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Have you ever become dependent on a toxic relationship that makes you unconsciously feel aggrieved? Maybe it was tough at the beginning, but somehow things changed when you invest more energy with them, making it difficult to get out of.
However, we immerse ourselves in a toxic relationship mostly because the object usually very ‘romantic’, more nice-ish than others. But the trick lies in the toxic relationship, obscured by the seeming benefits of its real hazards. Well, it’s exactly what synthetic material did to us and the environment. In the last 80 years, fashion industry has been marking toxic relationship with plastic for a long time. We all know it’s damaging our health and marine environment, but we don’t know how to deal with it since we cannot find another substitute material which is so durable and easy making.
Let’s see what makes it attractive:
Firstly, plasticity, good shape. Plastic and other completely met the requirement of fashion industry (retailers and customers) with lower cost. Durable, easy water resistance, stain resistance. Isn’t it like the climate time in your toxic relationship? He/She is so sweet and considerable makes you think how on earth does the one exists.
However, when you get alone with the toxic one for a long time. You’ll realize how harmful it can be. Plastic isn’t biodegradable and takes centuries to break down, as well as other synthetic material in fast fashion. The micro-fibre they released into the environment and marine, causing us too much trouble.
As you know, the solutions to this problem has been fixing by fashion industry. Sustainable material in fashion industry has been concerned though designers, stakeholders and company cultures, such as Mother of Pearl https://goodonyou.eco/most-ethical-and-sustainable-clothing-brands-from-uk/, Pico etc UK based brands. They labelled themselves with ethical; sustainable; eco-friendly cultural value.
Since the transforming the industry in a new textiles economy requires system-level change.
the system needs at least three participants to make it work, production- use – after use. Since we are not participating in the production, but we are the one who triggering it and enjoying the benefit from it. Thus, we could share this responsibility as consumer.
There are some basic reasons why we need to participate this, most of plastic are made from fossil fuels, which we need to keep it in the ground since we’re in the midst of a climate warming. Also, it is the main source to micro plastic pollution in water systems. The whole production chain would release the poisonous gas and chemistry waste. For people who in the process will be exposed to toxic and carcinogenic chemicals are used which cause health problems. As for you, the products produced by these are not good for the skin either, allergic reactions are the most apparent results.
Having realised the relevance of plastic production in the fashion industry to our lives, it is difficult to walk away from it. Here is some suggestions for your ‘relationship’ with artificial material.
‘Reduce meeting’
When you are allergic to a food, the best thing to do is to stop eating it. Similarly, if you wish to reduce the allergic symptoms of plastic for you and the environment, you should decrease its creation. By using liquid laundry soap instead of powered version, rejecting the effect of friction. The micro-fibres released from your artificial material garment will be reduced. Another thing to concern about during the laundry is changing your filter frequently. They are easy to catch micro-fibres and throw it instead of washing it down though the sewerage pipes. There is a small recipe that using Vinegar instead of Fabric conditioner to soft clothes, good for your skin and no chemical fragrance. By the way, Cora Ball is a good friend for you to help you collecting amount of laundry waste that occurs during the process.
The problem of the environment issue today, is people’s indifference, and lack of sympathy with it. People was too busy to solve their own problem. Caring about environmental issue shouldn’t be an utopian idea which only belongs to minor people/ society. Therefore, we compare the harm of our marine ecosystem damaged by the microfibre/ plastic, such artificial material to you with toxic relationship between you and your lover, friends or parents, make it more understandable. Sometimes we cannot just walk away or cut off those connections, because we may have other concerns at the same time, such as material makes from nature or animal is so pricy and unethical, to some extent, artificial material helps to reduce the action of Mulesing.