The document discusses the environmental and health impacts of the textile industry, highlighting the extensive use of resources and harmful chemicals in textile production. It emphasizes the need for eco-friendly textiles, which are produced sustainably and have a minimal ecological footprint, promoting organic materials and natural dyes. Additionally, it explores how sustainable practices, such as reducing carbon footprints and utilizing renewable resources, can mitigate adverse effects on the environment and public health.

1. ECO-
FRIENDLY
TEXTILES

2. Rapid Industrialization that has created an Ecological imbalance

3. Textiles no longer just fulfill the basic need for clothing;
they have rather become a fashion statement.

4. Rising income
levels across the
globe have led to
Manifold increase
in world’s textile
Production and
Consumption in
recent years.

5. This has put a strain on
our already dwindling natural resources
Before After

6. Textile wet processing uses a large amounts of Water
which when discharged contains a
cocktail of chemicals including unfixed residual dyes &
auxiliaries that cannot be easily treated or biodegraded.

7. It takes 1 lb of Chemical Fertilizers to conventionally grow
3 lbs of cotton to make a t-shirt and a pair of jeans
Conventionally grown cotton accounts for more than
25% of insecticide and 10% of the pesticides used in the world.

8. Growing enough Cotton for one T-shirt
requires 257 Gallons of Water

9. Scarce and non-renewable Petroleum resources
are utilized in the manufacture of Synthetic fibres

10. Burning of Fossil fuels is done to
provide energy for the various processing operations

11. This increases the Carbon footprints of the textiles
by emitting Greenhouse gases

12. The use of rayon for clothing is contributing to the
rapid depletion of the world’s Forests

13. Insufficient Protection of work force from dust & noise during

14. Textile Industry is thus
Water, Chemical & Energy Intensive

15. The natural resources have only limited ability to
Assimilate pollution due to their Self-purification capacity.
But the increase in the economic & development activities
has broken down this Self-correcting mechanism of nature.

16. This limitation has lead to problems in disposal and removal

17. According to Earth Pledge, a NPO committed to
promotion & support for sustainable development

18. ● Cotton Farming: Pesticide (lindens and hexachloro cyclohexane) & Artificial
Fertilizers
● Cotton / Wool Processing: Preservation agents like pentachlorophenol (PCP)
● Sizing: Stiffeners containing plasticizer such as tributyl / triphenyl phosphate
● Stain Removers or Scouring Assistants: chlorinated carbon.
● Souring & Bleaching: Alkyl phenol ethoxylates (APEOs) such as nonyl phenol
ethoxylates and octyl phenol ethoxylates used as wetting agents and detergents.
● Bleaching: Potassium dichromate, sodium hydroxide, peroxide, sodium hypochlorite.
● Brightening Agents / Optical Brighteners
● Dyeing: Azo dyes, dyes containing traces of heavy metals (Fe, Cu, Pb, etc), glauber’s,
common salt for dyeing of cellulosics, carriers for dyeing of PET and formaldehyde in
dispersing agents & colorant fixatives
● Printing: Solvents used in printing pastes release VOC (volatile organic compounds),
dispersing agents and fixer/binder containing formaldehyde, PVC and phthalates in
plastisol printing pastes.
● Finishing: Easy care finishes using formaldehyde, functional finishing using bromine /
antimony-based chemicals, flame retardant, stain removals containing chlorinated
products.
Common Effluents from the Textile Industry

19. The toxic non-biodegradable chemicals are difficult to remove
and can enter the food chain.

20. Water is used in large quantities as a
solvent for processing chemicals and as a
washing & rinsing medium and thus a
large amount of effluent with high BOD
and COD values is generated

21. Textile Industry in China
accounts for nearly
54% of the world’s total
Textile Production
and discharges over
2.5 billion tons of
Wastewater
every year
The ‘Dirty Laundry’ report published by
Greenpeace International highlighted this issue

22. ● Various Allerges
● Dermatitis
● Anemia, reduction in RBC and haemoglobin
● Cyanosis (deprivation of the availability of oxygen to the blood)
● Haemoerrhagic disease of various organs (reduction in the platelet
count)
● Anilism also known as meth-haemoglobinaemia
● Hepatotoxic effects (jaundice & loss of liver function).
● Nephrotoxic effects (injury to the kidneys)
● Neurosis
● Asthma
● Pulmonary (puemoconiosis) effects
● Lukaemia
● Cancer (tumours of the urinary bladder).
Health Problems Related to the Textile Industry

23. Environmental Protection & Clean
Technologies
is a Universal Concern Today

24. In 1987, the Danish Company, NOVOTEX A/S
was the first to introduce an eco-collection, ‘Green Cotton’
for which they were awarded the Environment Prize by the ECC.

25. Any textile product,
which is
Produced
in eco-friendly
manner and
Processed
under eco-friendly
environment
is known as
Eco-Textiles

26. Eco-Textiles is also known as
● Sustainable Fashion
● Eco Fashion
● Eco-tech

27. ● Made from a Renewable Resource
● Have a Good Ecological Footprint
● Not Use Any (or Little) Chemicals while Growing &
Processing
For a textile to be sustainable, it should:

28. ● Procurement of raw materials does not create a negative
impact on land & water resources (natural fibres), or the
adversely impact the fossil fuels resources (synthetic
fibres).
● Production considerations do not create adverse impact
on sources of water and energy.
● Added chemicals do not affect the health of textile
workers as well as consumers.
● The end-of-life of the textile product is smooth
(biodegradable) and it allows reclamation of the
infrastructure required to sustain further production.
Factors that a sustainable textiles must fulfill:

29. A sustainable textile is one that meets
the needs of the present without compromising the
ability of future generation to meet their needs and desires
Definition of Sustainability recommended by the
World Commission on Environment & Development
“
”

30. HOW CAN TEXTILE INDUSTRY GO GREEN?
Using Renewable Resources that can
be replenished easily and in a short
time.
1

31. Following
Fair Trade Practices
2
HOW CAN TEXTILE INDUSTRY GO GREEN?

32. Reducing Ecological Footprint or
demand on natural resources like land &
water.
3
Ecological footprint (EF) is a measure for the amount of productive land, sea (water)
and natural resources one needs to produce the resources it consumes and to dispose
of its waste. It is the measure of human demand on the Earth’s ecosystems
HOW CAN TEXTILE INDUSTRY GO GREEN?

33. Reducing the Carbon Footprint by
reducing/substituting chemicals required to
grow/process the textile material.
4
A Carbon Footprint is measured in carbon dioxide equivalents and
gives the total amount of greenhouse gases emitted.
HOW CAN TEXTILE INDUSTRY GO GREEN?

34. Going Organic
Using Sustainable Processing Methods
Recycling / Upcycling
Chemical Substitution
Chemcal Recovery
Process Modification
HOW CARBON FOOTPRINT CAN BE REDUCED?
1
2
3
a
b
c

35. Organic clothing is clothing made
from materials raised or grown in
compliance with organic agricultural
standards - Global Organic Textile
Standard (GOTS)
GOING ORGANIC
Reducing Carbon Footprint
1

36. ● Comprises of minimum of 70% organic fibers.
● Fibres made through environmentally & socially responsible
manufacturing.
● All chemical & auxiliaries used meet environmental & toxicological
criteria.
● Dyes are either natural or are environmentally low impact dyes.
● Heavy metals or harmful chemicals have not been used in the dyeing.
● Accessories selected is in accordance with ecological aspects.
● A functional waste water treatment plant is involved in all wet-processing.
● All processes have complied with minimum social criteria & fair trade
practices.

37. BENEFITS OF ORGANIC
TEXTILES
Grow without any pesticides or chemical fertilizers and so have no
impact on marine and aquatic life
Biodegrade naturally over
time
Breathable fibers
Added softness and drape
Hypoallergenic
Naturally antibacterial
Helps to improve land,
prevents water contamination
and conserves bio-diversity

38. ORGANIC COTTON
Highly
Absorbent
Non-
Irritant
Non-
Allergic
Without Pesticide / Fertilized
No Health Hazard
Fair Trade
Free for Allergies
Produced as per IVN BEST Guidelines
Durable

39. ORGANIC WOOL
Durable Absorbent
More
Elastic

40. OTHER
ECO-FRIENDLY
FIBRES

41. JUTE
Silky
Texture
High
Tensile
Strength
Heat &
Flame
Resistant

42. FLAX
Cool &
Dry to
Touch
Absorbent
& Release
Water
Quickly
Softer on
Washing

43. HEMP
Durable
& UV-
resitant
Absorbent
Hypo-
Allegic

44. RAMIE
Wrinkle
Resistant
8 times
Stronger
than
Cotton
Resistant
to
Microbial
Attack
Harvested up to 6 Times in a Year
Without the use of Pesticides or
Herbicides

45. BAMBOO
Silky Feel
& Good
Drape
Wicks
Moisture
Resistant
to
Microbes

46. NETTLE
Longest
Bast
Fibre
High
Tensile
Strength
Hollow -
Natural
Insulation
Obtained from Brennessel Plant

47. PINEAPPLE
Silky &
High
Luster
High
Tensile
Strength
Low
Elongatio
n

48. BANANA
Absorbent
High
Tensile
Strength
Light
Weight

49. SAMATOA/LOTUS
Soft &
Light
Water Proof
Wrinkle Free
& Stain
Resistant

50. COCONA
Light
Weight
Stretchable
Resistant
to UV--
Light

51. CORN
Softness
& Good
Drape
Resilience
Flame
Retardant

52. SOY SILK
Soft &
Silky
Good
Drape
Good
Option for
Underwear
& Bras

53. TENCEL / LYOCELL
Absorbent
&
Breathable
High
Tensile
Strength
Shrink
Resistant

54. ECO-FRIENDLY
DYES

55. BIODEGRADABLE
DYES
LOW-IMPACT
DYES
AZO FREE
DYES
METAL FREE
DYES
ECO-
FRENDLY
DYES

56. LOW IMPACT DYES

57. NATURALDYES?
Natural dyes are colorants or pigments that are obtained from plant,
animal or mineral sources with or without any chemical treatments
Plant Sources Animal Sources Mineral Sources

58. Roots& Barks
AL ROOTS MADDER ROOTS TURMERIC
FUSTIC CATECHU LOGWOOD

59. Leaves
BIRCH EUCALYPTUS
WOAD CARROT TOPS
HENNA
INDIGO

60. Flowers
TANSY
DAHLIA
CORAL JASMINE
GOLDEN RODS
FRENCH MARIGOLD
HIBISCUS
TESU
GULMOHAR

61. Fruits and Berries
MYROBOLAN POMEGRANATE
ONION
WALNUT
ALMOND
ANNATTO

62. Animal Origin
TYRIAN PURPLE

63. Animal Origin
KERMES COCHINEAL LAC

64. Animal Origin
LITCHENS
WEILD & MUSHROOMS

65. MINERAL Origin
Orpimat Red Oxide Malachite Cinnabar Carbon Black

66. Herbal powder, vegetable powder, parsley vegetable powder, rosemary vegetable
powder, brown mica oxide powder, yellow mica oxide powder
MINERAL Origin

67. HISTORY OF NATURALDYES
 In Egypt, mummies have been found wrapped in madder dyed cloth.

68. HISTORY OF NATURALDYES
 It is well known that the green eye-shadow was also used by the Egyptian
women and it came from lead, oxidized copper, ochre, ash, malachite,
and chrysocolla (a blue-green copper ore).

69. HISTORY OF NATURALDYES
 It is well known that Egyptian women lined their eyes and eyebrows with Khol
that is a dark-colored powder made of crushed antimony,
burnt almonds, lead or any combination thereof
Woman would apply khol, a black dye kept in a jar or pot, to line
her eyes and eyebrows, using an "brush" or "pencil" made of a
reed

70. HISTORY OF NATURALDYES
 It is well known that the lipstick used by Cleopatra, the famous Egyptian
queen came from the bixa tree.

71. ADVANTAGESOF NATURALDYES
Obtained from Agro Renewable Resources are biodegradable.

72. Application of natural dyes has potential to earn carbon credit by
reducing consumption of fossil fuel (petroleum) based synthetic dyes.
ADVANTAGESOF NATURALDYES
Carbon Credit is a permit that allows the
holder to emit one ton of carbon dioxide.
Credits are awarded to countries or
groups that have reduced their green
house gases below their emission quota.
Carbon credits can be traded in the
international market at their current
market price.
One carbon credit = one metric tonn of CO2
/ CO2 equivalent gases
Example -, if an environmentalist group plants enough trees to reduce emissions by
one ton, the group will be awarded a credit. If a steel producer has an emissions
quota of 10 tons, but is expecting to produce 11 tons, it could purchase this carbon
credit from the environmental group.

73. ADVANTAGESOF NATURALDYES
Some of its constituents are anti-allergens and safe for body contact

74. ADVANTAGESOF NATURALDYES
Bleed but do not stain other fabrics, turmeric being an exception

75. ADVANTAGESOF NATURALDYES
Natural Dyes from Agricultural Waste
Waste rests of eucalyptus, aguaribay trees,
sunflower seed shells, parsley, olive, laurel,
and lemon trees
Since only the leaves of the tobacco
plants are harvested, stalks and other
agricultural waste are transformed into
vibrant, non-toxic dye

76. ADVANTAGESOF NATURALDYES
Does not pollute as the synthetic dyes
The Jian River flows red after being polluted
with dye from an illegal workshop

77. The dye waste may become an ideal fertilizer for agricultural fields
ADVANTAGESOF NATURALDYES
Indigo waste used to irrigate the tomatoes
The waste
water pH it’s
good for
water lily
plantation
Waste from
barks /
leafs used
in dyeing
in Bali

78. ECO-FRIENDLY
FABRICS

79. The Sanskrit word, ‘ayur’ means life and ‘vastra’ means cloth or dress.
It is based on the Ayurvedic Principles of Medicine which believes that
regular contact with cloth made from yarns
infused with extracts of organic herbs and medicinal plants
will cure metabolic disorders & promote healthy living

80. These herbal clothing
● Helps to restore balance within the body's systems
● Strengthens the immune system
● Helps in reducing the spread of diseases
● Exhibits anti-microbial & anti-bacterial properties

81. These herbal textiles are often used in making
● Garments used close to the skin
● Undergarments
● Towels
● Sleepwear
● Bed Coverings
● Mattresses
● Coir Mats
● Door Mats
● Carpets

82. The most effective time to wear Ayurvedic clothing is when
the body is at rest – Sleep & Relaxation / Meditation

83. Ayurvastra are made from fibres like certified organic cotton, natural
cotton, silk wool, coir, linen, jute, hemp, bamboo and their blends.

84. More than 200 herbs extracts can
be mixed in the dye-bath while dyeing
fabrics; hence they play a dual role in
providing magical healing
quality and imparting soothing
colours

85. ● Diabetes can be controlled by a combination of the herbal dye
● Saffron is believed to control Heart Diseases
● Fenugreek is said to control Cholesterol
● Fabrics dyed with curry leaves extract are beneficial in curing Arthritis
● Sandalwood, turmeric, aloevera, onion, chirayata & neem dyed fabrics can cure Skin
Diseases
● Brazil wood, henna and Indian mulberry can be used as Blood Purifier
● Indian madder helps in Removing Blood Impurities
● Haritaki and indigo can be used for their Antiseptic Properties
● Amla can be used for its Anti-fungal, Anti-bacterial & Anti-septic Properties
● Chitosan, which show Antimicrobial Properties
● Castor oil helps in Maintaining Body Temperature