Conscious Fashion: Not Even a Drop

We have all heard this saying before: Water, use it wisely. We may have even tried to practice smart water habits by turning the faucet off while brushing our teeth or only doing laundry when we have a full load of clothes. As individuals it is easy to make small changes in our daily lives, but what about large corporations that use mass amounts of water? Recently partnering with DyeCoo, a Dutch textile company, Nike demonstrates that corporations can make changes that will also positively impact water saving efforts.

The statistics for the amount of water used to dye clothing are astounding; dyeing two pounds of textile materials can require up to 40 gallons of water. By modifying the dying process to use fluid carbon dioxide, DyeCoo is changing how fabrics are dyed. DyeCoo’s innovative approach to fabric dying is not only eliminating water usage, it is speeding up the dying process. Partnering with DyeCoo, Nike will be one of the first global partners to showcase the new technology. The date of Nike’s first DyeCoo dye release is not yet set, but according to Nike’s spokeswoman, Nike is hoping to showcase newly dyed textiles at the Summer 2012 Olympics. By partnering with DyeCoo, Nike also hopes that the use of fluid carbon dioxide to dye fabric will become a new industrial standard in the apparel world (Sustainable Business Oregon).

Like what Nike is doing? Have water saving tips? We want to hear about it! Leave a comment below to share your thoughts.