Staff Reporter
Woolworths says it has created a range of “green denim” made in part from plastic bottles.
They are mong the most sustainably produced jeans in the world, the company said in a statement Monday.
The manufacturing process adopted by the company uses 12 x 500ml recycled plastic bottles to make each pair of RE:CYCLED denims.
The process uses eco-chemicals, reduces water usage by 67 percent, and reduces energy usage by 62 percent, thereby enhancing the environmental benefits even further.
Woolworths said its recycled denim product – as well as its manufacturing process – is informed by intensive research recently conducted by Woolworths, in partnership with the World Wildlife Fund for Nature (WWF) and Green House, on sustainable fabrics used in clothing.
The research took the form of a Life Cycle Assessment (LCA), which typically assesses a product system against:
1. Resource consumption (fossil fuel and mineral resource use);
2. Impacts on human health (release of substances toxic to humans, substances that destroy the ozone layer, and substances that cause respiratory illnesses);
3. Impacts on global climate (global warming potential or carbon footprint); and
4. Impacts on ecosystems (release of substances toxic to ecosystems, acidifying substances and excessive macronutrients, as well as impacts due to land occupation and transformation).
The research revealed the following key insights about traditional denim production:
1. 90 litres of water are used to make a pair of ‘normal wash’ jeans, while 35 litres of water are used to manufacture a pair of RE: recycled jeans.
2. Cotton production can have a number of negative impacts in terms of water and chemical use.
3. Polyester has a lower water impact, while recycled polyester was the most environmentally responsible choice across the options assessed.
Woolworths said in a statement the new jeans are part of an ongoing drive to be the most sustainable retailer in the Southern Hemisphere.