Epoch Biodesign’s Post

🌱♻️ Did you know? Textile waste is a pressing global issue, with millions of tons ending up in landfills each year. 🌍♻️ From production scraps to discarded clothing, the fashion industry generates a staggering amount of waste. However, there's hope on the horizon as innovative solutions emerge to tackle this challenge head-on. Implementing effective textile waste management strategies, such as recycling and upcycling, not only reduces environmental impact but also creates opportunities for sustainable practices within the industry. Together, we can transform the way we approach textile waste, paving the way for a more sustainable and circular economy. 💡🔄 #TextileWaste #Sustainability #CircularEconomy #DidYouKnow

Celebrating World Environment Day: Turning Textile Waste into Yarn On this World Environment Day, let's shine a light on the transformative power of recycling textile waste. Did you know that millions of tons of textile waste end up in landfills every year? By recycling these materials into yarn, we can significantly reduce environmental impact and foster a circular economy. Recycling textile waste not only conserves resources but also opens up new avenues for sustainable fashion. Let's commit to supporting innovative solutions and companies dedicated to turning waste into valuable products. Join us in making a difference. Every small step counts towards a greener, more sustainable future! #WorldEnvironmentDay #Sustainability #TextileRecycling #CircularEconomy #GreenFuture

I am delighted that I recently got to meet Teresiah Wairimu, the chair of the MCAK Mitumba Consortium Association of Kenya (used clothing association) in London, where we had useful meetings with the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs &the Rt Hon John McNally MP - Chair of the All Party Parliamentary Group on Ethics & Sustainability in Fashion For too long we have relied on observations made from the Global North from people who have little understanding of how the trade works. We see figures bounded around by how much used clothing allegedly ends up waste when there is no robust research to back this up. MCAK & the Mitumba Institute Research Centre are taking these issues head with detailed research involving people engaged in the sector. Around 2% of used clothing going into Kenya ends up as waste & in the recent report Destination of Dutch Used Clothes it estimates that 4% of clothing going into Ghana is not sellable. These figures are very different to the 40% figure that is widely reported which only applied to Ghana & was based on a university thesis did not consider that what traders initially reported as unsold stock, they passed on to other traders at discounted prices to be sold in other markets. This is like chain-stores rotating stock in the west. We want to keep waste figures as low as possible but they compare favourably with estimates about how much new clothing ends up going to waste. Some estimates suggest 8%, others much higher. It's also important not to confuse the issues around poor waste management infrastructure & the heavy reliance of landfill sites in most of the world's poorer countries. In the absence of the used clothing trade, people will still need to buy clothing and where will that come from? More new clothing will have to be produced (adding to the huge environmental burden that fashion already makes). These will be made at a quality & price point that the market can afford & we will see even more poorer quality (but relatively new) textiles dumped in landfill sites along with the plastics, glass, metals & everything else that these pictures don't show just out of shot. Rather than talk of banning used clothing, a much better, more positive solution would be for investment to be put into improving recycling and waste infrastructures in countries in the global south. Thus when a textiles or other waste reaches the end of its useful life they can be collected, recycled & fed back into the global circular systems. We are more than happy to work with the MCAK to try and make this a reality. Investment can also be directed towards cleaning up pollution & establishing proper waste management infrastructure. Reuse is at the top of the waste hierarchy & the used clothing industry is by far the most sustainable part of the global clothing supply chain. Lets take the positive approach, make it even better & tackle waste management issues separately. #circularfashion #textilerecycling #secondhand

🌟 It's time to redesign the fashion industry to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. landfill waste, freshwater usage and pollution from microfibres. Historically, the cost of recycling clothes has been high due to the need to disassemble garments manually, and a significant amount of the material is lost during the process. 🗑️ FInd out how Resortecs innovative approach to automated disassembly makes it easier to recycle clothes and fashion a waste-free future https://lnkd.in/ewuAdZPA #CircularEconomy, #SustainableFashion #CircularFashion

Did you know 55 million pounds of synthetic plastic textiles end up in US landfills daily? It's time for change. Explore Haworth's Scapes, part of the CLEAN IMPACT TEXTILES™ Biodegradable Line, leading the way to a better, more sustainable future.🌍🔄 * * * * * #HaworthFurniture #TextileRevolution #SustainableLiving #CleanImpactTextiles #AGILEINTERIORS #UnmatchedExperience

UN urges action to curb production & recycle existing plastic. Research reveals pervasive microplastics in the Arctic from fast fashion, impacting ecosystems worldwide. We can help by choosing organic, reducing purchases, and washing clothes less. Source: Global Citizen @glblctzn Published Date: January 14, 2021 Author: Joe McCarthy #PlasticPollution #SustainableLiving #ProtectTheArctic #sustainability #microplastics

Consumers seek sustainable brands, increasing the importance of recycled and bio-sourced raw materials. However, recycled materials pose additional challenges when trying to acheive consistent color. Download our whitepaper to learn how color impacts speed to market and waste generation and get tips to implement cost-saving efficiencies. https://ow.ly/7HIF50SoSkI #plastics #buildingmaterials #durablegoods #consumerelectronics #sustainability

Every choice we make, from travel to clothing and dietary habits, impacts our planet. When it comes to choosing between leather and its alternatives, the difference in their environmental impact could not be greater.   On the one hand, leather is a circular material which transforms hides that would otherwise go to waste into beautiful and durable products. Conversely, leather alternatives derive mainly from fossil fuels and offer very little in terms of repairability or recyclability.   So, when choosing between a plastic based material that will pollute the planet with micro plastics and a natural material that prevents millions of tons of waste each year, which would you choose?   Read more on https://lnkd.in/dmib-eta   #RealLeather #LeatherAlternatives #Upcycled #Circular #Repair #Reuse

Did You Know, Fast fashion dries up water sources and pollutes rivers and streams, while 85% of all textiles go to dumps each year? It is responsible for 20% of the global water waste. Even washing such clothes of synthetic polymers releases 5,00,000 tons of microfibres into the ocean each year, which equals to almost 50 billion plastic bottles. The microfibre pollution is expected to be 22 million tons between 2015 and 2050. Fast fashion releases methanes in the landfills, a powerful greenhouse gas. It is resposible for 10% of global carbon emissions. It is high time we #REDUCE #REWEAR #REUSE #REPAIR #RECYCLE and #RESELL. #SlowFashionRevolution #EthicalThreads #SustainableStyle #ConsciousCloset #FairTradeFashion #GreenFashion #EthicalFashionMovement #MindfulFashion #CircularFashion