Why isn’t the apparel industry environmentally friendly: A Discussion on Corporate Greed and its Negative Impacts on Our Environment

You may not realize it, but according to this article by The Wall Street Journal, the apparel industry is much grimier than you'd think. In fact, it poses many strains on the quality of the environment. In the process of making clothes including turning cotton thread and fabric, clothes are often shipped several times around the world before they are ready to be sold and sent to stores. Furthermore, growing cotton requires large amounts of water at a time when many countries are starved of water and many materials to make clothes such as synthetic fabrics release toxic compounds into the atmosphere. Now, many of you may be wondering why these companies don't do anything about the harm they are causing. The sad truth is that many of these companies are far more interested in exploiting people and the environment for maximum profits. Mitigating these environmental threats would be expensive and unfortunately the majority of the apparel industry seems largely apathetic about this issue.

Is the Eco Index Reliable???

The Outdoor Industry Association has started one of it's biggest undertakings. The OIA has started a worldwide Eco Index as the standard sustainability research tool. The different products covered by this Index are extremely diverse and hard to keep track of. Certain companies such as levis gain points just from increadibly minute things. The Eco Index also does not keep track of human rights and should measure more than just the carbon footprints left by companies. Then again "sustainability" is a word that could have different meanings to people.

What Eco Index Percentage are you?

Nowadays the world is very aware of what we do greatly affects the environment. Many apparel companies have now decided to take the environmental route to create and manufacture their clothes. Eco Index is a software tool used to question companies on their Eco-friendly practices. Their answers are all calculated and used to present a percentage to represent their company. The higher percentage you are means you are greatly helping the environment. These percentages influences many buyers today.

How Green Are Your Jeans?

an Ec0-index is system tool that company's can use to help improve the company's Eco abilities. i think this is a good software that will help improve the earth one company at a time.

What are some companies that are conscious about sustainability and what are they doing that others could use as a model?

Sustainability has proven to be a powerful motivator for consumers an effective way to lure shoppers to try new products. Our consumption habits were a lot more sustainable back in 1960, when we tossed out only 1.8 million tons of textiles. Levi’s vice president of social and environment sustainability, Michael Kobori, says the tool will be available “as soon as we can get everybody to agree” on how to publish and communicate it. Timberland started seeking out leather tanneries with more sustainable standards, says Betsy Blaisdell, Timberland’s senior manager of environmental stewardship. Energy efficiency, sustainability, and CSR consultants of various flavors and business models. Other forms of green training and education for businesses. Housing Works is like Goodwill, but I believe targets higher end clients in NYC.