Sustainable Textiles Avoid Waste: Waste Prevention Week To Be Held In Germany

Using sustainable textiles to avoid waste the slogan of this year's European waste prevention week in Germany was "sustainable textiles: reuse, not waste!" Events invite all interested parties to learn how to use our resources sustainably. The week will be held from 19 to 27 November 2022.

In the last week of November 2022, Germany will hold a garbage prevention campaign week. This year's focus is on the sustainable use of clothing. Germany's per capita clothing consumption is responsible for 135 kg of greenhouse gas emissions - the equivalent of car travel from Lake Constance to Flensburg. It takes 805 liters of water to make a 90% cotton sweater - the equivalent of seven bathtubs. Up to one kilogram of chemicals is used for finishing per kilogram of textiles. These include, for example, perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl compounds (PFAS), which have serious consequences for humans and the environment.

When buying textiles, consumers can ensure that they do not contain PFAS. The European Commission is proposing a comprehensive EU textile strategy to address these challenges. One of the measures to be implemented is to promote the classification, reuse and recycling of textiles. Check out the European week for more information on the website.

　　 Avoid waste with sustainable fashion

Sustainable fashion includes growing or acquiring materials in an environmentally friendly way. Water conservation and avoidance of pesticides and chemicals play an important role in this regard. Responsible consumers should know how the textiles they buy are processed, where they come from, how the supply chain works, and whether fair employment opportunities are created. The seal that provides answers to these questions is the green button introduced by the German Ministry of development three years ago.

　　 Green button

Green buttons identify sustainable textiles. It is attached in a clearly visible place: on the label, directly on the product or on the package. So far, 78 companies have been certified. Seals can be found in fashion, outdoor clothing, home textiles and work clothes.

46 the green button must meet social and environmental standards, such as the payment of a minimum wage, the prohibition of forced and child labour and the prohibition of the use of hazardous chemicals. As the first national seal, green button not only put forward requirements for products (T-shirts, bedding), but also put forward requirements for textile companies.

　　 Fast fashion is cheap - but not sustainable

Fast fashion is usually cheap and can meet the needs of consumers in a short time. Almost every five pieces of clothing are not worn. Since the turn of the century, the global garment production has more than doubled. The research predicts that the textile industry will further grow strongly in the next few decades. All signs of excessive and unsustainable development have been met.

　　 Rent clothes instead of buying them

As the seasons change, many consumers make room in their closets and adapt their clothes to the current fashion. The consumer information centre in Hamburg recommends buying clothes in an ecologically and socially responsible way, such as renting rather than buying. More and more companies follow the pulse of the times and provide clothing rental services.

　 Upgrade recycling: upgrade old clothes

Old, damaged or seemingly useless items do not always have to be thrown away immediately. Clothes and equipment can be repaired, and one of them can be made of torn jeans or empty cans. Upgrading and recycling can be a choice for old textiles.