
https://sonderlier.com/blogs/journal/shop-clean-dress-nontoxic .-----------