TEXTILES AND THE ENVIRONMENT 

Environmental impacts can occur at every stage of the textile lifecycle (raw materials, production, use and disposal), irrespective of fiber type.  

There are environmental problems associated with the production of manmade fibers, such as intensive energy use and generation of hazardous air emissions. There are also potential environmental problems associated with growing natural fibers, including the use of pesticides and degradation of the land.  

The major positive and negative aspects of the main fiber types are summarised below.  

The positive and negative environmental aspects are identified as follows: 

positive environmental aspect

negative environmental aspect

NATURAL FIBERS

Cotton

Wool

Flax, Ramie and Hemp

Silk

Bamboo

MANMADE FIBERS

Bamboo

Rayon, Viscose and Acetate

SYNTHETIC FIBERS

Polyester (PET)

Recycled polyester (Recycled PET)

Olefin

Nylon

Acrylic

Polyvinyl chloride (PVC)

Click here to download a print friendly version of the Environmental Impact of Fibers.