Textbook Chapter 21 - pages 326-336
Textiles and the Environment
The textile industry generates large volumes of waste and consumes large amounts of energy and water. The degree of environmental impact varies between the different stages of production, fibres and specific end-uses.
Cotton has a large environmental impact during its growth due to the volume of water required, while the impact of synthetic or manufactured textiles is related to the amount of energy used during production.
Cotton has a large environmental impact during its growth due to the volume of water required, while the impact of synthetic or manufactured textiles is related to the amount of energy used during production.
Potential Pollutants During Textile Manufacturing
•Fibre growth – insecticides, herbicides and fertiliser contaminate water and land with chemicals
•Fibre processing – fibre and packaging waste pollutes land
•Yarn manufacture – fibre, yarn and packaging waste and cleaning and processing waste pollutes land
•Weaving and knitting – packaging and yarn waste, fabric scraps, used oil pollutes land
•Scouring – solvents pollute air and insecticides, residues, detergents and oils pollute water
•Dyeing – volatile organic compounds pollute air, colour and metals and salt pollute water
•Printing – solvents and gases pollute air and solvents, colour, metals and heat pollute water
•End-product manufacture – fabric scraps pollute land
•Consumer use – carbon released from textiles in landfill, contributing to global warming pollutes air, alkalis used to lean textile products pollutes water and unwanted textile products pollute land
•Fibre processing – fibre and packaging waste pollutes land
•Yarn manufacture – fibre, yarn and packaging waste and cleaning and processing waste pollutes land
•Weaving and knitting – packaging and yarn waste, fabric scraps, used oil pollutes land
•Scouring – solvents pollute air and insecticides, residues, detergents and oils pollute water
•Dyeing – volatile organic compounds pollute air, colour and metals and salt pollute water
•Printing – solvents and gases pollute air and solvents, colour, metals and heat pollute water
•End-product manufacture – fabric scraps pollute land
•Consumer use – carbon released from textiles in landfill, contributing to global warming pollutes air, alkalis used to lean textile products pollutes water and unwanted textile products pollute land
Dead White Man's Waste
(ABC Foreign Correspondent Documentary 0:30)
Watch the documentary below and then complete the worksheet by downloading the file below. You can also visit this website to help you: www.abc.net.au/news/2021-08-12/fast-fashion-turning-parts-ghana-into-toxic-landfill/100358702
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dead_white_man_ghana_textile_waste_video_task.docx | |
File Size: | 17 kb |
File Type: | docx |
Lifecycle Analysis
Pollution
Pollution is the contamination of the natural environment (including air, water or land) by harmful substances. The textile industry is one of the most complicated industrial chains in the manufacturing sector as it consists of many sub-sectors, including fibre processing, yarn and fabric development, dyeing and printing.
The major concern for the textiles industry is waste water that contains chemicals, which is produced throughout the lifecycle of textile products. The textiles industry is a minor source of air pollutants when compared to other industries. Land waste is less hazardous and is a result of fabric and yarn scrap, packaging waste and cutting room waste ending up in landfill. When one considers the end of life analysis of textile products being sent to landfill, this impact drastically increases.
The major concern for the textiles industry is waste water that contains chemicals, which is produced throughout the lifecycle of textile products. The textiles industry is a minor source of air pollutants when compared to other industries. Land waste is less hazardous and is a result of fabric and yarn scrap, packaging waste and cutting room waste ending up in landfill. When one considers the end of life analysis of textile products being sent to landfill, this impact drastically increases.
Government Legislation
Government legislation (laws) have been introduced to control the release and disposal of pollutants into the air, water and on land.
The Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act
(EPBC Act) 1999
This legislation provides a framework to protect and manage flora, fauna, ecological communities and heritage places.
NSW only
In NSW the OEH (Office of Environment and Heritage) is responsible for administering environmental legislation.
Environmentally Hazardous Chemicals Act 1985
Ozone Protection Act 1989
Contaminated Land Management Act 1997
Pesticides Act 1999
Waste Avoidance and Resource Recovery Act 2001
Protection of the Environment Operations (Clean Air) Regulation 2002
NSW only
In NSW the OEH (Office of Environment and Heritage) is responsible for administering environmental legislation.
Environmentally Hazardous Chemicals Act 1985
Ozone Protection Act 1989
Contaminated Land Management Act 1997
Pesticides Act 1999
Waste Avoidance and Resource Recovery Act 2001
Protection of the Environment Operations (Clean Air) Regulation 2002
HSC Exam Practice Question
2018 HSC Paper
Section II Question 11 – ATCFAI (8 marks)
(a)Explain how changes to the production of TWO textile fibres can reduce pollution.
2018 HSC Paper
Section II Question 11 – ATCFAI (3 marks)
•How has an Australian government legislation influenced Australian textile industries to select processes and resources that have a reduced impact on the environment?
Section II Question 11 – ATCFAI (8 marks)
(a)Explain how changes to the production of TWO textile fibres can reduce pollution.
2018 HSC Paper
Section II Question 11 – ATCFAI (3 marks)
•How has an Australian government legislation influenced Australian textile industries to select processes and resources that have a reduced impact on the environment?