Energy and Environmental Aspects of the Sustainability of Clothing Production

Abstract

The textile and clothing industries are very often lumped together when it comes to the environmental aspect such that the negative connotation of the textile industry from an environmental aspect is automatically transferred to the clothing industry. However, the two industries should be considered separately, particularly with regard to the machinery used and energy consumption in the production process. The energy consumption of electricity, compressed air, vacuum, steam, and other energy sources in the clothing industry is low compared to other related industries. Furthermore, no carcinogenic and allergenic waste is generated during the production of clothing, which has a low carbon footprint, i.e., it practically does not pollute the air, soil, and water. The waste produced during cutting is clean and unused and is immediately recycled. All of this contributes to the sustainability of the clothing industry from the energy and environmental aspects. This article describes the cutting and joining techniques used in the manufacture of clothing, from the energy and environmental aspects as well as aspects of the weaves, the necessary machine elements and mechanisms, and the energy used in all joining techniques, from which the above claims and facts can be seen.