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Sustainable textiles: Life cycle and environmental impact

Edited by R S Blackburn, University of Leeds, UK

Woodhead Publishing Series in Textiles No. 98

Overall, this broad-based reference tool for fabric specifiers represents a solid investment.
Ecotextile News

…neatly outlines how the environmental profile of cotton, wool and synthetic fibre-based textiles could be improved.
Ecotextile News

…a more holistic view of textile production.
Ecotextile News

 - reviews government regulations and consumer expectations about environmental impact on the textiles industry
 - discusses ways of achieving more sustainable materials and technologies as well as textiles recycling
 - examines how sustainability can be integrated into textile design, production and processes
 - includes applications and case studies of eco-labelling, organic cotton and nanotechnology in sustainable textiles

Environmental issues are playing an increasingly important role in the textile industry, both from the point of view of government regulation and consumer expectations. Sustainable textiles reviews ways of achieving more sustainable materials and technologies as well as improving recycling in the industry.

The first part of the book discusses ways of improving sustainability at various points in the supply chain. Chapters discuss how sustainability can be integrated into textile design, ensuring more sustainable production of both natural and synthetic fibres, improving sustainability in processes such as dyeing as well as more environmentally-friendly technologies including enzyme and plasma technologies. The second part of the book reviews consumer perceptions of recycled textiles, eco-labelling, organic textiles and the use of recycled materials in textile products.

With a distinguished editor and an impressive range of international contributors, Sustainable textiles is an important reference for the textile industry and those researching this important topic.

Published in association with The Textile Institute

£155.00 / US$265.00 / €185.00

An e-book version of this title is available to purchase as part of a Collection or Pick n Mix or by Chapter. Visit Woodhead Publishing Online

About the editor

Dr Richard Blackburn is a Senior Lecturer in the School of Design at the University of Leeds, UK. Dr Blackburn is well-known for his research in the areas of green chemistry and sustainability. He is also a co-founder of Dyecat Ltd and the RITE (Reducing the Impact of Textiles on the Environment) Group.

Titles which may also be of interest:
Biodegradable and sustainable fibres
Environmental aspects of textile dyeing
Ecotextiles
Recycling in textiles
Handbook of sustainable textile production

Contents

PART 2 APPLICATIONS AND CASE STUDIES

PART 1 SUSTAINABILITY THROUGH THE SUPPLY CHAIN

Achieving sustainable textiles: a designer’s perspective
A Sherburne, Kingston University, UK
 - Introduction: key issues affecting textile and fashion design
 - Strategies for fashion and textile design
 - Strategies for textile and fashion designers: recycling and reuse - beginning to close the loop
 - The designer empowered
 - References and sources of further information and advice

Sustainable cotton production and processing
L Grose, California College of the Arts San Francisco, USA
 - Introduction
 - Cotton basics
 - Global ecological effects
 - Economic systems
 - Farm systems
 - Water
 - Chemicals
 - Conclusions
 - Future trends
 - References

Sustainable wool production and processing
I M Russell, CSIRO Division of Material Science and Engineering, Australia
 - Introduction
 - Wool uses
 - Consumer trends and environmental impacts
 - Wool fibre: structure and properties
 - Wool and ecolabels
 - Life cycle assessment (LCA) studies
 - Outcomes
 - Sources of further information and advice
 - Acknowledgements
 - References

Sustainable synthetic fibres: the case of poly(hydroxyalkanoates) (PHA) and other fibres
I Chodak, Polymer Institute of the Slovak Academy of Sciences, Slovakia and R S Blackburn, University of Leeds, UK
 - Introduction
 - Poly(hydroxyalkanoates)-based orientated structures
 - Poly(caprolactone)-based fibres
 - Structure of drawn fibres
 - Thermal properties
 - Enzymatic and hydrolytic degradation
 - Other biodegradable and sustainable polyesters
 - Application of polyester-based biodegradable fibres
 - Future trends and concluding remarks
 - References

Enzyme biotechnology for sustainable textiles
P H Nielsen, H Kuilderd, W Zhou and X Lu, Novozymes A/S, Denmark
 - Introduction
 - Enzyme applications in textile processing
 - Life cycle assessments of enzymes used in textile industry
 - Environmental assessment of the enzymatic scouring of package cotton yarn for dark-shade dyeing as an alternative to conventional chemical scouring
 - Environmental assessment of enzymatic bleach clean-up of light-coloured package yarn and knitted fabrics as an alternative to rinsing with hot water
 - Conclusions
 - Perspectives
 - Future trends and applications
 - Sources of further information and advice
 - References

Key sustainability issues in textile dyeing
J R Easton, DyStar, UK
 - Introduction
 - Key factors for improving sustainability in dyeing and finishing
 - What are ecotextiles? Future trends
 - Conclusions
 - Sources of further information and advice
 - References

Environmentally friendly plasma technologies for textiles
T Stegmaier, M Linke, A Dinkelmann, V von Arnim and H Plank, Institute for Textile Technology and Process Engineering (ITV) Denkendorf, Germany
 - Introduction
 - Atmospheric pressure plasma processes
 - Examples of applications
 - Environmental benefits of plasma technology
 - Future trends
 - Source of further information and advice
 - References

Understanding and improving textile recycling: a systems perspective
J M Hawley, Kansas State University, USA
 - Introduction
 - Systems theory
 - Understanding the textile and apparel recycling process
 - Textile recycling companies
 - The sorting process
 - The pyramid model
 - Textile recycling constituents
 - Discussion and future trends
 - References

PART 2 APPLICATIONS AND CASE STUDIES

Consumer perceptions of recycled textile fibres
M Rucker, University of California, USA
 - Introduction
 - Consumer characteristics related to attitudes toward sustainable products
 - External factors influencing consumers’ attitudes toward sustainable products
 - Measures of consumer attitudes toward environmental issues
 - Textile and apparel industry response to green consumerism
 - Confusion in the marketplace
 - Meeting the needs of the green consumer
 - Consumer perceptions of textile products
 - Sources of further information and advice
 - References

Eco-labelling for textiles and apparel
S B Moore, Hohenstein Institutes and M Wentz, Oeko-Tex Certification Body, USA
 - Introduction
 - Key principles: eco-labeling and sustainability
 - Standards and eco-labeling defined for textiles
 - Examination and anatomy of eco-labels
 - Future trends
 - Summary and commentary
 - Sources of further information and advice
 - References

Organic cotton: production practices and post-harvest considerations
P J Wakelyn, National Cotton Council of America (retired) and M R Chaudhry International Cotton Advisory Committee, USA
 - Introduction
 - World organic cotton production
 - Why organic cotton? Cotton production practices: historical background
 - Organic cotton production practices
 - Post-harvest handling/processing of organic cotton
 - Limitations to organic production
 - How to improve organic cotton production
 - National obligatory standards for organic cotton and organic cotton certifiers
 - Optional/voluntary organic textile processing standards and eco-textile standards
 - Corporate social responsibility (CSR)/ethical production
 - Naturally coloured cotton
 - Conclusions
 - Acknowledgement
 - References
 - Appendix: Chemicals allowed and prohibited for use in preparation, dyeing, printing, and finishing of organic cotton textiles (Global Organic Textile Standards; Organic Exchange Guidelines; Organic Trade Association)

The role of nanotechnology in sustainable textiles
S Black, London College of Fashion, UK
 - Key principles of nanotechnology and its use in sustainability
 - How nanotechnology can be used to reduce environmental impacts
 - Surface coatings and treatment of textile fibres
 - Colouration and structural colour
 - Nanofibres
 - Electronic textiles
 - Risks versus benefits
 - Future trends
 - Sources of further information and advice
 - References

The use of recovered plastic bags in nonwoven fabrics
B R George, B A Haines and E Murphy, Philadelphia University, USA
 - Introduction
 - Experimental approach
 - Results and discussion
 - Conclusions
 - Acknowledgements
 - References

Environmentally friendly flame-retardant textiles
S Nazaré, University of Bolton, UK
 - Introduction
 - Key issues of flame retardants
 - Legislative and regulatory drives for minimising environmental implications
 - Desirable properties of an ideal flame-retardant chemical used in textile applications
 - Strategies for development of ‘environmentally-friendly’ flame retardants
 - Future trends
 - Sources of further information and advice
 - References

Systems change for sustainability in textiles
K Fletcher, London College of Fashion, UK
 - The blind men and the elephant
 - From a narrow to a holistic view of sustainability in the textile sector
 - Ways of thinking
 - Recognising the limits of eco-efficiency
 - Making a transition
 - Places to intervene in a system
 - Working at the level of rules, goals and paradigms
 - References