Eco-conception is about the environmental demands on a product such as regulations, brand image among others, and also the environmental consequences of the product : consumption of the resources, atmospheric emissions, production of waste, valorisation of the ending life of products, etc.

The demands and the consequences must be considered on the whole cycle life of the product. Indeed, the import is getting a global action.

As far as textile eco-conception is concerned, it is relevant to mention that textile has always been the first waste to be recycled before being re-used again : either recycled or used to a new life. Charitable associations are very active on this point.

The idea of this post started with the edition of the bible of eco-conception for professionals of textile by WWF. The textile industry professionals in France do not actually have tools to help them when they want to commit in a sustainable approach.

This pedagogical tool is meant for the many actors in the whole production process : to guide them by giving concrete solutions in order to reduce the impact on environment, while remaining competitive if possible.   

The reflection process that has led to this manual started with the dialogue with the Fédération de l’Habillement (Clothing Federation) and some partners of textile industry such as Lafuma, Rip Curl, Pimkie…

The manual is the compilation of suppliers contacts, advices about the life cycle of the product and how to prioritize the actions.  

Textile eco-conception has become the new hobby of industrials : the biggest sport brands in the world communicate a lot about this subject. After the green washing tendency, some brands want to engage much more : there are more and more sport shoes made of waste such as leather, foam, rubber… coming from their own factories or recovery of used shoes.

So what about the consumer ? Of course he has always the choice… Clothes and shoes are nice AND eco-made. When you keep in mind that in textile industry 75% of environmental impacts are closely linked to the fabrication and the materials, and the three quarters of the negative impacts of materials are due to the choice of synthetic textiles, so you realize that eco-conception is no more anecdotic.

It’s nothing at all regarding thousands of synthetic clothes whose composition is a real headache to recycle…