Is the New Eco-clothing Recycled Water Bottles?

From Seth Leitman, with edits–
Organic cotton is a start in the right direction to find the least impact fiber for the environment. An article called Bottles to Boxers from John Otsuki gives a best case view of recycling plastic bottles that makes sense.  Here’s what his article said:
  • Cotton is the world’s largest non-food crop, estimated at 166 million bales in 2007, and requires the extensive use of pesticides and fertilizers. Even if you use organic cotton, you still have the issues of land use, water consumption, energy and chemistry which are used to turn cotton fiber into fabric. According to Otsuki, while other natural fibers such as hemp and bamboo may not require water usage, they need even more processing which means more energy.
  • Millions of tons of #1 (PET) plastic are recycled every year. Recycled PET or RPET could produce “harvests” of billions of pounds of material per year from free and locally generated sources.
  • Recent innovations have refined processes to make microfiber, performance fabrics and fleece from yarns made entirely from recycled bottles. Using recycled plastic instead of new petroleum save more than 60% of the energy needed to make the fabric without any additional harm to the environment. No other fiber is produced with less impact.
  • Polyester is also tougher than cotton. A polyester shirt lasts longer and keeps bottles out of our landfills. And, with textile recycling programs such as those offered by retailer H&M, the shirt may eventually be made into a rug or other product, keeping it out of a landfill indefinitely–and continuing to reduce the use of petroleum and energy to make additional products.

See more at: http://guides.greentowns.com/is-the-new-eco-clothing-recycled-water-bottles/green-rating#sthash.j605GAz3.dpuf

Thanks to James Underwood for leads on this OGT. Send comments or suggestions for OGT to Sharon Cameron or any Earth Ministry Team member.