One of the greatest myths is that cotton is cheap, natural and green. Cotton is renewable in that it can be replanted, but it is not grown sustainably. Cotton cultivation accounts for about 10% of all pesticides and 23% of all insecticides used in agriculture. On average 200kg of nitrogen is added to the land for every tonne of cotton picked. 33% of this is lost into the atmosphere, though 98% of this is harmless, the remaining 2% is nitrogen oxide which is a harmful greenhouse gas.
While organic cotton production is exemplary in the way it avoids pesticides, all cotton farming is incredibly water intensive. It is not only needed for growing but for processing and dyeing. So much water is needed that it’s often diverted away from communities. Cotton irrigation is a major contributor in the depletion of the Aral Sea.
Cotton garments waste energy. They require more energy to wash than a polyester one because they must be washed frequently, at high temperatures and generally require tumble-drying and ironing. 60% of the carbon emissions generated by a simple cotton t-shirt comes from washes and machine dryings it will require.
The growth, harvesting, shipping and maintenance of cotton from around the globe means it does more damage to the environment than the factories that produce the artificial fabrics.
In contrast, polyester is 100% recyclable. Polyester garments can be shredded, melted, extruded and woven again. Whilst a polyester garment takes more energy to make, since synthetic fabric comes from materials like wood and oil, the upkeep is far more fuel-efficient, since polyester cleans more easily and dries faster.
Our t-shirt manufacturer Vapor Apparel generates 67.3% of its power from non-fossil fuels by having access to hydro and geo-thermal electricity. In addition they are developing products from eco-friendly yarns using 100% recycled materials, including post-consumer and post-industrial polyester fibres.
Vapor Apparel produce polyester garments of superior quality. They are engineered with built-in moisture management technology and temperature control, making them odour, bacteria, fungi and mildew resistant. They are very light yet extremely durable and boast record drying time. The temperature and moisture control allows the skin to stay cool and dry even during extreme conditions. Stain-resistance makes them easier to clean along with faster drying times, equates to less energy.
1 comment:
Thanks for sharing!
Cottons are naturally grown and it needs lot of energy to make it a usable one, whereas Polyester fibers are produced by the melt spinning process. Raw materials are heated to a spinning mass, which is then pressed through spinnerets. Manufacturing techniques are now developed to the point where they can produce fibers adapted to suit the widest possible applications they can have round, oval or angular profiles, making them firm to the touch. There are worldwide supplier of staple fibers, yarns & plastics, like Fiberpartner who focuses on customer needs. Get the finest and durable fiber from them.
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