After the oil industry, the clothing industry is the biggest polluter of the environment. To what extent are cotton and polyester part of this, and which of the two is the best choice to minimize your environmental impact?
Is cotton bad for the environment?
We know that conventional cotton farming uses huge amounts of chemical pesticides. It goes without saying that this is bad for the environment, but it also has enormous consequences for farmers. It is estimated that around 300,000 farmers die every year from the direct effects of working with these pesticides.
Another major disadvantage of cotton is the massive amount of water used during the growth and processing of the cotton plant into clothing.
You might say there are enough reasons not to choose cotton. But this refers to conventional cotton farming, not the cultivation and processing of organic cotton. In organic farming, no pesticides are used, and the amount of water required is a staggering 75% less compared to conventional cotton. Cotton is a natural fiber and is therefore also biodegradable.
This makes organic cotton a sustainable choice. Unfortunately, it currently accounts for less than 1% of total global cotton use, but it’s a start.
Is polyester better for the environment than cotton?
Then there are polyester fabrics. These are based on petroleum and, as just discussed, the production of polyester belongs to the oil industry—one of the most polluting industries in the world.
But even after polyester is made into clothing, disadvantages remain. For example, washing polyester clothes releases microplastics, which have a huge negative impact on the environment.
Another disadvantage of polyester is that it doesn’t biodegrade; it is one of the main causes of the plastic soup in our oceans.
Yet, there are also positive developments regarding polyester that justify choosing it.
Polyester can be recycled quite well. It’s an exaggeration to call it infinite reuse, but with the right method, it can be reused several times with little loss of quality. However, this doesn’t apply to technical polyesters used in outdoor gear or high-performance sportswear. After recycling, the quality of the polyester thread decreases so much that it can’t be used to make new high-quality clothing.
Polyester recycling happens in two ways: mechanical recycling, where PET bottles are shredded into polyester fibers, and chemical recycling, where polyester is broken back down into its original monomers. The latter is the superior method in terms of quality but does involve the use of chemicals.
A major advantage of recycling is that it reduces waste and eliminates the need for new raw materials in clothing production. Additionally, producing recycled polyester saves nearly 60% more energy compared to virgin production.
High-quality polyester clothing also lasts longer, which reduces the need for new production and is therefore sustainable in its own way.
So, which is better?
The conclusion of all this: both conventional cotton and polyester are bad for the environment.
By consciously choosing organic cotton, we avoid depleting the earth, and by using recycled polyester, we tackle the waste problem, helping to make the world a little more livable.
How wonderful is that?