The Fate of Natural Fibres in Environmental Evaluations: A Question of Volume

Klepp, Ingun Grimstad; Laitala, Kirsi; Haugrønning, Vilde; Sigaard, Anna Schytte; Tobiasson, Tone Skårdal

doi:10.1007/978-3-030-88300-3_2

Cited by 1 publication

(5 citation statements)

References 34 publications

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“…The calculation would give similar results for other textile products with equivalent after treatments. Reducing production is therefore the most efficient way of reducing environmental impacts [8].…”

Section: Environmental Social Economic-and Culturalmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The most recent IPCC report states that no more fossil fuel extraction can be allowed to remain within the 1.5 • C temperature goal [114]. This might impact textile regulation in the future, even though measures are currently not taken to stop the increased use of synthetic textiles [8]. Rather, it looks like important regulations, such as the EU Product Environmental Footprint (PEF), will promote plastic [115,116].…”

Section: Resource Utilization In Policymentioning

confidence: 99%

“…This might impact textile regulation in the future, even though measures are currently not taken to stop the increased use of synthetic textiles [8]. Rather, it looks like important regulations, such as the EU Product Environmental Footprint (PEF), will promote plastic [115,116].…”

Section: Resource Utilization In Policymentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The David vs. Goliath structure of the textile industry, where large actors dominate, is also a factor in determining what is sustainable and what is not and how plastics should be weighed against natural materials in sustainability ratings [115]. Here the "Absolute Zero" report chimes in by stating that one should cut out beef and lamb from diets in order to reach climate goals [118], which would imply cutting out leather and wool from fiber diets.…”

Section: A Systemic Viewmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Synthetic textiles are an important, but often forgotten part of the increasing plastic waste problem [8]. Synthetic fibers, such as polyester, elastane, acrylic, and polyamide, are not biodegradable and synthetic microfibers and textile waste are increasingly going astray in nature.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Reducing Plastic in Consumer Goods: Opportunities for Coarser Wool

Berg¹,

Klepp²,

Sigaard³

et al. 2023

Fibers

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Production and use of plastic products have drastically increased during the past decades and their environmental impacts are increasingly spotlighted. At the same time, coarse wool, a by-product of meat and dairy production, goes largely unexploited in the EU. This paper asks why more coarse wool is not used in consumer goods, such as acoustic and sound-absorbing products, garden products, and sanitary products. This is answered through a SWOT analysis of results from a desktop study and interviews with producers of these products made from wool, as well as policy documents relating to wool, waste, textiles, and plastic. Findings show that on a product level, the many inherent properties of wool create opportunities for product development and sustainability improvements and that using the coarser wool represents an opportunity for replacing plastics in many applications as well as for innovation. This is, however, dependent on local infrastructure and small-scale enterprises, but as such, it creates opportunities for local value chains, value creation, and safeguarding of local heritage. The shift to small-scale and local resource utilization requires systemic change on several levels: Here the findings show that policy can incentivize material usage transitions, but that these tools are little employed currently.

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Section: Environmental Social Economic-and Culturalmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Resource Utilization In Policymentioning

confidence: 99%