3 ms·

Cotton uses an order of magnitude more oil than "plastic" clothing.

by ars 2y ago

PaulHoule 2y ago
Also almost all cotton clothing today is "permanent press" which means the fibers are coated in plastic.
- notnullorvoid 2y ago
  Here's an idea, maybe we stop doing that.
- alanbernstein 2y ago
  Are you claiming that "100% cotton" clothing labels can be inaccurate? Do you have a source for this?
  - giantg2 2y ago
    Wouldn't surprise me. The premium "not from concentrate" orange juices contain additives not required to be listed on the packaging. Great value "natural flavor" chocolate syrup contains vanilin (artificial vanilla). So I guess the natural part only applies to the chocolate and not other flavors used. Many "100% alpaca" socks contain other fibers too (elastics, etc). The list goes on... Edit: why disagree? You can even see stuff like "100% cotton with Scotchgard" or the sublimation process used on clothes. Want to share any evidence to the contrary or tell me why it's wrong?
  - starspangled 2y ago
    You can see they are inaccurate because cotton doesn't grow in many different colors. The bulk fabric may be 100% cotton, but the dyes implanted into the substrate are not counted.
- robocat 2y ago
  > fibers are coated in plastic No: Cotton is chemically treated. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wrinkle-resistant_fabric https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wrinkle-resistant_fabric Perhaps you are thinking of "However, almost all the wrinkle resistant garments are made with poly/cotton blends fabrics."
  - giantg2 2y ago
    They could be thinking of the stain resistant treatments which are a ureathane (plastic) coating.
- s1artibartfast 2y ago
  I don't think that is true, but am open to learning otherwise. A quick review of Wikipedia indicates dimethylol ethylene urea (DMEU) is used to crosslink the cellulose polymers itself. Cotton is already a polymer (albeit a bio-degradable one). DMEU is not a polymer/plastic in its own right. As far as I was able to see, permanent press is biodegradable. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dimethylol_ethylene_urea https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dimethylol_ethylene_urea
  - giantg2 2y ago
    The sublimation process on cotton clothes uses synthetics as the bonding base. It could be a polyester resin or a vinyl. The shirt itself will still be listed as 100% cotton.
    - s1artibartfast 2y ago
      DMEU is a synthectic bonding resin. but im not sure that by itself is in any way a problem. Are you talking about pattens that are sublimated onto cotton shirts?
      - giantg2 2y ago
        Yes
juujian 2y ago
Doesn't really change the point about cutting off supply.

Cotton uses an order of magnitude more oil than "plastic" clothing.

by ars 2y ago

Cotton uses an order of magnitude more oil than "plastic" clothing.

PaulHoule 2y ago

Also almost all cotton clothing today is "permanent press" which means the fibers are coated in plastic.

notnullorvoid 2y ago
Here's an idea, maybe we stop doing that.
alanbernstein 2y ago
Are you claiming that "100% cotton" clothing labels can be inaccurate? Do you have a source for this?
- giantg2 2y ago
  Wouldn't surprise me. The premium "not from concentrate" orange juices contain additives not required to be listed on the packaging. Great value "natural flavor" chocolate syrup contains vanilin (artificial vanilla). So I guess the natural part only applies to the chocolate and not other flavors used. Many "100% alpaca" socks contain other fibers too (elastics, etc). The list goes on... Edit: why disagree? You can even see stuff like "100% cotton with Scotchgard" or the sublimation process used on clothes. Want to share any evidence to the contrary or tell me why it's wrong?
- starspangled 2y ago
  You can see they are inaccurate because cotton doesn't grow in many different colors. The bulk fabric may be 100% cotton, but the dyes implanted into the substrate are not counted.
robocat 2y ago
> fibers are coated in plastic No: Cotton is chemically treated. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wrinkle-resistant_fabric https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wrinkle-resistant_fabric Perhaps you are thinking of "However, almost all the wrinkle resistant garments are made with poly/cotton blends fabrics."
- giantg2 2y ago
  They could be thinking of the stain resistant treatments which are a ureathane (plastic) coating.
s1artibartfast 2y ago
I don't think that is true, but am open to learning otherwise. A quick review of Wikipedia indicates dimethylol ethylene urea (DMEU) is used to crosslink the cellulose polymers itself. Cotton is already a polymer (albeit a bio-degradable one). DMEU is not a polymer/plastic in its own right. As far as I was able to see, permanent press is biodegradable. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dimethylol_ethylene_urea https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dimethylol_ethylene_urea
- giantg2 2y ago
  The sublimation process on cotton clothes uses synthetics as the bonding base. It could be a polyester resin or a vinyl. The shirt itself will still be listed as 100% cotton.
  - s1artibartfast 2y ago
    DMEU is a synthectic bonding resin. but im not sure that by itself is in any way a problem. Are you talking about pattens that are sublimated onto cotton shirts?
    - giantg2 2y ago
      Yes

juujian 2y ago

Doesn't really change the point about cutting off supply.