| Sustainable Fashion: Polyester Vs Cotton | | | | materials. |
| You might think you know which fabric is superior; | | | | Combining all these factors it is easy to assume that |
| you may even have debated the issue. But do you | | | | there is no clear winner for the environment in terms |
| know which is better for the environment? The | | | | of production and perhaps there isn’t. But a |
| confusion lies in the fibre itself. Cotton is natural and | | | | garment’s ecological footprint does not end once |
| polyester is synthetic. Natural has become | | | | it is produced. To derive a meaningful evaluation the |
| synonymous with green and clean. So cotton is | | | | life-cycle of the product must be assessed. For |
| better, right? Not entirely. | | | | apparel this can include low-impact maintenance, as it |
| Let’s be honest textiles are toxic to produce, | | | | is the energy and water consumption expended over |
| energy consuming and water intensive given the raw | | | | the lifetime of a garment that must be considered. |
| materials required to produce them. | | | | Polyester is more stain-resistant. It can be washed in |
| Cotton can be replanted and is therefore renewable | | | | cold water and dries quickly. Cotton garments waste |
| but this doesn’t count for much if it is not grown | | | | energy. They must be washed more frequently as |
| sustainably. Cotton production contributes to an | | | | they are less stain-resistant, often require hot water |
| inconceivable amount of global pesticide and | | | | to remove stains and need to be tumble-dried to dry |
| insecticide use. Organic cotton is fantastic in that | | | | in a comparable time frame. Synthetic fabrics like |
| does not use these but it is still incredibly water | | | | polyester do not lose their shape like cotton and |
| intensive, often diverting water away from | | | | therefore increase their wear life, further reducing |
| communities. Cotton irrigation is a major contributor in | | | | environmental impacts. |
| the depletion of the Aral Sea. | | | | The nature of clothing and seasonal fashion means |
| Polyester requires less water but is more energy | | | | that the textile industry is a major contributor of |
| intensive requiring wood and oil to produce, thereby | | | | global warming. The industry needs to become |
| contributing to global warming from harmful | | | | eco-conscious and as with all solutions there needs to |
| greenhouse gases. Polyester however, is 100% | | | | be a multi-pronged strategy. Until manufacturers and |
| recyclable and in some countries, like Japan, garment | | | | growers are required to factor in environmental |
| recycling is possible through recycling centres. This will | | | | costs, products that do less damage will cost more. |
| hopefully be undertaken by many more countries, | | | | It is up to us as consumers to dictate demand. The |
| until perhaps recycling our polyester clothes will | | | | real challenge is not people switching from natural |
| become as commonplace as recycling other paper | | | | fibres to synthetic ones as we have been wearing |
| and plastic products. In addition to being recyclable, | | | | polyester for decades now. The real challenge lies in |
| polyester fibres are now starting to be produced | | | | convincing the consumer to pay for more ecologically |
| from post-consumer and post-industrial recycled | | | | sustainable clothing. Would you? |