Sustainable Textiles
Tim Hammerich
News Reporter
The California Cotton and Climate Coalition, or C4, wants to reduce the carbon footprint and fix the reputation of the textile industry. Rebecca Burgess is the executive director of Fibershed, a nonprofit partner in C4, says committing to climate goals is necessary for the environment and the satisfaction of customers.
Burgess: Clip 3 “Sustainability targets are primarily based in 45% reduction in CO2 emissions by 2030 for most textile brands. California’s fifth climate pillar is soil carbon sequestration. The customers are absolutely looking for more natural fibers; I see it all the time. They don’t want to wear plastic. Some of them don’t know any better, but a lot of them are asking to wear natural fibers and they want to know how those fibers are farmed. So, I think between not wearing a lithosphere based mined plastic material, pivoting to natural, and then asking those questions of, you know, how is this happening on the working landscape, can we find out more, and beyond just a certification, too. I think having a level of transparency to actually like, see the farm at work - that’s even more powerful than just putting a stamp on it.”
Burgess said that environmental sustainability and transparency are more than just a 21st-century trends - they’re the future for many industries, including textiles.