Reporte Especial: La huella ecológica de la mezclilla [RCTV 47.3]

Impact of Denim Production on the Environment

Environmental Concerns in Denim Manufacturing

• Despite their comfort, denim pants have a significant ecological footprint due to cotton cultivation, which requires burning fossil fuels for agricultural machinery and consumes 7 milliliters of water per kilogram of fiber.

• The use of pesticides in cotton farming accounts for 25% of all chemicals applied globally, raising concerns about environmental health. Additionally, textile fibers are treated with starch to enhance fabric durability.

• The dyeing process involves immersing yarn in large vats containing indigo pigment derived from non-renewable resources like coal and oil, contributing further to environmental degradation.

Chemical Waste and Biodiversity Impact

• After dyeing, fabrics are treated with paraffin oil for softness and lubricity. This is followed by exposure to caustic soda mixtures that create a worn effect but result in toxic chemical runoff into waterways, severely impacting biodiversity.

• In Guacán Puebla's denim production area, soil has become sterile due to high levels of lead, mercury, cadmium, and selenium from industrial waste. The finishing process often involves washing with pumice stones to achieve designer-required textures.

Health Risks Associated with Denim Processing

• The "Stone Wash" finish creates a distressed look through manual scrubbing with silica powder and potassium permanganate. This method poses serious health risks such as silicosis for workers involved in the process.

Carbon Footprint from Usage

• The most significant ecological impact occurs during the washing, drying, and ironing phases after purchase. A pair of jeans used three times every two weeks over four years can generate over 32.3 kilograms of CO2 emissions; 58% comes from home laundering.

• To mitigate this impact, it is recommended to wash jeans less frequently (every five to ten wears), potentially reducing energy consumption by up to 23% when using cold water settings and utilizing sunlight for drying.