Textiles: The 6 Rs of Sustainability

What is Sustainability & How Can We Support it?

In textile manufacture and design, sustainability involves creating fabrics in an environmentally friendly way. This means using less water and energy.

It also means using fewer chemicals to dye materials and print on them. This is what we do to make them appealing to customers in the fashion and clothing industries. That’s what we do at maake.

Follow our Lead & Be Sustainable

We go one step further at maake. We eliminate waste by offering free recycled print fabric offcuts to customers, in upcycling bags of different sizes. And we do our utmost to be sustainable in every possible way: 

·      Zero waste: We offer free upcycling bags (see above) as part of our Zero Waste policy. We also give excess fabric to local charities, schools, and educational institutions.

·     We save energy: We have installed energy-saving cut-off switches on all the machines we use to produce material and to print on fabric. This way, they consume less energy when not in use.

·      We focus on sustainable innovation: We consider the environment when we print on fabric. We try to use as little water, energy, and reduce waste.

We use 100% renewable energy sources. Our processes use 95% less energy than regular textile printers and we use no water.

The energy used to print at maake is less than what is needed to run a home fan heater. And the inks we use for printing are all sustainable, toxin-free and safe for children.

·      We ‘buy local’: We purchase everything we need for our business locally. Customers can also pick their orders up from our North London mill, to reduce our carbon footprint.

·      We pride ourselves on our safe, clean working environment: Our team enjoys safe, healthy working conditions. And all earn the London Living Wage.

·      We shop small: As we are a small company in the fabric industry, we understand how important it is to support small businesses. Check out our guide to sustainable fabric printing.

·      We maakeLess Fabric Waste: We encourage customers and colleagues to give fabric a second life and become more sustainable. Our maakeLess Fabric Waste initiative gives people in our industry an opportunity to be more sustainable, too. If you’d like to become a volunteer, contact us here.

''Fashion entrepreneurs lead the charge for sustainable progress, embracing the United Nations' goals. Through powerful partnerships, we tackle challenges and seize opportunities, driving change across industries. Together, we shape a sustainable future for all entrepreneurs.''  – Artemis Doupa, Co-Founder

Consider Your Environmental Impact 

The world has redefined sustainability several times since ‘going green’ was first introduced in 1987, but the gist remains the same. Sustainability is important, whether we’re discussing the economy, social pillar issues, or everyday life.

So what should we be doing?

We should be considering our generation and future generations, too. We should also consider how important sustainability is to the economy, the environment and people.

The 6 Rs of Sustainability

It all started with the mantra: 'reduce, reuse, recycle' and has grown from there. Now there are 6 Rs of sustainability. 

They include:

1.     Rethink

2.     Reduce

3.     Reuse

4.     Recycle

5.     Repair

6.     Refuse

These focus on sustainable products, which is our business, and yours. They explain the importance of sustainability in our daily lives and encourage us to lead a zero-waste lifestyle.

They also provide practical ways to consider sustainability when we purchase products, use these items, and later discard them. 

Let’s break down the 6 Rs of sustainability:

1.     Reduce

We should reduce the number of items we own, the way we eat and live.

We’re not saying that you should reduce essential items. One should drink a certain amount of water daily, and eat nourishing foods to stay strong and healthy. But you certainly don’t need to have a vast wardrobe of clothes or live in a huge house with numerous bedrooms if there are only two of you. 

It makes sense: the less we consume, the less we will waste.

Fast fashion has become an issue. You see, manufacturers must keep up with the ever-growing demand for new items if they want to follow the latest trends. As trends come and go, many garments now considered no longer fashionable end up in landfills.

Read our informative blog, The Problem With Fast Fashion, for more information.

We suggest you remember the saying: ‘I use only what I need’. That doesn’t only apply to clothing: it applies to the food you eat, the way you live and work. 

So, how can you reduce waste?

Let’s take plastic. Manufacturers produce it in vast quantities. They manufacture numerous plastic products, including fast-food containers, plastic bags for carrying groceries and bottles.

Plastic is polluting our oceans and causing the organisms that live in the sea to perish as a result. So, if we can reduce the amount of plastic we use, we’re well on our way to being more sustainable.

Water is another precious resource we need to conserve. We're not suggesting you stop drinking water, but you can save water in so many ways. Try a quick shower instead of a leisurely one, and be mindful: don’t let the tap run when you wash the dishes or brush your teeth.

You can also use leftover bath water to water your garden. Be imaginative. Find different ways to reduce water consumption.

2.     Reuse:

Your goal should be to reuse or repurpose as many items as possible, and give them a second life. If you have clothing or toys, for instance, that your kids have outgrown, donate them to a charity. The more you donate or give away, the less you waste.

Be creative in your thinking: old glass bottles could make great vases. If the bottles have lids, use them to store herbs and spices, lentils, rice and pasta. Fill decorative bottles with olive oil and vinegar and use them for daily meals.

You can sell furniture, décor items, tableware, and working appliances on Facebook Marketplace or organise a home garage sale. You can also donate items to a charity or charity shop.

Before you replace something in your home, ask yourself whether you could reuse it, or repurpose it?

Use your initiative; give items a new life. Instead of purchasing a plastic cup with your takeaway coffee, bring a handy, reusable thermos cup for the barrister to fill.

Don't buy plastic bags at the supermarket; use a reusable shopping bag. Reuse gift wrap and cut up old towels to make rags. Also, instead of buying the latest fashion item at fast fashion outlets like Zara and H&M, visit vintage stores and find something gently worn. 

Read Why Sustainability in Fashion is an Environmental Necessity.

3.     Recycle:

You’ve probably already been recycling, but this is to remind you to recycle all the time, at home and work. You should be doing everything you can to eliminate waste, which is why you’re recycling in the first place. So your last resort is not to throw something away. Remember: the less waste in landfills, the cleaner our air and water will be.

These days, there are plenty of recycling facilities available. You’ll find recycling bins for batteries, electronic items, glass, paper, cardboard, and plastic. Take advantage of these.

It should be second nature to recycle any items that one can reuse to make another product. This saves resources and reduces emissions, which means you’re also saving money.

Start by recycling at home. To feed your garden, don't only use water from washing the dishes, or the bath. Use water you’ve used to boil rice and other vegetables to feed your garden. And start a compost heap.

Read our Guide to Fabric Recycling for some inspiration.

4.     Rethink:

We used to believe the planet had endless resources, but we’re waking up to the fact that these are diminishing rapidly. So we need to rethink refuse (waste).

We need to consider how we live, and how we can preserve our natural resources (eg energy and water). This way, we can use them sparingly. We need to have these available for future generations.

Be aware of everything you do and how it impacts the environment. Ask yourself: Can I do this more sustainably?

You don't have to buy something brand new. Rather visit a second-hand store and pick up something there. Think about how you can reduce plastic packaging and how you can be more sustainable at work.

Before you buy another product, ask yourself if you need it. By consuming more products, we’re creating more, and discarding more.

The waste we discard ends up in landfills and this contributes to the greenhouse gasses that are damaging our climate.

Are the products you buy made ethically; designed for 'people planet profit' and the environment? Are they made of recycled raw materials? Can you recycle them?

5. Refuse:

In this context, ‘refuse’ means to refuse to do something, not ‘refuse', as in 'waste’. Maybe it's describing the way you refuse to buy something new, or are stopping yourself from using a plastic straw.

Refusing to do these things mean we are trying to stop harming the environment. We're not buying items we don’t need, or, we are first asking ourselves whether the item is necessary before we purchase it.

Look at your lifestyle differently. Find sustainable ways to do and use things every day.

Why not use a paper packet instead of a plastic one for packing school lunches? Or take a reusable bottle for water instead of a plastic one? Every effort counts.

6. Repair:

Don’t throw something broken away before asking yourself whether you can fix it.

If you tear an item of clothing, a tailor will sew it for you. You can glue certain items together and continue using them. Take your faulty mobile phone to a repair shop, just as you take your washing machine or microwave to get fixed when it stops working. Repairing is far less expensive than replacing an item, and it’s also more sustainable. 

We’re so used to easy consumption that we often don’t consider repairing instead of replacing an item. Try to extend the lifecycle of your belongings. You will always find someone who can help you fix it.

Make Sustainability in the Textile Industry a Priority

We are often oblivious of how we harm our environment. But now it’s time to wake up and take action.

To help you use sustainable fabric, here are two valuable, informative guides on sustainability in the textile industry. These will assist you in being more sustainable when you manufacture, design, and print on fabrics:

1.     Need assistance choosing eco-friendly fabrics for your products? Read our Guide on Sustainable Fabrics here.

2.     If you’re in the fabric business, read on to find Why it’s Important for Your Business to be Sustainable.

3.If you have any questions about fabric sustainability, contact us!