Producing textiles can affect the environment in many different ways. This can be, through the growing and cultivation of cotton and silk, to the processing of these materials to make fabric. All these processes have an impact on the environment.

Ways in which textile production can damage the environment;-

Pollution of rivers and water supplies Dyeing,Pollution bleaching of rivers or adding and finishes water to supplies fabrics oftenDyeing, involve bleaching using highly or adding toxic chemicals. finishes to Waterfabrics isoften used involve to rinse using the fabric highly after toxic these chemicals. processes Water areis completed.used to rinse This the water fabric is after then these released processes into nearbyare completed. rivers and sewerageThis water systems is then released this affects into nearby rivershumans and sewerage and wildlife. systems this affects humans and wildlife.

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Growing raw materials. GrowingGrowing cotton requires raw largematerials. amounts of pesticidesGrowing to grow. cotton These requires pesticides large amounts are harmful of topesticides insects and to grow.birds andThese often pesticides pollute the are water harmful to insects and birdssupplies. and often pollute the water supplies.

Using sustainable or organic resources

Sustainable resources are those which can be maintained in the long term. Examples of sustainable resources are; - Using recycled polyester which is made from plastic bottles. Organic resources are those which are grown without harming the environment, such as; - Hemp, a versatile fabric which can be used for most products. Linen doesn’t require a lot of pesticides to grown, which makes it kinder to the environment. To recycle a product, means to reuse it! The symbol on the left shows that a product has been made from recycled materials.

Recycling can help the environment in a number of ways;-  It saves energy.  It saves buying and growing raw materials.  It reduces pollution.

Ways of recycling textiles

 Old textile products can be shredded, torn, melted or ground. For example an old woollen jumper can be shredded and reused as stuffing in bedding.  Plastic bottles can be broken down and reformulated into fibres to be spun into polyester.

Ways of reusing textiles  Old or unwanted clothes can be donated to charity shops were they are sold to make money for charity.  Also old clothes can be given away to charity collection services who then give these clothes to people in poorer countries.  Old clothes can be reused and made into another piece of clothing, i.e. an old pair of jeans can be cut and changed into a denim skirt or pair of shorts.  Textiles such as bed sheets and towels can be reused by cutting them up and using them as dusters.

Using the above information, name two ways in which this T-shirt could be reused. ______1)

(a) Name two ways in which designers can use recycled materials in their designs. 1)______2)______(2 )

b) Name two problems of using recycled materials in your designs? 1)______2)______(2 )

c) Some new fashions are made to look ‘old’. Describe two ways in which you could make a product look old? 1)______2)______(2)

Question 2 is about textiles and the environment.

2) Describe ways in which the manufacture and use of textiles can damage the environment. ______(8)