In the western world we have become a throwaway culture. But we need to ask some important questions rather than accepting this as part of modern life. Is it sustainable? On a purely practical note the processes and the chemicals involved in the bleaching, dying and other finishing stages of non organic textiles require that there be wise use to reduce the overall environmental impact. This involves the encouragement of cleaner production, prevention and minimization of waste, reuse and of course recycling. The main environmental impacts arise from the intensive energy consumption at all stages of growing and production and the quantities of chemicals and water used.
Are we willing to take responsibility for the fact that the cheap goods that we enjoy are paid for in other cultures with below minimum wages, lack of union representation and forced child labour. You may answer that this is nothing to do with us and should be dealt with in those countries involved but it is not so simple as that.,
Crib And Changer
An interesting article in the Saturday telegraph magazine highlighted these issues. Whilst many major chain stores in the UK are now selling organic cotton garments and vaunting that they are adhering to ethical standards in factories; workers are still being paid a minimum wage. This is because those same retailers are reluctant to raise their prices to consumers in order to pay a living wage to workers in the third world. As a result we as consumers are encouraged to buy garments that we do not need and they often remain unworn. How many of us can honestly say that we do not have at least one draw full of unwanted and scarcely worn clothes. I am ashamed to say that I cannot but I am making efforts to reform.
Babies and small children grow out of their clothes very fast so we do need to consider how we can recycle textiles. I would certainly advocate buying organic cotton and other organic textiles but we need to look at ways of ensuring that clothing is well utilized and enjoyed. One obvious way is to pass clothes through the family . Otherwise take outgrown clothes to charity shops. I have recently heard it suggested that we should rent out children's clothes to ensure maximum use. I am not sure how this would work on a commercial basis but perhaps I am missing out on a terrific opportunity. There are a multitude of mother and baby clubs and groups out there so it should certainly be possible to arrange something on a local basis and if it became a norm it would be widely accepted.
We need to change our expectations and stop being slaves to fashion and consumerism. If retailers priced their clothes more realistically we would be forced to learn to be thrifty and use the clothes we buy to their full potential. It is not idle comment to say that we cannot continue to dissipate the world's resources as we are currently doing. We have used more goods and services since 1950 than in the rest of human history. A sobering thought I think.