Energy for Sustainable
The textile industry is one of the world’s oldest and most resource-intensive sectors and plays a paradoxical role in the global climate crisis. Although it promotes economic development and provides jobs, it also contributes greatly to environmental degradation.
Today, sustainability is at the center of attention, and innovative technologies offer a way to transform traditionally polluting sectors into climate-conscious industries. The environmental burden of the textile industry is severe, from excessive water consumption in dyeing to synthetic fiber pollution and rapid fashion waste. According to the United Nations, industry accounts for about 10 per cent of global carbon dioxide emissions and is the second largest consumer of water.
The need for circular, waste-free, and energy-efficient solutions is more urgent than ever. Technology as a catalyst for change: Recent advances in sustainable textile technologies have shown promising results. Water-free dyeing technologies, such as CO2 dyeing (e.g., DyeCoo), eliminate the need for water and reduce the use of harmful chemicals. Bio-based and recycled fibers: materials such as Tencel, Piatex, and recycled PET reduce dependence on virgin resources and reduce waste. Intelligent manufacturing: AI-driven systems optimize production, reduce fabric waste, and reduce energy consumption. Chemical recycling: Brands such as Renewcell are now able to transform post-consumer clothes into new fibres using closed-loop systems. However, sustainability not only refers to materials or machines, it also involves rethinking product components such as packaging, tags and trims.
Uploaded image As part of my research into sustainable fashion solutions, I conceptualized a project called Tag Smart, Tagged Green to replace traditional hang tags with an environmentally friendly and technologically integrated alternative. Normally, hang tags are made of laminated paper, plastic coatings, and synthetic threads. Although used only until purchase, they continue to be environmental waste, contributing to deforestation, landfill accumulation and are an unnecessary material consumption. To address this problem, I proposed the development of smart QR labels. They are printed directly on sewn fabric labels, eliminating the need for separate paper or plastic labels. Provide scanable information such as size, color, maintenance instructions, pricing and even sustainability claims. Contribute to reducing the use of materials, printing costs and post-consumer waste, thus minimizing the environmental impact. As a complement, the industry is increasingly focused on digital transformation, minimalism and transparency. The idea represents low-cost and highly impactful innovation that not only streamlines the production and packaging process but also improves the consumer’s interaction with products through technology. By integrating sustainability with intelligent design, my proposal supports circularity and promotes more responsible fashion consumption.
Conclusion:
The climate crisis requires a complete redesign of the textile value chain, from raw material and dyeing processes to labels and logistics. Sustainable technology is a plan to integrate economic growth with ecological protection. Solutions such as QR-based intelligent labels are emblematic of a broader paradigm shift towards smart and responsible fashion design. With the development of the industry, all threads are important. Through innovation and conscious transformation, we can rebuild the fabric of our future, which will maintain both commerce and the climate.
By: R P Dharshini
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