Linen and Bedding

Environmental Impact

The production of textiles releases several forms of pollution into the environment. Unconverted raw materials, by-products of the manufacturing process, and shipping of the finished products release solid, liquid, and gaseous pollution into the water and air. Textile manufacturing consumes water, fuel, and chemicals in a complex sequence of processes that vary depending on the type of fabric being produced. The main environmental problem during the production phase involves contaminated water, but air pollution and excessive noise or odor also impact the health and safety of workers.

Textiles undergo a series of processing steps, and different products create different waste streams. The variation in type of fiber used to create the product, the dyes and chemicals used, and the technology of the facility producing the material all [Page 478]impact the amount and type of waste generated. In the case of linen and bedding, cotton and polyester are most commonly used, but bedding incorporates many different fabrics.

Natural fibers have the greatest environmental impact during the growth and harvesting of the raw materials. Synthetic fibers have the greatest environmental impact during processing, when large quantities of chemicals and energy are being used. There are many stages in the life cycle of both natural and synthetic fibers.

Growing the crops to create household textiles is resource intensive. Cotton plants are the most pesticide-intensive crop in the world, but any plant used to create textiles uses agricultural land that could be used for food. Fertilizers, herbicides, and pesticides applied to crops of cotton, jute, bamboo, and flax (for linen) contaminate soil and groundwater. Animals and insects are also exploited to harvest wool, fur, leather, and silk.

Harvesting the raw materials uses additional chemicals in the application of defoliants to the plants and the exploitation of cheap labor or use of fuel-powered machinery to gather the materials. Production cleaning of the raw fibers uses detergents, soaps, or bleaches and creates waste by-products that are shipped to a landfill, and the machinery to perform these tasks uses fuel or electricity. Noise and dust are frequently health issues with employees in the plant.

Additional processing to create fabric from the fiber results in toxic fumes and by-products from dyes and finishing chemicals. Heavy metals used to fix dye to fabric or solvents to seal waterproofing to material also contaminate wastewater, which often flows into local rivers. Virtually all polycotton (polyester/cotton blends), especially bed linen, and any garments labeled “wrinkle resistant,” “easy care,” or “permanent press” are treated with toxic formaldehyde to give them that quality. Much of this industry has been shipped overseas, where labor and resources are less expensive and environmental health and safety regulations are often lax.

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