Think of this: Every year for the last decade, millions of metric tons of textile waste have been generated only in India and thrown into landfills, causing environmental problems and wasting valuable resources. Now, let’s talk about real figures, more than 1 million tons of textiles are thrown away in India each year, and the number is rapidly rising.
Don’t you think it’s high time we started promoting upcycling brands and focused on recycling our old clothes rather than getting rid of them just because they’re old? In this blog, we will explore how it is possible to convert textile waste into wealth and why we need recycling in India.
The Textile Waste In India
While India is known for its world-class fabric production, we as a nation contribute to the generation of immense textile waste. With the rise of fashion trends due to fast fashion brands, we're falling into the trap of living a fallacious and invaluable lifestyle. It’s time for us to focus on uplifting clothes and recycling to live a better life ahead.
India is also known as the largest recycling nation in Asia. If you’re unaware of this fact, you should read about Asia’s biggest textile recycling hub. Now you might question, if India is the largest recycling hub, then why are we creating so much textile waste? If this question arises in your mind, then you are on the right track. Think about the amount of waste we would be generating if we didn’t have the largest textile recycling hub. And all this happens due to our nonsensical purchases of clothes and fast fashion brands.
Recycling in India: The Environmental Impact
Textile waste in landfills can have a harmful impact on the environment. The decomposition of synthetic fabrics releases harmful chemicals and greenhouse gases, contributing to air and water pollution. Additionally, the textile industry consumes vast amounts of water and energy, and discarded clothing represents a huge loss of these resources.
Do you have any idea how much water it takes to produce one pair of denim jeans that you wear? Or the amount of water needed to produce cotton just to make a shirt? You’ll be surprised to know that requires around 1000 liters of water to make the jeans that you’re probably wearing right now and more than 5000 liters of water to produce the cotton that has been used to make the shirt that’s hanging in your closet.
If these numbers don’t make you question and ask why we’re wasting resources rather than recycling old clothes then we’ve no idea what else it would take for you to follow the path of sustainable living.
The Economic Benefit Of Textile Recycling In India
Well, now that we’ve discussed the disadvantages and the amount of waste we produce every year. Now it’s time to focus on the solution. Rather than letting go of textile waste that has required a great source of natural resources, we can focus on recycling them, which will not only help us to save resources but also generate wealth in India. Read below to find out how it’s possible:
Creating employment
Textile recycling provides employment opportunities in various stages of the process. From collection and sorting to refurbishing and repurposing, many individuals and communities benefit from this industry. It's a win-win situation: the environment benefits, and people have jobs.
Reuse and Repurpose
Textile recycling isn't just about reducing waste; it's also about giving a new life to old fabrics. Here's how:
Clothing Resale: Second-hand stores and online platforms have made it easy to buy and sell gently used clothing. This extends the lifespan of garments and reduces the demand for new ones.
Upcycling: Designers and creative minds are turning old clothing into new, unique pieces. For instance, an old pair of jeans could be transformed into a trendy tote bag.
Refurbishing: Some textiles can be refurbished and resold, saving resources that would have been used to create new products.
Reducing Environmental Impact
Textile recycling significantly reduces the environmental impact of the fashion industry by following the given processes:
Less Landfill Waste: Recycling textiles keeps them out of landfills, reducing the pollution and space required for waste disposal.
Energy and Resource Savings: Reusing textiles consumes far fewer resources than producing new ones. This includes water, energy, and raw materials.
Lower Emissions: By reducing the demand for new textile production, we cut down on the greenhouse gas emissions associated with manufacturing.
Textile recycling in India is a powerful movement that addresses both environmental and economic challenges. By giving new life to old textiles and reducing the demand for new production, we not only protect our environment but also create jobs and opportunities for many people. This is our exact motto at Dwij, we solely work with the purpose of making this world realize the power of upcycling clothes and living a sustainable life. And don’t you think it’s time for you to quit fast fashion and cheap clothes and dive towards valuable and high-quality clothes?