Jimtex Yarns & Martex Fiber to launch new Eco2Cotton Brand
09 Jun '06
5 min read
Zeldin added, “Eco2cotton is a great sustainable option for textile manufacturers, one that reduces the need to grow crops that are traditionally water and chemical intensive.”
According to the World Wildlife Fund, the world's largest privately financed conservation organization, cotton requires more than 2,600 gallons of water to produce one pound of cotton lint, making it the most fresh-water intensive crop in the world. This does not even take into account all the water and harsh chemicals used to dye cotton products. Within the U.S cotton consumes 60 percent of all insecticides applied, amounting to 60 million pounds a year .
“Imagine the blue t-shirt you are wearing contains only 60 percent of the cotton from which it was grown,” said Zeldin. “From the remaining cutting waste, which would normally go to the landfill, we are actually able to recycle the blue cotton, blend it with a small amount of acrylic or polyester, and then make blue yarn – no waste or harvesting or cotton dyes.”
Jimtex Yarns calls the process “eco-friendly” and “eco-nomic,” as it eliminates the need for new farmland-intensive irrigation and is also insecticide/chemical free since there is no dying involved. Even organic cotton, which does not require the same amount of pesticides, still requires considerable amounts of energy and water in the growing phase and most end products will ultimately be dyed and wet finished.
“The more consumers are aware of the impact of their shopping choices, the more they will seek out and even demand recycled and eco-friendly products,” Zeldin said. “Corporations such as Starbucks, Patagonia and Wal-Mart are already leading the way in designing products and packaging with sustainable products. Other companies are also looking at enhancing their product lines with ecologically responsible materials. Eco2cotton fits right in with that growing movement."
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