In recent decades the
global textile industry has marked an enormous growth in the overall market size, expounding on the increased global demand. Alongside surging operations and an economic boom, the textile industry across the globe is fighting with the pre-existing challenges that are now evolving at a compounding rate. Topics like environmental pollution, work safety, and consumer health, are of critical concern and need a sustainable solution.
At the center of all — chemicals, have been a major source of pollution that leaves a lasting effect on human and environmental health. Studies point out, the chemicals industry actively utilizes more than 1500 chemicals to satisfy its production, of which nearly 800 compound has negative effects on both environmental sustainability and human health. Speaking of volumes, nearly one-fourth of total chemicals produced annually find direct or indirect implications in the textile industry; suggesting mammoth-like effects on global well-being.
At a time when the textile industry around the globe is battling environmental degradation, a few key positive developments toward sustainability are catching the eyeballs. They are:
Eliminating Toxic Impurities
Presently, over 20 percent of global industrial pollution is generated by the textile industry. Apart from the industrial pollutants, the chemical and dyes used to process the textiles present an unmitigable long time risk to the consumers. For example, the Azo dyes that are found in 60 - 80 percent of all colorants can quite easily peel off and break down from the fabrics to release chemicals — aromatic amines, which might possibly lead to cancer.
However, the industry is now taking a turn toward sustainable alternatives. New organic dying procedures are being streamlined. Moreover, in the dawn of strict vigilance of the governments and inter-governmental bodies, the industry is feeling the need to take a step back from the traditional operational processes and explore new sustainable work models.
For instance, the Archoma Way, a multinational, well-diversified manufacturer of specialty chemicals for the paper, packaging, coatings, adhesives, and sealants industries; has developed new categories of dyes that are developed from agricultural waste and processed for use as a replacement petroleum raw material.
Clean Dyeing Technology
The manufacturing and broad-scale use of synthetic dyes pose a significant environmental threat and great public concern. However, over time, the laws governing color discharge have been tougher, and It's now necessary to develop processes for properly removing colors from their waste.
The widespread use of synthetic dyes in textile-dominant economies like Bangladesh has caused unalterable damage to the population. Today, a significant amount of the country’s population is battling cancer, birth defect, and the inability to reproduction that can be directly referred to as the side effects of synthetic dyes.
However, two scientists Jim Ajioka and Orr Yarkoni from the University of Cambridge have probably found a way out of the ongoing scenario by successfully engineering microorganisms to create clean dyes. Ajioka and Yarkoni have utilized DNA codes or “color instructions” to develop colors that appear in nature.
“Every color in nature made by a living organism — plant, animal, insect, or microbe — is coded for by DNA. By identifying these color instructions, we insert that code into a microorganism that can then produce the color, just as it is produced in nature,” states Orr Yarkoni.
Green chemistry
The textile industry is also witnessing rising number of research and investment in the field of green chemistry. Moving beyond synthetic dyes the industry is exploring different organic sources of color which are extracted from different natural sources.
For instance, a study published in the national library of medicine showcases the potential usage of green chemistry to prepare natural dye; wherein the reachers explore the potential of betalains obtained from colored food waste/peels of red beetroot.
It was found that functionalizations of betalains and wool in acid environments lead to the most intense red colors. However, the color varies depending on the pH and the concentration of betalains.
Changing the Sector
The textile industry is changing and new trends and innovations are shaping the industry at an immense pace. In a multitude of changes, the shift towards sustainable mediums is the most noteworthy and also need of the hour.
Today, the textile chemicals and the dyeing industry are exploring hard and fast new alternatives to synthetic products. While every dyehouse is different, the same principle is true for all with regard to carbon emissions and environmental pollution.
New advancements in the field of control and automation, or investment in a key piece of new machinery that will harmonize with the existing plant. While innovations like green chemistry and organic dying will play a decisive role in shaping the fate of the textile industry in the future.
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