Effects of the Apparel Industry on the Environment

It’s no surprise that the fashion industry has a horrible effect on our environment. Fast fashion is one of the top contributors to many environmental issues. It’s a challenge to find high-quality garments these days as everything is made to fulfill seasonal trends. This usually equals cheaply made garments made for short-term wear and disposal.

Although we know the harmful effects, it can be difficult not to buy into fast fashion as it is typically very cheap to buy and keeps you up to date with the latest trends. However, sustainable garments are far better for the environment and your wallet over time! Purchasing high-quality, long-lasting garments will save you money in the end, as the garments will last and you won’t be unnecessarily purchasing new clothes due to the lack of quality.

At Limelight, we care about the environment! We’re proud to produce all high-quality garments that will last for years after years, eliminating the need for new teamwear annually! When you’re ready to re-order, you can be confident that your teamwear will be durable, high-quality, and long-lasting.

We place importance on minimizing our environmental impact in any way we can. Many of our manufacturers also place importance on minimizing their environmental footprint. Many different materials go into creating our garments. We ensure that our manufacturers are ethical and are putting in their best efforts to be as environmentally friendly as possible.

We care about the practices of our manufacturers, how they treat their employees, and their environmental efforts. Here are some ways that our manufacturers are attempting to lower their environmental footprint, meaning you can feel good about wearing your Limelight Teamwear garments without a guilty conscience.

Our manufacturer for many of our shorts and leggings not only strongly supports their employees, providing clean and safe working environments but promotes the self-care of their employees. Here is a testimonial from one of their employees:

“I am a mother who is the head of the family. I have a son with a disability and this has helped me to support myself and to get ahead with my son. Outside of that, it helps me advise other people. For example, the people who give me the recycling have to separate the recycling in their homes and that is a chain because they transmit that to their children to the neighbors.”

This manufacturer places great importance on the well-being of their employees. They’re committed to educating their employees and providing them with training and education to help better their lives. To hear it directly from an employee, here is another testimonial:

I love coming here because I get many things from here. I learn [so] much because in other places they have never done anything [for] us, but instead here they give us many classes, many training sessions and I want to go because I learn more day by day, years that go by. passing, the more I learn.

Their product portfolio includes “EKO Polyolefins” which are manufactured from plastic bottle caps and labels, which closes the bottle cycle! Their fabrics are free from any contaminants.

Their product portfolio also includes “EKO PET resins,” produced from recycled bottles suitable for the manufacturing of containers in contact with food and beverages. They transform these recycled bottles into functional polyester fibers which are then used in the process of creating their fabrics. These fabrics are also anti-allergic, odorless, resistant to mold and moths, and are resistant to use and weathering.

We are proud to use this manufacturer for some of the materials that go into our garments. Our other manufacturers share the same values towards their employees. They all have practices in place to ensure the health and safety of their employees as well as their happiness.

Another great example is our manufacturer that supplies the mesh fabric for many of our garments. Their factory is dedicated to lessening its environmental footprint. They do this by adapting the process of creating their fabric to reduce their water, energy use, and their gas emissions. They also reuse water that is used during the process and they recycle their waste.

To further their environmental efforts, they constantly update their technology and the process of their equipment to lower their energy consumption. On top of these efforts they also work towards:

Reduction of Water Consumption

They carry out shorter dyeing and laundry processes, which require less water consumption, thus reducing the amount of water discharged.

Reduction of CO2 Emissions

They use clean fuels for heat generation in their thermal processes for compliance with regulations related to atmospheric emissions.

Safe and Non-Toxic Materials

They use chemicals and dyes with a declaration of conformity Standard 100 by Oeko-Tex® that are safe for the user and environmentally friendly.

Recycling Waste

They recycle more than 80% of the waste generated in our activity.

Water Treatment and Reuse

They perform an adequate treatment of the industrial wastewater generated, which they reuse in other production processes.

These are just a few of our manufacturers that are making great efforts to reduce their environmental footprint. We’re proud to be in collaboration with companies that care greatly about their environmental impact and of course, the wellbeing of their employees. We feel proud as a company to be able to offer our customers high-quality garments that they can feel good about wearing; knowing that their pieces were made ethically and environmentally conscious.