THE DEVASTATION TO THE RAINFORESTS CAUSED BY THE FASHION INDUSTRY.

Endangered hardwoods are often illegally cut or cleared to make way for Eucalyptus monocrops used for viscose fibers. 48% of fast fashion’s supply cIf the label says ‘rayon’ or ‘viscose’ then it’s likely that you’re wearing the rainforest, possibly from Canada, Indonesia or the Amazon, which continues to be ravaged by the estimated 2,500 active fires spreading throughout Brazil, Bolivia, and Paraguay. The plant-based fibres used for much of your wardrobe, from those silk-imitation dresses to that trusted cotton-blend T-shirt, were once thought to be eco-friendly alternatives to polyester due to their biodegradability. This is no longer the case, as Nicole Rycroft (founder and executive director of Canopy) points out, because these manmade materials are produced via the deforestation of the world’s last-remaining, irreplaceable old-growth forest.  “It’s not intuitive, right?” asks Rycroft, whose company is working with designers to create a better supply chain, source next-gen fabrics and move fibre production into sustainable second-growth forests. “That something that stands up 130 ft and can give you a splinter ultimately ends up as a soft, silky fabric that lines your suit jacket or gives your little black dress that really nice drape. I’ve essentially worked as a professional tree-hugger for the past 20 years, and I was surprised about the link when I found out.”chains are linked to this deforestation resulting in 90 to 150 million trees (forests the size of Germany) cut annually to produce these textile fibers.

One thought on “THE DEVASTATION TO THE RAINFORESTS CAUSED BY THE FASHION INDUSTRY.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *