textiles and their footprint?

I've read time and again that agriculture is the leading cause of (xyz environmental damage - green house gas, carbon, catchphrase of the week).

These same sources often include textile production in 'agriculture'.

There are non-agricultural elements to textile production that include high energy artificial sources of fibre, synthetic dye, high transportation costs, and other unpleasant elements.

Yet, when I seek out data on the environmental impact of the textile industry, from soil or coal mine to cloth in the closet, I can't find out just how big the ecological footprint is.


What is the ecological footprint of the textile industry? How much of the agriculture pie is devoted to textile production? Where can I learn more about this?

This recent article has links to many others that might have the information you are looking for. http://www.businessoffashion.com/articles/intelligence/three-years-on-from-rana-plaza-has-anything-changed-sustainability-safety

This was something I wasn't aware of UK Launches First Carbon Footprint Label for Retail Clothing

The UK fashion retail market has claimed the world’s first carbon footprint label for clothing. Continental Clothing, described as an ethical and eco-chic manufacturer, working with Carbon Trust, is launching the world’s first Carbon Reduction Label for textile products.

https://oecotextiles.wordpress.com/2009/05/25/carbon-footprint-of-the-textile-industry/

It’s estimated that clothing and textiles account for about one ton of the 19.8 tons of total CO2 emissions produced by each person in the U.S. in 2006 (see Jurg Rupp, “Ecology and Economy in Textile Finishing”, Textile World, Nov/Dec 2008).

...now you got me started....when I was weaving full time, I spent time researching conventionally grown cotton and soon switched to only organically grown fibers and eventually no commercial dyes at all.