ECO FRIENDLINESS

ECO FRIENDLINESS
The textile industry used to be a
significant polluter of the
environmental.
Large quantities of contaminated water
were discharged into rivers and lakes.
The contaminants included chemicals
used in processing, dyes, cleansing
agents, materials from natural fibers.
Air pollution resulted from the discharge
of exhaust fumes and air borne fibers.
ECO FRIENDLINESS
Noise pollution affects the workers in
weaving rooms and yarn spinning rooms.
The textile industry has changed and has
become more eco-friendly through its
efforts and programs to reduce and
control pollutants, reduce energy
consumption, and monitor hazardous
waste disposal.
DYEING & PRINTING
Newer sulfur dyes use less salt,
pigment inks use less metal content,
and chromium-free dyestuff is being
developed.
Better quality control result in less re-
dyeing of fabrics that were incorrectly
dyed.
Textile dye baths are being reused,
which reduces the need for additional
chemicals and dyes.

DYEING & PRINTING
A reduction of water usage has occurred
with the use of jet-dyeing machines (low
M:L ratio).
Using other carriers instead of water is
another possibility to reduce water
pollution.
Liquid carbon dioxide decreases energy
use, treatment of waste, amount of
water used, and quantity of chemicals
required.
This substance can also be recycled.

DYEING & PRINTING
Machinery manufacturers are trying to
increase output with lower amounts of
energy, water, and dye-stuff.
For example, using ultraviolet light for
curing pigment-based printing inks during
the drying stage reduces energy
requirements.
Cotton that is naturally colored is eco-
friendly.
DYEING & PRINTING
Thus, the dyeing process can be
eliminated.
Long-staple "color grown" cotton has
been cultivated since the 1990s and is
mainly due to the efforts of Sally Fox.
Her patented cotton Foxfibre is mostly
grown organically and is used in clothing,
bedding and furniture.

FINISHING
The finishing processes add favorable
characteristics to textiles, but they also
can damage the environment.
Large amount of water and chemicals
are used as well as large amounts of
energy.
Newer finishes requiring less water (e.g.,
foam finishes) are being developed.
More efficient methods of water
extraction prior to drying are being
used.

FINISHING
Better heat recovery methods to
minimize energy usage are also being
researched.
Biodegradable finishes are more in use.
Reduced usage of dangerous finishing
chemicals is becoming more common.
An example is formaldehyde, which is a
carcinogen and used in some durable-
press treatments, dyeing/printing
processes, and leather finishing.
FINISHING
Upon becoming a gas and being released
into the air, a hazardous condition can
occur (air pollution).
Formaldehyde-free binders, thickeners,
and other auxiliaries used in pigment
printing and resin finishing are being
developed.
Restrictions on waste discharge are
increasing.

FINISHING
Onsite Treatment plants allow factories
to reclaim and reuse chemicals as well
as remove contaminants, such as
metals, before discharging the waste.
Increased computer monitoring of
dyeing, printing, and finishing
processes increases efficiency.
This not only reduces fabric defects and
seconds, but also results in less energy,
chemical, and material usage.

FINISHING
New concepts and processes in
continuous bleaching have reduced
processing time, energy consumption,
water consumption, and chemical
impact of conventional bleaching.
There can also be a reduction in the
number of steps required, so there is a
reduction in opportunities for errors.

DRY CLEANING
Dry cleaners were recycling even before
the term became popular.
Dirty solvent was purified using a
distillation process.
Solvent was recaptured from garments
during the drying processes and
condensed back into clean solvent for
reuse.


DRY CLEANING
The newer dry cleaning solvents have
replaced the earlier benzene, gasoline,
and other highly flammable chemicals
Today's most-used solvent is perc, but its
fumes are toxic and this solvent is
suspected to be carcinogenic.
Regulations restrict its use and disposal.
DRY CLEANING
Fluorocarbon cleaners, such as
Valclene have been phased out
because there was concern about the
environmental impact (ozone layer).
Hydrocarbon solvents, such as DF 2000,
are available as replacements.
Green-system solvents include liquid
carbon dioxide and Green Earth, which
is a silicone-based cleaning solvent
introduced in the late 1990s.
DRY CLEANING
Dry cleaners have also reduced the loss of
solvents by evaporation (air pollution) by
using more efficient equipment.
Dry-to-dry type machines result in both the
cleaning and drying process occurring in
the same machines.
Thus, loss of solvent to the air is minimal.

LAUNDERING
Detergent manufacturers have changed
their formulation to reduce the
environmental impact.
Laundry detergents no longer contain
phosphates (banned in 1990) because of
ecological concern about water quality
and environmental imbalance.
Biodegradable surfactants are being
used in detergents.
LAUNDERING
A surfactant is a chemical that lifts dirt
and helps cleaners do a better job of
stain removal.
Enzymes are being developed to enable
detergents to use less surfactant and
other chemicals.
Also, there is an increase in the level of
naturally based surfactants, using
alcohols from natural oils to reduce the
level of petro-chemical based
surfactants.

LAUNDERING
Cold-water detergents reduce energy
bills by not having to use heated wash
water.
The laundry products industry has also
developed more concentrated liquids
and powders.
The result is less energy being required
for each cleaning and also a smaller
consumer product package.
LAUNDERING
Washers and dryers have also been
improved.
They now use less water and less energy.
Microwave dryers result in a decrease in
energy required in the drying process.


DISPOSAL
If a textile item is not reused or recycled,
it is discarded or disposed of in some
way.
Some textiles, especially nonwovens,
(diapers, wipes, and medical gowns) are
designed to be disposable.
The options available are:
(a)Landfilling.
(b)Composting.
(c)Incineration.

LANDFILLING
Much of the textile waste produced by
manufactures and consumers has been
buried in landfills to biodegrade.
In landfills natural fibers are
biodegradable and will eventually break
down, but synthetics are more resistant
and are not so easily disposed of.
They do not represent a source of
pollution but simple occupy space.
LANDFILLING
Olefin fibers are degraded by sunlight but
will not have great exposure to the sun
when buried in a landfill.
Burial may lead to the contamination of
groundwater, fires, or the generation of
noxious gases from the indiscriminate
mixing of chemical substances.
COMPOSTING
A alternative to burial is composting,
which is above-land biodegradation.
Materials in a compost have greater
exposure to light and water.
Compost is stirred periodically to
provide more air for microorganisms.
The composted materials indirectly
provide nutrients that contribute to the
growth of new fibers.
INCINERATION
Incineration is occasionally used for
disposing of garbage, but the threat of
hazardous gas emissions has made it
unacceptable.
If the waste stream content is known
and controlled to eliminate the
production of pollutants, it can be useful.
Some consider that energy is better
produced by burning waste than by
burning coal or oil that could be used as
source of new materials.
INCINERATION
Incineration was carried out, as part of
carpet recycling.
Backing and latex components that could
not otherwise be recycled were
compressed and burned as fuel.