As we started working with Valerie, creator & designer of sustainable dresses; we wanted to understand what creating sustainable clothing really meant and how much of a positive impact it really has on the environment!
Clothing & Sustainability, how we can be more eco friendly – The findings and especially the impact from the trend of “Fast Fashion” are concerning, here are some important facts many of us would perhaps have never thought of.
The fashion industry produces 10% of all humanity’s carbon emissions, is the second-largest consumer of the world’s water supply, and pollutes the oceans with microplastics.
- Clothing production has roughly doubled since 2000.
- In Europe, fashion companies went from an average offering of two collections per year in 2000 to five in 2011. Some brands offer even more. Zara puts out 24 collections per year, while H&M offers between 12 and 16.
- A lot of this clothing ends up in the dump. The equivalent of one garbage truck full of clothes is burned or dumped in a landfill every second.
- In total, up to 85% of textiles go into landfills each year. That’s enough to fill the Sydney harbor annually.
- Washing clothes, meanwhile, releases 500,000 tons of microfibers into the ocean each year — the equivalent of 50 billion plastic bottles.
- Many of those fibers are polyester, a plastic found in an estimated 60% of garments. Producing polyester releases two to three times more carbon emissions than cotton, and polyester does not break down in the ocean.
- Overall, microplastics are estimated to compose up to 31% of plastic pollution in the ocean.
- The fashion industry is also the second-largest consumer of water worldwide.
- It takes about 700 gallons of water to produce one cotton shirt. That’s enough water for one person to drink at least eight cups per day for three-and-a-half years.
- It takes about 2,000 gallons of water to produce a pair of jeans. That’s more than enough for one person to drink eight cups per day for 10 years.
- Fashion causes water-pollution problems, too. Textile dyeing is the world’s second-largest polluter of water, since the water leftover from the dyeing process is often dumped into ditches, streams, or rivers.
- All in all, the fashion industry is responsible for 20% of all industrial water pollution worldwide.
Source: Business Insider
Being more eco friendly during your stay in Bora Bora!
With this in mind, we thought of a few ways we can all be more eco-friendly during your stay in Bora Bora.
- Water Consumption – While everyone in Bora Bora has running water, it is not the case on many other islands – Be cautious of water your water utilization.
- Plastic – Try minimizing buying bottle water – Tap water is safe to drink at most places you will stay in Bora Bora – Ask your bartender if that is the case, instead of buying bottled water refill your drinking container. Some of the Islands you visit will have public water fountains where you can refill your drinking container.
- Floaties are fun – Many visitors will bring plastic floats, some hotels will dispose of them if you leave them behind. Instead, donate them to one of the staff, while they will eventually make their way to the landfill, you will be giving them another short life. Don’t forget to tie them off, many end up floating away!
- Wedding Dresses – For the brides bring their dresses for their wedding or photo-shoot. We have been gifted with many dresses of the years, some we re-use for our photo-shoots and some we gifted back to local residents who often can not afford one.
- Snorkeling – By far the most popular activity in Bora Bora, be conscious of the environment, use sunscreen that is safe for the environment, do not touch the coral and avoid stepping on it.
Other reading on the Topic of Clothing and Sustainability:
https://www.sustainyourstyle.org/old-environmental-impacts | https://www.sustainyourstyle.org/old-environmental-impacts | https://earth.org/fast-fashions-detrimental-effect-on-the-environment/ | https://psci.princeton.edu/tips/2020/7/20/the-impact-of-fast-fashion-on-the-environment
Useful resources:
https://www.helpsy.co/ | https://better.onepercentfortheplanet.org/impact/
Blissful & Sustainable Dresses by French Designer Valerie Pache
