Viscose Rayon, Sustainable Fashion, and Sustainable Living

Adopting sustainable fashion practices is one of the keys to realizing sustainable living.

No doubt, all activities in our lives always have implications for the environment. And activities related to fashion are no exception.

For example, just washing our clothes can lead to the addition of microplastics that pollute the environment. We may never realize that the clothes we wear and wash every day contain microplastic fibers. 

When we wash our clothes, some of the microplastic fibers in the clothes also dissolve with water and eventually pollute the environment. It is estimated that around 500,000 tons of microplastic fibers from clothing pollute the oceans every year. This is equivalent to about 50 billion plastic bottles. A 2017 report from the International Union for Conservation of Nature [IUCN] estimates that 35 percent of all microplastics in the ocean come from the washing of synthetic textiles such as polyester.

Meanwhile, according to a study published by Business Insider, as quoted by earth.org, the fashion industry accounts for about 10 percent of total global carbon emissions. This is equivalent to the carbon emissions produced by the European Union. 

Not only that, the industry also sucks up a lot of water resources.It takes at least 700 gallons of water to produce just one cotton shirt. Meanwhile, it takes about 2,000 gallons of water to produce one pair of denim pants.

A recent report by Quantis International concluded that there are three main drivers of the global pollution implications associated with the fashion industry. The first is dyeing and finishing [36 percent], yarn preparation [28 percent], and fiber production [15 percent]. 

The report also confirmed that fiber production has the highest impact on resource depletion, due to its energy-intensive processes that use fossil fuels.

Moving towards sustainable fashion practices 

We must take steps to make the fashion industry more environmentally friendly and sustainable. In principle, sustainable fashion refers to products, processes, activities, and stakeholders [policymakers, brands, consumers] that aim to realize a carbon-neutral fashion sector based on equality, social justice, well-being, and ecological integrity. Hence, sustainable fashion encompasses the entire lifecycle process of fashion products, from the way clothes are produced, consumed, to their final disposal.

As individuals, we can adopt sustainable fashion practices by taking the following steps, in order to realize a more sustainable livelihood on planet Earth..

First, shop at thrift stores. Many clothing stores, both online and offline, sell clothes or clothing that are still suitable for use. Buying clothes at second-hand stores is one option that supports sustainable fashion because we are extending the life of the clothes. Apart from that, by shopping for second-hand clothes, it is possible to find unique collections of clothes that may not be owned by others.

Second, consider water consumption. As mentioned earlier, the textile industry consumes a lot of water. We should all be more concerned about the water footprint of the clothes we buy. Organic cotton, for example, consumes much less water than conventional cotton. The same goes for the use of dyes. The use of low-water dyes will certainly help minimize water use. So, there is nothing wrong with knowing which fabrics consume more water in the production process, and which fabrics consume less water in the production process.

Third, never be quick to throw away clothes. When the clothes you are wearing don't fit or you feel bored with them or they are a little worn or torn, think about not throwing them in the trash immediately. Instead, consider the following.

* If it's just a rip or a hole, try repairing or patching it.
* If you're bored or think the fashion is outdated, why not donate it. Relatives or friends or neighbors may still need the outfit.
* Reselling is another option that you can do. Nowadays, there are many websites that accept quality clothing.
* To avoid piling up unused clothes, consider renting clothes for a one-time event. There are many clothing rental services. Instead of buying clothes that will only be worn once and then left behind, it would be better to rent them. 

Fourth, take good care of your clothes. Try to take good care of your clothes. This will help extend the life of your clothes, minimizing your carbon footprint and reducing clothing waste. Wash clothes using cold water sparingly and let them dry in the open air naturally. This will help the clothes look like new and last longer. Store clothes in the right place so that they are protected from sun exposure, pests, and dust.

Viscose rayon is the best option

In addition to those steps, it is equally important to choose clothes with natural, sustainable materials. When buying clothes, avoid buying clothes made from synthetic fabrics such as polyester. Polyester is sourced from fossil fuels and takes years to break down. And this is not good for the environment. Instead, opt for natural fabrics like cotton or viscose rayon.

Photo: @RAPP_Official

Specifically regarding viscose rayon, it is even touted as the fabric of the future for the fashion industry because it is believed to carry the spirit of sustainability so that it can help realize a more sustainable living condition.

Aside from being environmentally friendly, viscose rayon, which is a tree-derived yarn fiber that is biodegradable, is also characterized by coolness, comfort, brighter colors and can be combined with other textile raw materials.

In addition, viscose rayon can also be applied to various products such as household appliances to health and beauty equipment. 

One of the producers of viscose rayon is Asia Pacific Rayon [APR], which is part of the Royal Golden Eagle Group [RGE]. APR's viscose rayon comes from acacia tree plantations and is certified.

As we all have already known, to ensure that a product is truly environmentally friendly, certification is required. For viscose rayon, the certification comes from the Forest Stewardship Council. As for cotton, it comes from the Global Organic Textile Standard.

Ultimately, creating sustainable living on Earth is up to all of us. We can make efforts to realize a cleaner, healthier, more beautiful and more livable Earth by practicing sustainable fashion. One of them is by choosing clothes made from natural materials such as viscose rayon.

References:

[1] APR. 2022. Why Viscose Fabric Is the Future of the Fashion Industry. [2] EIM. 2023. What Is Sustainable Fashion? Why Does It Matter and How to Achieve It? [3] Hayden Hill. 2022. 9 Ways to Pracyice Sustainable Fashion. [4] Immago. 2022. What Is Sustainable Fashion and Why Is It So Important? [5] Kahfi Dirga Cahya dan Bestari Kumala Dewi. 2019. Viscose Rayon, Kunci untuk Industri Sustainable Rayon. [6] Rashmila Maiti. 2023. Fast Fashion and Its Environmental Impact.

City Managers Should Join Forces with Universities to Adopt AI Technology for Urban Water Management and Water Governance

by Djoko

With the Earth's population is projected to reach 9.8 billion people in 2050, the need for clean water will certainly increase. Even more so in urban areas, in which most of the Earth's population lives.

We know that almost all of our activities require water. Without adequate water availability, we will achieve neither food security nor energy security. This means that our food and energy security fully depend on the adequacy of water.

 Almost all of our activities require water. Photo: Djoko.

Our earth actually stores water in large quantities. Water is stored in oceans, lakes, dams, rivers, the atmosphere, and in rocks deep within the Earth.

Well over millions of years, most of the water on Earth has undergone a natural recycling process. Theoretically and empirically, our planet will never run out of water. Nevertheless, it is important to remember that the clean water we need to support our daily life activities, due to several factors, may not always be adequately available.

In fact, the difficulty of accessing clean water has become a global problem that now afflicts billions of Earth's population. According to the UN Water 2023 report released by UNESCO, globally, two billion people [26 percent of the Earth's population] currently do not have access to safe drinking water, and 3.6 billion people [46 percent] do not have access to safe sanitation.

UN Water 2023 says between two and three billion people experience water shortages for at least one month per year, which poses a severe risk to life, due to the impact water availability has on food security and access to electricity.

The UN Water 2023 report projects that the urban population facing water scarcity will double from 930 million people in 2016 to 1.7–2.4 billion people in 2050. At the same time, the report adds, increasing extreme and prolonged droughts will also stress ecosystems, with dire consequences for both flora and fauna species in various regions of the Earth.

Referring to a study entitled Future Global Urban Water Scarcity and Potential Solutions conducted by Chunyang et al [2021],  population growth, urbanization, and economic development are likely to make water demand for the industrial sector and urban households increase by between 50 percent and 80 percent over the next three decades.

Chunyang et al's study stated that climate change will affect the spatial distribution and timing of water availability so that urban water scarcity is likely to become much more serious in the future, with the potential to jeopardize the achievement of the UN's Sustainable Development Goals [SDGs], especially SDG11 namely Sustainable Cities and Communities, and SDG6 namely Clean Water and Sanitation.

So far, water scarcity in urban areas has usually been addressed through the provision of infrastructure. Let’s say the construction of reservoirs, lakes, ponds, and infiltration wells to store water during periods of excess water availability so that it can continue to supply water to avoid water shortages during dry seasons.

In addition, the desalination method can also be an option to deal with the problem of water deficits in coastal cities.

While measures to conserve important water sources continue to be taken, it is also necessary to pay attention to the beneficiaries of artificial intelligence (AI) technology in an effort to ensure the availability of water in urban areas.

AI is believed to be able to offer many things pertaining to water management and water governance for urban areas. 

Water crisis will be a challenge for cities across the world. Photo: Djoko.

Here are some of the things that AI can do to help ensure the availability of water in urban areas.

First, AI can be used to analyze big data related to existing water resources and simultaneously identify patterns and trends in water use to support decision making processes and better water management in urban areas.

Second, AI can be an option to improve urban water infrastructure management and develop a more efficient urban water inspection and rehabilitation strategy. Based on statistical modelling that has been tested by Kompetenzzentrum Wasser, Berlin, Germany, it has shown that AI can be used to evaluate the ability to improve forecasting and management that supports rehabilitation planning, as well as monitoring and maintenance of water infrastructure.

Third, AI can help drive improvements in water quality by using deep learning neural networks to detect harmful particles in water. With the help of AI, drinking water can be seen at the microscopic level in real time, which will help regulatory authorities detect water contamination as quickly as possible and take the necessary measures.

Fourth, AI can help predict water infrastructure failures. Thus, it enables maintenance teams to quickly address problems before they cause other problems.

Fifth, optimizing the use of energy in the processing and distribution of clean water, thereby reducing costs and carbon emissions. The treatment and distribution of water require large amounts of energy. AI can be used to predict future water demand in the treatment and distribution chains by analyzing the water usage patterns of urban residents. AI can also be used to optimize the distribution network itself.

Sixth, AI can help us manage and prioritize water infrastructure assets, ensuring proper maintenance and replacement. Apart from that, it can also help us save water by optimizing the existence of water infrastructure and reducing water wastage.

The water crisis will be a challenge for cities across the world. And Indonesia’s cities are no exception. We must overcome this challenge through innovative solutions. It is time for city managers to start utilizing AI technology in their water management and water governance.

In this regard, city managers can invite universities that have specialized studies and AI research centers, such as Telkom University, to join forces in the use of AI in water management and water governance for urban areas.

Let's #AchieveYourBrighterFuture along with Telkom University!