The difference between tencel and cotton
Despite the fact that cotton clothing is considered natural, cotton has a huge negative impact on the environment.
Firstly, cotton is a voracious crop. It requires so much water that it has caused the drainage of the Aral Sea. The rivers that fed the sea were diverted to its irrigation.
Secondly, GMOs, pesticides and other toxic chemicals are used in the cultivation of ordinary cotton. And this poisons the soil, waterways and the health of farmers.
There are many more environmentally friendly alternatives to cotton, such as tencel.
A few facts to compare with tencel:
- For the production of 1 kg of tencel, less than 1000 liters of water is required, and for 1 kg of cotton — more than 5000 liters.
- One hectare of forest provides 10 times more raw materials for tencel than 1 hectare of fields for cotton.
- On average, 1 kg of pesticides is consumed per hectare of cotton grown. Pesticides are not used for tencel.
! If, after all, you like cotton, choose organic cotton, which is produced and certified in accordance with the standards of organic agriculture. Its production supports the health of soils, ecosystems and people, because its cultivation does not allow the use of toxic chemicals or GMOs.
The difference between tencel and viscose
Tencel fiber is often compared to viscose.
Both materials are classified as "regenerated cellulose" fibers obtained by dissolving wood fibers with a chemical solvent.
But to get viscose, it is necessary to "conjure" well, and these processes, alas, are not the most environmentally friendly.
Currently, the production of raw materials (wood) and its treatment with chemicals have a negative impact on the environment.
1 kilogram of viscose accounts for at least 3.5 times more CO2 emissions than a kilogram of Tencel. The process of producing viscose is harmful to both factory workers and the environment.
Every year 150 million trees are cut down in the world for the production of viscose.
According to the environmental nonprofit organization Canopy, 3.3 million tons of viscose pulp comes from ancient and endangered forests, such as the carbon-rich peatlands of Indonesia and the old boreal forests of Canada.
Also, enterprises producing viscose, as a rule, do not have appropriate treatment facilities.
As a result, the chemicals used pollute water bodies and air, killing flora and fauna at the same time.