The impact of a cotton garment’s long journey

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When we buy a new item of clothing, we rarely think about the journey it has taken to get into our hands. Yet that journey involves numerous trips, the use of resources, and… the generation of waste. Did you know that in Quebec, each person throws away an average of 23 kilograms of clothing per year? That’s nearly four large garbage bags full of clothes per person!

So, what is this mysterious journey of a garment? Let’s follow the long journey of a cotton sweater, from the plant… to the landfill.

NOTE: This blog is not intended to make you feel guilty about buying new clothes. We explain the impacts here so we can present solutions in future blogs.

1. It all starts in the fields

Cotton is a plant that is grown in warm climates, such as India, China, the United States, Pakistan, etc.

This fiber offers many benefits compared to synthetic fibers; it allows for better ventilation of the skin, has a longer life expectancy, is more recyclable, and, when organic, does not contain endocrine disruptors. Its biggest drawback: growing cotton requires a lot of water and pesticides. For example, it takes about 9,000 liters of water to make a single pair of jeans, which is equivalent to 285 showers.

2. Manufacturing: from fiber to garment

After the fields, the cotton travels to the factory.

Once harvested, the cotton is spun into yarn and then woven into fabric. These fabrics are then dyed, cut, and assembled to create beautiful garments.

Who doesn’t love colorful clothes? A rainbow wardrobe to match the seasons makes you happy, right? It does for me, but I’m still aware of the impact of this choice, which is why I opt for secondhand clothes.

Cotton is a naturally white fiber. Several chemicals are used to change its color. These chemicals are highly toxic and can cause damage to workers’ health in addition to polluting local rivers.

3. The great journey around the world

Our clothes travel a lot. If they had passports, they would be well stamped!

For example, for a T-shirt:

  • Cotton may be grown in India,
  • filé et tissé en Chine,
  • dyed in a different city in China,
  • sewn in Bangladesh,
  • shipped to a warehouse in the United States,
  • and then sent to the store where you will find it in Canada.

Before even arriving in stores, this sweater may have traveled thousands of miles by boat, truck, or plane! Each trip releases greenhouse gases. It’s important to be aware of this when buying new clothing.

4. Life with us: wearing, washing, wearing out

Once purchased, the garment begins its life at home. If our garment is lucky, we wear it, wash it, wear it, wash it… until it is too worn, too small, or stained. For the less fortunate garments, we forget about them in our closets or dressers—oops!

You may notice that clothes that are washed more often wear out faster. To avoid throwing away clothes frequently, try wearing them several times before washing them. This will reduce both the water and electricity consumption needed to clean them while extending their life.

5. End of life: trash or new opportunity?

What should you do with your clothes once you no longer wear them? In most Western countries, these clothes are thrown away.

In Quebec, 95,000 tons of textiles are sent to landfills every year. Canada produces 2% of the world’s textile waste.. Your clothes don’t have to suffer the same fate. There are much better places for them to end up than in the trash.

Other options are:

  • Donate your clothes to the Super Recyclers, thrift stores, or organizations.
  • Repurpose your clothes by creating something new (bag, toy, puppet).

We will be sharing tips on how to revamp your clothes in an upcoming blog post.

Reinventing the garment’s journey

The long journey of a garment is impressive… It’s a shame that after all this adventure, our clothes spend most of their lives in the trash. We buy them, wear them for a short time, and then throw them away.

We have a key role to play in ensuring the well-being of the planet and future generations:

  • Give clothes a new lease on life
  • Buy less, but buy better
  • Raise awareness in our community about the importance of taking care of your clothes.

Each piece of clothing is more than just a piece of fabric: it is a precious resource, the result of the work of many people and a long list of significant impacts on our planet.

Together, let’s make sure that the journey of our clothes doesn’t end in the trash, but continues through recycling, donation, and upcycling.