Water plays a vital role in our lives, yet many of us are unaware that freshwater supplies are a finite resource.⁠ Only 3% of the world’s water is freshwater, of which two-thirds of that is inaccessible¹, trapped in glaciers and snowfields. Currently, five out of 11 regions across the globe are described as water-stressed, including two with high ‘water stress’ and one with ‘extreme water stress’². Every year, around 4 billion people experience severe water scarcity during at least one month of the year³.

Climate change and a growing population continue to put further stress on water resources. For example, Asia and the Pacific region has the lowest per capita water availability in the world, and groundwater use in the region is predicted to increase by 30 percent by 2050⁴. Meanwhile, industries consume and pollute water at an alarming rate.

The Fashion & Textiles Industry Have a Significant Impact 

The fashion and textile industry in particular put significant strain on the issue and are one of the most water intensive industries on the planet. ⁠It’s estimated that the industry uses enough water to end the thirst of 110 million people for an entire year⁵, using 4% of all freshwater extracted globally⁶. With total water usage estimated at 93 billion cubic meters per year. ⁠

For example, in the denim industry alone it’s estimated that it can take up to can take up to 3,781 litres of fresh water to produce just one pair of jeans, according to a Levi Strauss study⁷. Denim can be a particularity intensive fabric to produce as not only is it made predominantly from cotton, a famously water thirsty fibre, it is also treated with large quantiles of water and chemicals in order to achieve a range of desired finishes and effects, contributing significantly to freshwater water contamination and pollution.

It’s estimated that it can take over 84 billion litres of water to finish the 1.2+ billion pairs of jeans that are produced globally each year.

While the industry and it’s value chain are complex and multifaceted, many sectors, like the denim industry, are now working towards improving water stewardship. Efforts to mitigate this impact include water-saving technologies, eco-friendly dyes, and wastewater treatment systems. However, more sustainable practices are needed to reduce the industry’s strain on freshwater ecosystems. Technologies like our XFN Denim Finishing tech are among a suite of innovations making their way to market.

(You can read more about our XFN technology and the latest innovations in the denim sector in our latest article here.)

What Can We do at Home?  

According to water wise, the average person in the UK uses 142 litres of water per day.⁸  However a survey revealed that 46% of respondents believed their households used less than 20 litres per day. Domestic habits contribute significantly to fresh water usage and while many of these habits are daily necessities, there are simple ways in which we can help consciously reduce our personal water use and contamination, in the face of increasing water scarcity.

Follow the link to Water Wise for a few top tips to reducing your water consumption within the home. In addition to these handy tips, our laundry experts have shared a few easy ways to reduce the your water impact when it comes to washing your clothes at home…

• Look for water efficient washing machines when replacing an old one. A single load of laundry can take anywhere from 6 – 14 litres of water per kg⁹, depending on the efficiency of the machine so opting for a more efficient model where possible is an easy way to ensure greater water conservation.

• Consider a quick wash – Avoid longer cycle times and higher temperature for garments that need a less intensive clean.

• Wash without harsh chemicals – Switch from mainstream detergents to well renowned eco options and avoid using excess products where possible. We’d recommend Tallow & Ash who champion clean chemistry only, or shop on an ethical product directory for a range of choices.

• Reduce microfibre pollution – Scientists estimate that textiles produce 35% of the global ocean’s microplastic pollution¹⁰, making textiles the largest known source of microplastic⁠s. Washing your clothes on lower temperatures and fuller loads can help reduce shedding and investing in a microfibre filter like our XF3, (once available) can help stop up to 99% of all microplastics form entering the environment.

• Ditch the detergent pods – Move away from laundry pods where possible. Despite claims from the detergent industry that these pods are environmentally safe, many scientists warn that the ‘biodegradable’ plastic coating contain PVA and will never fully biodegrade on the natural environment.

The Way Forward…

Innovation and regulation are crucial for effectively reducing water consumption and protecting our water resources for the future. Embracing available technology presents a straightforward approach to improving water management, whether on a commercial or domestic scale. If you are a washing machine manufacturer, textile machinery manufacturer, or government body who would like to discuss any of our water conscious technologies – we’d love to talk to you.

Today we advocate for better management and conservation of our precious resources and implore us all to carefully consider how our personal habits impact our world.

For a greater understanding of wider water issues, head to the World Water Day website and discover more about this years theme: Unleashing the Power for Water Peace.

References

1. https://www.worldwildlife.org/threats/water-scarcity
2. UN-Water 2021
3. Mekonnen and Hoekstra, 2016
4. https://www.unescap.org/sites/default/files/CED5_1E_0.pdf 
5. Reducing Fashion Industry Water Usage | Common Objective
6. Reducing Fashion Industry Water Usage | Common Objective
7. Life-cycle assessment commissioned by Levi Strauss & Co, 2007
8. Vast majority of Brits have no idea how much water they use each day | Water UK
9. Water Efficient Washing Machines | How To Save Water (how-to-save-water.co.uk)
10. Global Releases of Primary Microplastics to The World Oceans. International Union for Conservation of Nature