Water's Journey: Cotton T-Shirts And Their Making

how much water to make a cotton t shirt

Did you know that it takes 2700 litres of water to make a single cotton t-shirt? That's enough drinking water for one person for 900 days. The water-intensive process of making a t-shirt includes the growth of cotton, manufacturing, and dyeing. Cotton is a thirsty crop, and the crowded growing conditions of the plants require a lot of water. The processing, manufacturing, and dyeing of cotton also consume large amounts of water.

Characteristics Values
Water required to make a cotton t-shirt 2700 litres
Enough water for one person to drink 900 days
Equivalent to 70 showers

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Cotton is a thirsty crop

Cotton is a very thirsty crop. It is estimated that the production and processing of cotton use a large amount of water. Some experts even contend that cotton is the largest user of water among all agricultural commodities. It takes about 2,700 liters of water, or enough water for one person to drink for 900 days, to make just one t-shirt. This includes the growth, manufacturing, transporting, and washing of the cotton.

Cotton farming is the largest consumer of water in the apparel supply chain and is used in 40% of all clothing worldwide. The diversion of water for cotton growing has had severe impacts on major ecosystems, such as the Aral Sea in Central Asia, the Indus Delta in Pakistan, and the Murray Darling River in Australia. For example, 97% of the water in the Indus River goes towards producing crops like cotton.

However, it is important to note that cotton is a desert plant that requires similar amounts of water per hectare to other summer crops planted in the same regions. Cotton is well-adapted to surviving and producing a crop in hot and dry conditions. It is planted only once a year and only when there is enough water available. This is in contrast to "permanent" plantings such as grapes and fruit trees, which need water to survive every year, regardless of water availability.

Despite this, the current methods of cotton production are environmentally unsustainable. Cotton cultivation severely degrades soil quality, and the use of agrochemicals and pesticides threatens the quality of soil and water, as well as the health of biodiversity in and downstream from the fields.

To address these issues, organizations like the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) are working with farmers and businesses to promote sustainable farming methods and reduce water consumption in cotton production. The Better Cotton Initiative, for example, has helped farmers in Pakistan reduce their water use by 39% and increase their income by 11%.

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Water is used at almost every stage

The crowded growing conditions of cotton plants also contribute to the high water usage. In one acre, there can be between 40,000-45,000 plants. Cotton now accounts for a quarter of the world's textile fibre production, and it takes a lot of water to make it bloom. One kilo of cotton requires almost 10,000 litres of fresh water. This water is taken from rivers, lakes and groundwater as rainfall is not enough.

The manufacturing process also uses a lot of water. The bleaching and dyeing of clothes consume huge amounts of water. Each kilo of dyed textile requires 100 to 150 litres of water. The washing process, widely used for denim, also uses many litres of fresh water.

The care of our clothes also adds to their "water footprint". The domestic task of washing clothes uses a lot of water, and this is in addition to the water used during the manufacturing stage. In France, it is estimated that each household uses around 14,000 litres of water per year to wash clothes, which is 12% of domestic water consumption.

Water is used at every stage of a t-shirt's life cycle, from the growth of cotton to the manufacturing, dyeing, and washing of the final product. The high water usage in the production of t-shirts is something that consumers are becoming more aware of, and companies are making strides to reduce their water footprint.

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The dyeing process uses a lot of water

The production of a single t-shirt requires 2,700 litres of water, which is enough for one person to drink for 900 days. This is the equivalent of 70 showers. The cotton plant loves water, and it takes a lot to make it bloom. Each plant needs around 10 gallons (38kg) of water to maximise its yield. This is somewhere around 20-30 inches of water for the full season, which can extend to 180 days. This is much longer than most other annual crops.

The dyeing process is one stage of manufacturing that consumes huge amounts of water. On average, each kilo of dyed textile requires 100 to 150 litres of water. The bleaching and dyeing of textiles require a lot of water, and the chemicals used to fix the dyes are harmful to the environment. The dyeing process is responsible for about 20% of industrial water pollution.

The water used in the dyeing process is not the only consideration when it comes to the environmental impact of making a t-shirt. The water used to grow the cotton crop is also significant. Cotton is a thirsty crop, and water needs to be taken from rivers, lakes and groundwater to meet its demands. The water footprint of a t-shirt is not just about the volume of water used, but also the pollution of that water. The chemicals used to treat cotton, such as pesticides and fertilisers, penetrate the water cycle and contaminate groundwater and rivers.

The choices we make today affect the future needs of others. With water scarcity becoming an increasingly pressing issue, it is important to consider the water footprint of the products we consume.

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Water pollution is a significant issue

It takes about 2500 to 2700 litres of water to make a single cotton t-shirt. This is a huge amount, especially when considering that this is enough water for one person to drink for 900 days. The textile industry is the largest industrial sector in the world and is the largest producer of wastewater, which it discharges back into the environment. Water pollution is a significant issue, and the textile industry is responsible for up to 20% of global water pollution. This is largely due to the wastewater created during the dyeing and treatment processes, which make up about 20% of the world's wastewater.

The fashion industry has seen unprecedented growth in the past two decades, with consumers purchasing 60% more clothing than they did 15 years ago. This has resulted in a destructive impact on the world's water supply, with 93 billion cubic metres of water used by the fashion industry annually. The production of natural fabrics, such as cotton, requires large amounts of water for irrigation and treatment, leading to the depletion of local freshwater and groundwater resources. To meet the high demand for cotton, pesticides and fertilisers are often used, which can damage soil quality and destroy underground microbial communities. The runoff from agrochemical-contaminated water pollutes nearby water sources, posing threats to local biodiversity and human health.

The production of synthetic fabrics also contributes to water pollution, as it requires 70 million barrels of oil per year and releases pollutants such as lead, arsenic, and benzene into water sources. The textile finishing and dying processes infuse chemicals such as oil, phenol, dyes, pesticides, and heavy metals into the water. This polluted water can contaminate nearby streams and groundwater, which may then be used for irrigating crops, resulting in carcinogenic chemicals in our food sources.

Microfibre pollution from synthetic materials is another significant issue, as these tiny synthetic fibres can spread across rivers and oceans, disrupting underwater ecosystems. Traces of microfibres have been found in fish and other seafood, and they can take hundreds of years to decompose. While some companies have acknowledged their role in water pollution and are taking steps to reduce water use and contamination, more needs to be done to address this issue effectively.

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The fashion industry's water consumption is increasing

The water-intensive nature of cotton production is due in part to the crowded growing conditions of the plants. Cotton fields are often densely packed, requiring significant amounts of water to sustain the plants' growth. Additionally, cotton is a water-intensive crop, with one kilo of cotton needing almost 10,000 litres of freshwater. This high water demand means that rainfall alone is insufficient, and water must be sourced from rivers, lakes, and groundwater.

The fashion industry's water consumption extends beyond the growth of cotton. The manufacturing, dyeing, and transportation of cotton into finished garments also require substantial water resources. The bleaching and dyeing processes, in particular, are water-intensive, with each kilo of dyed textile requiring 100 to 150 litres of water.

The fashion industry's water footprint is further exacerbated by the short lifespan of many garments. In countries like the UK, the average lifespan of a garment is estimated to be just 2.2 years, with 87% of garments ultimately ending up in landfills or incinerators. This short usage period means that the water used to produce, process, and manufacture these garments is effectively wasted.

The issue is not just the quantity of water used but also the pollution of water sources. The textile industry is responsible for 20% of water pollution worldwide. The use of pesticides, fertilisers, and chemicals in cotton farming contaminates groundwater and rivers. The dyeing process also contributes to water pollution, as the dyes contain heavy metals that are harmful to the environment.

With the fashion industry's water consumption already significant, the concern is that it will only increase. Available freshwater sources are becoming scarcer, and cotton fields will require more water due to rising temperatures. It is estimated that by 2030, the fashion industry's water consumption will increase by 50%.

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Frequently asked questions

It takes 2700 litres of water to make a single cotton t-shirt.

It would take one person 900 days to drink 2700 litres of water.

Cotton is a very thirsty crop. 70% of the planet's accessible water is used to grow crops such as cotton.

Water is used at almost every stage of a t-shirt's life cycle, from growing the cotton to manufacturing, dyeing, and even washing the final product.

The fashion industry consumes 79 billion cubic meters of water, which is about 4% of the planet's drinking water resources. This puts the industry among the top sectors that consume the most water.

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