Losses due to materials in the textile and fashion sector worldwide are US$100,000 million, a figure supported by facts such as that the clothing produced has decreased the amount of average use time by 40%, in garments such as < u>jeans.

This was confirmed by a study by the Ellen MacArthur Foundation, where it was shown that only 1% of clothing is recycled as new, the rest goes directly to landfills and incineration.

Luisa Santiago, director of the Foundation for Latin America, mentioned that this is why projects such as Jeans Redesign are developed, with the aim of achieving less waste. In this initiative, brands such as Tommy Hilffier, H&M, Lee and GAP have participated.

“The guidelines for this project are divided into four areas: durability, material health, recyclability, and traceability,” said Santiago.

Taking the impact into account, initiatives such as The Good Studio have been created in the country, a platform that brings together curated sustainable brands, offers plastic-free, vegan, cruelty-free, and ethically produced products, for the sake of generate awareness about the consumption of quality products, according to its director, Valentina Sáchica

For example, Laura Herrera, manager of Aramacao (participating brand), explained that they offer 100% natural scarves that do not release microplastics when washed and are biodegradable. There they allocate a percentage of each purchase to plant trees.

Another case is that of Spiaggia & Sole, a men's beachwear brand, where its CEO, Mauricio Cañaveras, said that recycled PET materials from the ocean are used in its processes.

Here, 10 companies in the sector told LR what actions they are taking to make their business a sustainable model.

1) Decathlon aims at eco-designs based on organic inputs

Using sustainable raw materials such as cotton from organic farming, Decathlon is focused on the conception of eco-designed products for 2021.

Elis Ricaurte, sustainable development leader of Decathlon Colombia, explained that they also use recycled polyester from plastic bottles that reduces the use of petroleum-based resources, as well as recycled rubber.

2) Brands like GEF and Punto Blanco already use renewable sources

The Crystal Group, through its own brands GEF, Punto Blanco and Baby Fresh, incorporate fibers with a lower environmental impact. For example, they advance processes with denim made from a mixture of cotton grown with water savings and recycled fibers, and in their Punto Blanco brand, they incorporate products made with ecovero viscose, lyocell, among other renewable natural sources.

3) Using fique and hosiery they seek to support ancestral artisans

Minimizing the environmental impact in the manufacture of footwear is the objective of Jüppa eco shoes, a company that uses recycled materials such as textiles made from recycled cotton and PET plastic, reused materials such as rubber from car tires and original natural as the fique and the sock. They purchase the fibers directly from ancestral artisans.

4) Working with materials from the earth, the goal of Della Terra

A wide range of fibers such as hemp, lyocell, organic materials and organic linen, are part of the inputs used by the Della Terra company, which seeks the use of solar energy, water recirculation, solid waste use and the capture of CO2 emissions for the neutralization of wastewater. They donate 5% of their profits to care for the environment.

5) Production based on biodegradable packaging and stamping

The company led and created by Laura Lucía González, Narciza, bases its production on biodegradable packaging that includes textile printing techniques that do not require the use of water. It uses inks that are activated by heat and go from a solid to a gaseous state directly, so the process does not require water resources. By 2022 the company hopes to adopt the use of regenerated nylon.

6) The recycling of plastic bottles for the development of unisex clothing

The materials used by the company Wata, a unisex fashion brand, directed by Simón Román, are 95% reusable and recycled with the aim of using less energy and resources than those required for the development of virgin raw materials . The most important process they carry out is the use of their raw material that comes from recycling plastic bottles, with which threads have been developed for various types of garments.

7) Exchange saves four tons of textiles

Recycling four tons of textiles a month, the NGO Clothe Moda Sostenible, directed by Camila Morentres, maintains a space among citizens where an average of 1,500 garments in excellent condition are exchanged, and they also sell an average of 2,000 garments produced by six foundations. They carry out upcycling processes where they select usable scraps to extend the life cycle of the product.

8) Flax and hemp, fibers used by the Sunset the Journey brand

Women's beachwear brand, Sunset the Journey, applies social, environmental and economic sustainability. They use organic textiles and natural fibers. “Three of our favorites are linen, hemp, and organic cotton. Likewise, our packaging is made to be reused and the labels, like the cards, are made of recycled paper”, said its manager, Ana María Dueñas.

9) Contemporary Ethnicity, first jeweler to obtain BIC status

Through the handmade jewelry, Etnia Contemporánea, thanks to actions such as environmentally friendly packaging, made from paper resulting from sugar cane bagasse and the use of recycled silver, managed to consolidate itself as a the first jewelry company to receive BIC status from the Ministry of Commerce. They also implemented solar panels.

10) Organic footwear with packaging made of compostable cardboard

Reducing the environmental footprint is the objective of Superga, a footwear brand that makes products based on organic raw materials and that since 2021 has been dabbling in the use of compostable recycled cardboard boxes for shoe packaging. Its regional market coordinator, Verónica Acebedo, mentioned that the objective of the industry is to end the expiration date of clothing.