Blog Post #6

My role in our group is to cover the background and context of our issue. We also chose to focus on the environmental aspect of our issue. I'm also sure that this will continue to be edited as my group sees fit so I can ensure I cover all the necessary parts of the pollution and background aspect as I coordinate more with Julia.

One of the major issues with fast fashion is the ocean pollution it creates from textile dyeing. Textile dyeing is the process of putting color into the clothes being produced. Not only does this process cause a huge waste in water which Julia will cover but the chemicals used to dye the clothes often end up in the ocean or other waters. Bangladesh follows China for the world's largest manufacturing of clothing according to CNN. However, something important to note about Bangladesh is that their laws and regulations for sustainable production of clothing are little to none. Their minister of environment and climate change has spoken in the past claiming efforts towards reduction of harmful pollution and implementation of stricter environmental and production laws but little has changed due to clothing production being one of Bangladesh's largest industries. The dyes released into the oceans and other water sources not only turn the water black but the chemicals usually end up in people's systems. According to the World Bank there are over 72 dyes used in the clothing industry that are harmful to humans and the environment. Many of them can cause cancers. Even more many of these chemicals end up being used (consciously or not) to grow food sources like many different types of fruit which studies have shown that their toxicity then increases.