H2Organic

Growing organically to save water!

The apparel industry is indeed guilty of contributing to the degradation of our ecosystems. According to the Eco Millennium Assessment, water usage is already beyond sustainable levels, which is contributing to changing ecosystems. Because the United States has moved beyond just agriculture to become an industrial country as well, more and more of our resources are being used for industrial production methods. This means that apparel production, as an industry, is contributing to the consumption of resources on top of what the agricultural community is already using. When water consumption increases, it can have detrimental impacts on other industries such as fisheries, as well as causing regional climate change and potentially allowing disease to spread. Alternative production methods, such as organic farming and alternative fibers must be implemented in order to reduce water usage in the apparel production industry.

Cotton, according to Fashioning Sustainability, is the largest single fiber in production. The water usage associated with this production is significant. The Aral Sea has even been reduced by 15% of its former volume as a result of this usage. So much water is used in the production of cotton that it takes approximately 10 tons of water to produce the cotton required for just one pair of jeans. In addition to the cotton production, the dye process in producing apparel products uses a significant amount of water. This process can also pollute the local drinking water and contribute to the problem of insufficient drinking water in some countries.

In order to solve this issue of unsustainable water usage in apparel production, we can look to organic farming methods, such as irrigation systems, to decrease water usage. According to Walsh and Brown, organic growing methods use less water and also less electricity. Other solutions include using alternative fibers such as hemp in clothing production. Hemp is stronger than cotton, has a higher abrasion resistance, and is resistant to mildew, soiling, shrinkage, and sun fading. It also requires less irrigation and pesticides. Some other bio-fibers with similar characteristics include bamboo, soy, algae, maze, agricultural waste, and nettle. By implementing a combination of organic cotton growth with alternative fiber usage, the water consumption of the apparel industry could be greatly reduced.

Walsh and Brown used a costing method to illustrate the environmental cost of T-shirts using both conventional farming methods and organic methods. I support this analysis because it provides a gauge for assessing the life-time impact of a product on the environment. It also provides companies with a way to evaluate their production procedures and make well-rounded decisions based on the environmental value of using sustainable and organic practices instead of just financial values.

Agriculture and Sustainability: Old News?

We should be looking to the past to solve problems of the future.

Agriculture has been a vital part of almost every society since the beginning of time. However, it has also been blamed for many problems and issues faced throughout history. When discussing current agricultural issues such as deforestation and over-farming land, we must realize that these issues have been being addressed for many years. Sometimes this is done successfully, and other times not so much.

The people of Easter Island are an example of misuse of resources. As described in the book A New Green History of the World by Clive Ponting, the people of Easter Island were not aware of the consequences associated with unsustainable usage of natural resources. They were advanced enough to build giant statues called ahu, with nothing more than obsidian stone tools. However, they lacked the agricultural advancement and knowledge to develop sustainable methods of harvesting crops and using trees. When these resources ran out, the society declined into a primitive and cannibalistic society.

Another people group that was affected by agricultural issues is the Mayans. There are many theories on why the Mayan people did not survive, ranging from peasant revolt to depletion of resources. The article “Prehistoric Intensive Agriculture in the Mayan Lowlands” by B.L. Turner II describes the agricultural methods used by the Mayan people. Turner states that the Mayans used methods such as terraces, raised fields and irrigation systems to maintain soil fertility while reducing fallow periods and controlling grass invasion. This indicates that, in contrast to the Easter Islanders, they did not lack the agricultural knowledge necessary to preserve resources. While the exact cause of the Mayan collapse is still debated, it is obvious that the Mayans did know how to manage their resources in a responsible manner.

In today’s society, more and more crops are being created to meet the needs of our rapidly growing population. The Eco Millennium Assessment predicts that 10-20% of grassland and forestland is going to be converted to agricultural croplands between 2000 and 2050. When converting these areas to crops, it is important that we remember to implement responsible farming techniques. Like the Mayans, we have significant know-how when it comes to agriculture. We must not throw away sustainable practices in order to turn over crops more quickly. By utilizing the land we have for the purposes they are best suited for, we can avoid depleting the soil. Diversification of crops is also important in maintaining a diverse and healthy ecosystem.