Sustainable Textiles

Abstract

This chapter looks at the main sustainability issues affecting the wet processing stage of textile manufacture and the strategies available to minimise the environmental impact of the coloration step. In particular the chapter highlights the critical role that accurate colour communication and intelligent dye selection can play in minimising resource consumption, reducing pollution loads, enhancing product durability and shortening time to market. With the increased emphasis on traceability and the requirement to demonstrate compliance with rapidly developing consumer product safety and chemical legislation, the chapter describes how retailers and brand owners are responding to the pressure to know more about the dyes and chemicals used in the manufacture of their products and to ‘green’ their supply chains.