Ecological and social footprint
A growing population means that more raw products are needed to fulfil their textiles needs.
Farming
Growing natural fibres such as cotton or bamboo can lead to the The deterioration of an area over time. of soil. This can lead farmers to expand into other areas, which can have a negative impact on natural habitats. For example, the use of General name for chemicals used to kill pest species that feed on crops and reduce crop yield. and water supplies also affect the wildlife in an area. Rearing animals for their wool, such as sheep or alpacas, also leads to expanding land requirements, which can cause The cutting down of trees and forests to allow a different land use. and loss of habitat.
Drilling
Drilling for oil to produce man-made synthetic textiles requires large storage areas and refining plants to change the oil into the materials needed for manufacturing. This process can be harmful to the environment. Oil is A resource that cannot be replaced when it is used up, such as oil, natural gas or coal. and, when Remove unwanted substances from a substance., produces fabrics that do not Ability to biologically break down. easily.
Whenever environmental impact is to be reduced, ‘the 6 Rs’ can be addressed to ensure an in-depth analysis has been done. The 6 Rs can be considered by the designer, the A person or company that makes something from raw materials or from an assembly of component parts. and the consumer to reduce that negative impact on the environment.
Considering the 6 Rs when designing food packaging
The 6 Rs
The term ‘the 6 Rs’ can be applied to the design of new products or when a product is finished with, used up or no longer wanted. Here are some points to prompt 6 Rs thinking:
- To make decisions that decrease the amount of waste produced - one of the 6 Rs. - Reducing the number of products created and used saves on waste going into landfill. Reducing the amount of energy or materials used during production can help the environment, eg changing a How the pattern pieces on fabric should be laid out. to avoid waste.
- To use a product again rather than replacing with a new one - one of the 6 Rs. - Reusing products rather than buying new ones saves both waste being sent to landfill and energy as less is being manufactured. Some customers may look for longer lasting fashions that they can wear multiple times, rather than a piece that may be worn once.
- To break down and process so a new material is produced - one of the 6 Rs. - Some fabrics and fibres can be recycled into other products - unwearable clothing can be shredded and reformed into household Things which protect by preventing a loss of heat. or some plastic bottles can be reformed into filament fibres to create A thin, soft and warm synthetic fabric..
- To change the design of a product to be more environmentally friendly - one of the 6 Rs. - Consumers now have more knowledge and choice about buying environmentally friendly products, causing designers and manufacturers to rethink their production techniques to conserve power, water and fuel emissions, eg the development of more environmentally friendly dyeing techniques results in less When something is unclean or in some cases toxic. waste water.
- To avoid using a product to save on waste - one of the 6 Rs. - Consumers may refuse to buy products that have been treated with synthetic pesticides (such as non-organic cotton), which can lead to pollution of soil or water in the area. Others may look for items that are fair trade or avoid animal products.
- To fix a broken product - one of the 6 Rs. - Repairing broken or damaged textile products reduces waste and saves energy on production, eg Mending a hole in knitted clothing by interweaving thread. holes in knitted clothing.
