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Responsibility Without Means

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Roadmap to Sustainable Textiles and Clothing

Part of the book series: Textile Science and Clothing Technology ((TSCT))

Abstract

The sustainability challenges facing the textile and clothing industry are substantial, but both the international and the national regulations of the textile industry are low. Consumers have, therefore, been passed a significant share of the responsibility for ensuring the sustainability. In this chapter, we present and discuss the results on how consumers can reduce the environmental impact of their own behaviour, and whether consumers are capable of and willing to change their own behaviour. Results are based on data retrieved through two research projects on environmental challenges connected to textiles and clothing, and are thus based on a triangulation of methods. Data from desktop studies, in-depth interviews in combination with wardrobe studies and from consumer surveys are used to elucidate the research questions posed. We find that consumers show limited knowledge, as well as limited engagement related to the environmentally preferable textile and clothing consumption. There is little information available to the consumers and environmentally friendly consumption is not facilitated. To place the responsibility for change on consumers is thus to give the responsibility to those without the means to take it. Therefore, solutions based on political consumption alone are insufficient and should be supported with additional regulatory instruments.

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Notes

  1. 1.

    The relevant projects from which we will present results are the following:

    1. 1.

      From Textile Waste to Material Resources in a Grave to Cradle Approach

    2. 2.

      A Study of Environmental Standards and the Trade Impact on Indian Textiles and Clothing Sector.

  2. 2.

    Not all criticism is directed at all the given tools.

  3. 3.

    Calculation based on jeans that are used once a week during 4 years and washed at 40 °C and ironed after every third wash, which equals to 208 use days and 69 laundering cycles.

  4. 4.

    The data originates from the same survey.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. National Institute for Consumer Research (SIFO), Nydalen, P.O. Box 4682, 0405, Oslo, Norway

    Kirsi Laitala, Marthe Hårvik Austgulen & Ingun Grimstad Klepp

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  1. Kirsi Laitala
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  2. Marthe Hårvik Austgulen
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  3. Ingun Grimstad Klepp
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Correspondence to Kirsi Laitala .

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  1. Global Sustainability Services, SGS Hong Kong Limited, Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR

    Subramanian Senthilkannan Muthu

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Laitala, K., Austgulen, M.H., Klepp, I.G. (2014). Responsibility Without Means. In: Muthu, S. (eds) Roadmap to Sustainable Textiles and Clothing. Textile Science and Clothing Technology. Springer, Singapore. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-287-110-7_5

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