{"id":116249,"date":"2022-11-28T12:59:57","date_gmt":"2022-11-28T17:59:57","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/savethewater.org\/?p=116249"},"modified":"2022-11-28T12:59:57","modified_gmt":"2022-11-28T17:59:57","slug":"indigo-color-technology-water-saving-tech-in-the-textile-industry","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/savethewater.org\/indigo-color-technology-water-saving-tech-in-the-textile-industry\/","title":{"rendered":"Indigo Color Technology: Water-saving Tech in the Textile Industry"},"content":{"rendered":"

By Brigitte Rodriguez, Associate Researcher & Writer for Save The Water\u2122 | November 26, 2022<\/span><\/p>\n

In recent years, companies have grown more interested in developing eco-friendly technologies in the textile industry. However, making textiles requires using a lot of energy and water. For these reasons, researchers have presented indigo color technology. This alternative means that companies will use fewer resources and chemicals when making textiles. Thus, this technology is an environmentally friendly option.<\/span><\/p>\n

What is the Situation in the Textile Industry?<\/span><\/h2>\n

Now more than ever, consumers are becoming more aware of the impact of making clothes. For example, making textiles releases microplastics into the environment. They also release 0.5 <\/span>million tons of microfibers<\/span><\/a> into the sea every year.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

According to the European Parliament, the textile industry causes <\/span>20% of water pollution.<\/span><\/a>\u00a0 However, the fashion industry\u2019s damage hasn\u2019t slowed down. Instead, it\u2019s intensified in recent years.<\/span><\/p>\n

Jeans are the most commonly used article of clothing. Although people characterize them by their practicality, they hugely impact the environment.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Moreover, a single pair of cotton jeans consumes <\/span>between 10,000 and 20,000 liters<\/span><\/a> of water throughout the manufacturing process.<\/span><\/p>\n

For all these reasons, the textile industry is increasingly having to adapt to change. It\u2019s trying to opt for a more sustainable path by choosing less polluting options through the spread of new technologies.<\/span><\/p>\n

Environmental Impacts of the Textile Industry<\/span><\/h2>\n

Water pollution from the textile industry is a serious problem.<\/span> For example, there are thousands of companies in China that manufacture denim. According to Greenpace, in 2010, <\/span>cadmium levels from Chinese textile factories exceeded the permissible limit 128 times.<\/span><\/a> This endangered the lives of workers and the community. It also produced industrial pollution.<\/span><\/p>\n

In addition, water pollution has affected the towns of Caruaru and Toritama in Brazil. These towns are known for the production of jeans.\u00a0 During production, wastewater was released directly into Capibaribe River without prior treatment. This affected the quality of the river water. According to a public health specialist, nobody could drink the water <\/span>in some areas because it was stained an indigo color.<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n

These are only some examples of the atrocities that the textile industry has done to the environment. There are other <\/span>countries that produce the largest amount of clothing<\/span><\/a>:<\/span><\/p>\n