Daily Junction.mobi portal<p><a href="https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s43615-023-00322-w">Researchers in Finland have argued</a> the need to move beyond simplistic sustainability narratives. Consumers can make more informed choices by buying fewer, higher-quality garments. They can use products for a longer time, repair and reuse clothing where possible, and support brands that are transparent about the materials and chemicals they use. </p>
<p>Certification schemes such as <a href="https://www.oeko-tex.com/en/our-standards">Oeko-Tex</a> (which means the fabric has been tested for harmful substances and found to be below specific levels) or <a href="https://www.bluesign.com/">bluesign</a> (which means the textile has been manufactured using responsible chemical management and environmental practices) can also provide useful reassurance.</p>
<p>The most sustainable textile is not necessarily the one made from a natural fibre. It is the one designed, manufactured, used and managed responsibly throughout its entire life cycle. </p>
<p>To build a genuinely sustainable textile industry, we need to stop asking whether a fibre is natural or synthetic and start asking what has happened to it along the way … and where it will end up.<!-- Below is The Conversation's page counter tag. Please DO NOT REMOVE. --><img src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/284667/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" style="border: none !important; box-shadow: none !important; margin: 0 !important; max-height: 1px !important; max-width: 1px !important; min-height: 1px !important; min-width: 1px !important; opacity: 0 !important; outline: none !important; padding: 0 !important" referrerpolicy="no-referrer-when-downgrade" /><!-- End of code. If you don't see any code above, please get new code from the Advanced tab after you click the republish button. The page counter does not collect any personal data. More info: https://theconversation.com/republishing-guidelines --></p>
<p><span><a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/jane-wood-318043">Jane Wood</a>, Lecturer in Textile and Fashion Technology, <em><a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/university-of-manchester-1204">University of Manchester</a></em>; <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/charlotte-barras-2669533">Charlotte Barras</a>, PhD Candidate, Materials Engineering, <em><a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/university-of-manchester-1204">University of Manchester</a></em>, and <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/elena-probert-2603897">Elena Probert</a>, PhD Candidate, Sustainable Textiles and Apparel Research, <em><a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/university-of-manchester-1204">University of Manchester</a></em></span></p>
<p>This article is republished from <a href="https://theconversation.com">The Conversation</a> under a Creative Commons license. Read the <a href="https://theconversation.com/the-surprising-chemical-footprint-of-your-clothes-284667">original article</a>.</p> </div>