A Race to the Bottom? Environmental Protection and the Textile Industry

Abstract

While the textile sector is not as heavy a pollutor as, for example, the mining industry, it still has a considerable impact. Textile production consumes large amounts of fresh water, especially during the dyeing process. In addition, the manufacturing of textile products involves the use of chemicals such as, for example, transfer agents or dyes, which can have a strong negative environmental impact if not carefully handled and disposed of.1 Saturated with dyes, defoamers, bleaches and detergents, the chemically contaminated wastewater of textile production often causes severe environmental damage. Textile retailing is adding to the environmental impact of the industry sector on account of its heavy dependence on energy-intensive air-conditioning in shops, in addition to the transport and distribution of products to shopping centers across South Africa. These aspects make the industry a significant producer of CO2. Hence, the textile industry has ample opportunity to contribute to environmental governance in South Africa.KeywordsTextile IndustryTextile ManufacturerSocially Responsible InvestmentEnvironmental GovernanceEnvironmental Management SystemThese keywords were added by machine and not by the authors. This process is experimental and the keywords may be updated as the learning algorithm improves.