Jeans are wardrobe staples, the world over. Because they look effortlessly cool, can be super comfortable if someone finds a perfect fit. They last long. But their unsustainable manufacturing processes can have serious repercussions on the environment and human health.
The adverse impact of jeans on the environment cannot be underscored as is explained later in this article. However, consumers could minimize its impact by buying jeans produced from sustainable processes. There are numerous brands but are comparatively expensive.
The fashion industry as a whole is a major contributor to pollution, emissions, and water waste, and denim is one of the worst offenders. It is typically made from cotton that requires massive amounts of water, pesticides, fertilizers, and irrigation. The cotton used in the denim manufacturing process is grown with pesticides and herbicides linked to cancer, destruction of the microbiome, neurological disease, birth defects, and sterilization of the soil.
Stretchable denim has f operate fibers that act as plastics sourced from the likes of oil and toxic chemicals, which shed microfibers when washed and end up in our drinking water, soil, and oceans. Unfortunately, the denim damage doesn’t stop there. Another damage from denim occurs after the sewn jeans and then treated to remove some of that deep indigo color for an authentic wash effect. This process can use up to 2,000 gallons of water per load, plus toxic chemicals like potassium permanganate, bleach, caustic soda, and chemical softeners, which is another round of pollution that seeps into soil and waterways.
Denim also contributes to the demise of our forests. Denim often uses viscose, a semi-synthetic type of rayon fabric typically made from wood pulp, which results in the logging of over 300 million trees every year. When denim clothing is disposed of in landfills, it can take decades or centuries to decompose and it releases methane, a potent greenhouse gas.
Beyond its environmental impact, the denim production industry has a documented history of human labor violations. There are abuses at every step of the supply chain, from farming to fabric production and manufacturing that need to be addressed as well.
Jeans sustainability remains in doubt
