Handbook of Sustainable Textile Production

"Textile products are produced, distributed, sold and used worldwide. A quantitative assessment of sustainability in the textile manufacturing chain is therefore extremely important. Sustainable textiles refer to fabrics derived from ecofriendly resources, such as sustainably grown fiber crops or recycled materials. It also refers to how these fabrics are made. Production considerations include the water and energy used for manufacturing, the impact of production waste and a company's social responsibility towards its workers and the communities that surround its production facilities. In addition to the health and environmental risks, adding chemical finishes to textiles can negatively affect the sustainability pathways for fabrics at their end-of-life. Natural fabrics like cotton or wool, that could biodegrade post-use, are not able to do so safely if they are laden with chemicals. Added chemistries, including dyes, finishes and coatings, may impact the health of textile workers as well as consumers of the final product. Sustainable textile production offers production facilities the possibility of a modular analysis of all relevant concern areas such as quality management, use of chemicals, environmental protection, environmental management, social responsibility and health and safety. Handbook of sustainable textile production is a compilation of technical, economical, and environmental data from the various processes in this chain. The book highlights the environmental and social impacts of apparel and its assessment. It explores the complexities involved in implementing sustainable measures in the massive supply chain of apparel production."