Are Synthetic Clothes Harming the Planet?

Clothing (Photo credit: jvansanten)

By Judith Dannenhauer

If you take a look through your closet, you'll probably see a bunch of clothes with tags that have words like acrylic, polyester, nylon, and polypropylene.

These man-made fibers have slowly displaced natural fibers in our clothing, and most people don't think twice about it.

But it's time to wake up. It's time for consumers to become informed about the severe consequences synthetic clothes have on our planet.

Synthetic fibers are lauded for their affordability and versatility, but at what cost are we using these?

Here are some basic facts you need to first understand:

• Synthetic clothes are manufactured from man-made materials derived from chemicals.
• Coal, air, water, and petroleum products are used in the production of many synthetic fibers.
• The production of synthetic fibers creates pollution.
• Overproduction of synthetic fibers is damaging to the environment.
• Synthetic materials require far more energy to produce than is needed for the growth of natural fibers.
• When washed, tiny bits of plastic flake off of synthetic fibers (up to 1,900 flaked off fibers can come off a single piece of clothing per wash) and get flushed into the sewage system. These tiny bits of plastic find their way into oceans and shorelines, where marine animals ingest them.

Are Synthetic Clothes Bad for People Too?

It's pretty clear that synthetic clothing isn't the most eco-friendly choice, but does it pose any threats to our health? Consider the following:

Synthetic fibers off-gas harmful chemicals. Even though these chemicals are exhausted in minute amounts, you will still be breathing them in and absorbing them in your skin. Does this sound like a way to achieve optimal health?

Synthetic fibers also prevent your skin from breathing. Natural fibers found in eco-friendly clothing absorb and release perspiration, helping to ventilate your skin. Synthetic fibers don't breathe, so they block the skin in its attempts to detoxify itself, which can cause numerous effects.

Many people also experience skin allergies from exposure to synthetic clothes. If your skin gets irritated easily, and you have rashes and itching, there is a good chance it's from the clothing you're wearing.

The Advantages of Eco-Friendly Clothes

Eco-friendly clothes are the preferred choice for those looking to reduce their environmental footprint. Eco-friendly clothes offer a range of benefits.

• They are free from chemicals.
• They are free from genetically-modified seeds.
• They do not disperse any chemicals into the environment during their production.
• They are sustainable and 100% biodegradable.
• They are made from strong fibers that last, so you have to replace your clothes less often.
• They require less energy to produce than synthetic clothes.
• They are great for people with skin allergies and irritations.

Simply put, synthetic clothes affect the health of the entire planet. From the toxic manufacturing methods to the harmful disposal practices of these non-biodegradable products, synthetic clothes hurt the planet in many different ways.

Educate yourself on the benefits of eco-friendly clothes so you can do your part to help save the planet. Buy Adore Clothing and Cotton Clothing for Women online at: NaturalCottonClothing.Com.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Judith_Dannenhauer
http://EzineArticles.com/?Are-Synthetic-Clothes-Harming-the-Planet?&id=7071962