Abstract
In the present climate of globalization and technology in the architectural textile field, there is an increasing demand for sustainability. This report will direct its attention toward the sustainability of textiles that has become a growing concern. There is a substantial amount of waste generated in the textile industry, as a result for cotton. Cotton is one of the most extensively used textiles in the production of architectural textiles. The quality that cotton possesses with regards to cultivation requires a substantial amount of pesticide. The conversion of cotton into fiber creates a great deal of interest with regards to its sustainability. Fibers such as hemp, bamboo, seaweed and organic cotton can replace the conventional cotton used in the production of architectural textiles. The fifteen samples which will be reviewed in this report vary from organic cotton, to organic cotton blends with polyester, bamboo and seaweed. The development of recycling is a manner of diminishing waste and decreasing the carbon dioxide emissions. Cloth can be recycled by the collection of donated material. Sustainability is the future if the architectural textile industry. The vendor was Green Textiles in Spartanburg, South Carolina. The MSDS sheets were for Diazinon that is used for pesticide control in cotton cultivation and polyester which is blended with the cotton textiles.
Sustainable Architectural Textile Production
The vendor was Green Textile Associates, Inc. in Spartanburg, SC. The materials are sustainable (Green Textile Associates, 2008). The ability of enduring is sustainability. The quality of sustainability in the production of architectural textiles encompasses the social, economic and environmental contexts of responsibility. In order to achieve human wellbeing, the biological systems must remain productive and diverse. The three pillars of sustainability in the production of architectural textiles are the fulfilment of economic, social and environmental requisites (McGregor & Trulsson, 2008).
Literature Review
The sustainable production of architectural textiles is necessary for the present and the future generations to enjoy healthful living. Longevity and the sustenance of forests and wetlands is a model of the maintenance of sustainable ecological systems. The perspectives of sustainability can be adapted to many facets of life from the administration of living circumstances to the re- evaluation of work habits. These habits may require the implementation of green construction, implementing new technologies and sustainable agricultural practices. Sustainable production is a format which applies objectives in order to fulfil consumption needs. Sustainability is necessary for conserving the ecological systems. The conservation of the ecological systems is a requisite for ensuring that these requisites can be satisfied in the present and the future (McGregor & Trulsson, 2008).
Anything that is not sustainable in the production of architectural textiles are any materials which is not readily biodegradable. In addition, any production method of architectural textiles which constantly depletes non- renewable resources in order to fulfil the present needs of consumption. Examples of non- renewable resources are the following:
- Genetic diversity in the ecological systems.
- Diversity in the forests
- Diversity and perpetuation of marine species (McGregor & Trulsson, 2008).
The manner by which the architectural textile production industry may become sustainable once again is by decreasing the amounts of resources which are abused. The renovation of the architectural textile sustainability infers that only what is needed should be used. All materials are recyclable (McGregor &Trulsson, 2008).
Sustainable Architectural Textiles
Sustainable architectural textiles refer to the materials derived from ecologically friendly resources. These resources include recycled materials or fibers. Traditionally, the term sustainable inferred being consciously environmental. Architectural textiles sustained and nourished the existence of all of the individuals who participated in the processes of cultivation and fabricating the textiles. The term recycling implied the application of organic fibers. The circumstances of the employees and the wellbeing of the animals are significant parameters for the manufacture of sustainable architectural textiles. The use of sustainable architectural textiles has become amplified (McGregor & Trulsson, 2008). This amplification meant the following items:
- The reduction of the amount of architectural textiles that was sent to landfills as waste.
- The diminishing of the influence of agricultural chemicals in the manufacture of the traditional fiber crops (i.e., cotton). In the compliance of sustainability, the architectural textiles maintained the tenets of sustainability which were to recycle, reduce and to reuse (McGregor & Trulsson, 2008).
The architectural textiles require sustainable production. Consequently, there were relatively few non- contaminating processes applied. This sustainable production enabled the genuine character of the architectural textiles to be conserved to a substantial extent. The particular consumer markets highly value the qualities of sustainability. The criteria of sustainable manufacturing of the architectural textiles must define what it and is not permissible during each manufacturing phase (McGregor & Trulsson, 2008).
In the manufacture of the sustainable architectural textiles, the following qualities must be taken into consideration:
- The pre-treating applications which include washing and bleaching.
- The treatments incurred while processing.
- The treatments involved in the finishing of the architectural textiles.
- The consumer requisites of the finished goods.
- The material applied in order to package the architectural textiles (McGregor & Trulsson, 2008).
In the processes of planning and fabricating a sustainable architectural textile product, the questions of the amount of energy input into the production process and its influence must be assessed. Is it possible for the final product to be composted or recycled in the manufacturing procedures at the conclusion of its utility? In the application of recycled substances for the fabrication of architectural textiles, these qualities supply a supplemental context of financial gain. The application of the limiting of the consumption of resources is integral. Consumption requires administration with regards to the carbon footprint required for the transportation of the architectural textiles. This activity deters the non-sustainable process of removing resources from the environment by implementing w recycling (McGregor &Trulsson, 2008).
It is important to avoid the use of chlorine bleaching agents, chemicals applied in order to diminish the characteristics of wrinkles and formaldehyde. Subsequent to the dying processes, the architectural textiles have the requisites of being washed. This process involves substantial quantities of water. The consumed water converts into an extremely contaminated effluent. The comprehensive waste from the manufacture of architectural textiles performed is over millions of tons. This amount is responsible for an important amount of waste. The global waste incurred in the manufacture of architectural textiles is a substantial amount of kilograms per person. The architectural textiles wastes emit noxious gases into the atmosphere and contaminate the groundwater supplies (McGregor & Trulsson, 2008).
Environmental Effects
The distinct architectural textiles possess different influences on the environment. The influences on the environment require consideration as a result of their composition. Polyester and nylons composed of petro-chemically derived substances are non- biodegradable, and they are normally non- sustainable in two dimensions. The manufacture of nylon and polyester creates nitrous oxide that is a greenhouse emission that is hundreds of time more toxic than carbon dioxide. The manufacture of polyester applies substantial quantities of water in the cooling processes, in addition to the lubricating agents which can contaminate the environment. The processes of manufacturing polyester and nylon are energy intensive (McGregor & Trulsson, 2008; Militky, 2009). Rayon is an additional artificially produced fibercomposed from wood pulp (Militky, 2009).
Apparently, the use of wood pulp seems more sustainable than the production of petroleum based products. Notwithstanding, the forests are often cleared, and there are no trees replanted. In order to create the plantations which produce pulpwood for architectural textiles, the subsistence agricultural producers lose their livelihoods. Frequently, the agriculture cultivated in the production of architectural textiles is eucalyptus. The eucalyptus trees consume significant amounts of water resources. The water consumption of the eucalyptus trees used in the production of architectural textiles causes water deficiencies in other areas. In order to produce rayon, the wood pulp is often processed with sulphuric acid and caustic soda (Dickinson, 2011).
The natural fibersderived from organically grown cotton have challenges as well. Cotton is one of the agricultural products which requires the greatest amount of pesticides. The pesticides cause a substantial amount of illnesses and mortalities on an annual basis. The production of cotton for agricultural textiles consumes a substantial quantity of land resources. The land is also required by the residents of agricultural land to produce their nutrition. The chemical defoliants applied in the production of cotton that is applied in architectural textiles exact their toll on the Earth and the well- being of its population (Ahonen & Hansen, 1996).
The chemical applied in the cultivation and the harvesting of cotton remains in the textile subsequent to the finishing process. The architectural textiles emit these chemicals during their existence. The production of cotton that has been genetically altered aggregates additional environmental challenges. The organic cotton is much more sustainable to produce than non-organically grown cotton (Ahonen & Hansen, 1996).
Manufacturing Procedures
Extracting the fiber from cotton involves a process of dyeing, bleaching and finishing. These processes consume more water and energy resources. These processes used in the production of agricultural textiles create more substantial amounts of contamination. The dyeing process of cotton which is used in architectural textiles is responsible for the largest amount of water consumed during its production. The excess dyes of dissipates from the architectural textiles and can conclude in contaminating the water supply with colorants. The water treatment plants are not completely effective in removing the dyes from the water supply (Ahonen & Hansen, 1996).
The substances applied in order to create the dyes are frequently heavy metal elements contaminate the water supply. There is a frequent application of compounds applyingdioxin producing products in the bleaching process are frequently applied. Almost all of the polyester cotton receives processing with formaldehyde applied to polyester in order to provide a flame retardant quality (Ahonen & Hansen, 1996).
Bamboo
Bamboo is one of the most ecologically sustainable resources. Fabrics made from bamboo have significant benefits. These benefits include increased strength, luxurious softness and versatility. The manufacture of bamboo related textiles has the requisite of increased development in order to become viable as an extensive used architectural textile product. The environmental advantages of bamboo are that it purifies the atmosphere (Algirusamy & Des, 2010).
Bamboo provides oxygen, consumes carbon dioxide and due to the attribute of the density of the bamboo forests, the bamboo plants provide a greater proportion of oxygen into the air than other trees. Bamboo has the requirement of less water and energy resources for its cultivation. Bamboo requires significantly less water and energy resources for its sustenance. The plantations that cultivate bamboo have the requisite of lower amounts of maintenance. The bamboo plants need very little hydrological resources and have the capacity of being viable in floods and droughts (Algirusamy & Des, 2010).
The bamboo plant grows quickly in comparison to other types of trees. Bamboo is an appropriate treefor ecological land reclamation. Bamboo has the characteristic of purifying the soil from the toxins that contaminate it. Bamboo trees flourish in the absence of pesticides. Bamboo thrives without pesticides as a result of the antibacterial agents which are inherent. The bamboo plants can regenerate without the need of replanting. Bamboo is completely biodegradable (Algirusamy & Des, 2010).
Bamboo fibers are distinct from the artificial fibers which use petroleum. Bamboo based architectural textiles can be effectively discarded without substantial effects to the environment. Bamboo can be aggregated to cotton in order to provide added structure to the architectural textiles. Bamboo has a satin texture. It remains warmer in the cold climates and cooler in the warmer climates. The bamboo based textiles are more supple than cotton, and they possess a natural lustre which similar to cashmere or silk. Bamboo textiles are exceptional in architectural setting as drapery. The bamboo textiles are more costavoidant and durable(Algirusamy & Des, 2010).
Conclusion
A minimal amount of the textiles collected are recipients of a transformation into new architectural textiles. The recycled fabrics provide utility for cutting and shredding which can then be converted into fabrics suitable for application in architectural carpeting and upholstery. The consumed garments are usually unusable, stained or tattered. Polyester can be recycled by using substantially less energy consumption and greenhouse gas emission than the manufacture of virgin polyester. Conventional textile recycling for textiles destined for architectural applications incorporate cutting and reconstructing the cotton fibers.
Recycled cotton has faced resistance in the consumer markets due to the quality of the fabrics for clothing. However, the quality of the recycled fabrics is suitable for architectural textile use. The recycling technologies which are accessible have the capacity of recycling cotton into a quality similar to virgin cotton. The technological applications are capable of restoring the structure of the cotton fibers and combining them with other fibers (i.e., bamboo, seaweed). The regeneration of cotton for architectural textile applications provides a substantial benefit. This benefit is in consideration of the increase in the prices for cotton based textiles. The optimal choice of fabric applied for upholstery and carpeting is the organic cotton and bamboo spandex blend. Thischoice is attributed to its cost, texture, ecological sustainability and durability.
