CONSUMER IMPACT / WASH AND CARE
A garment should live a lifetime, and that is only possible if you care for it the right way. Aftercare of clothes has a great impact on both the longevity of clothes and the environment.
Everyone has an opportunity to prolong the lives of their clothes by treating it with care and make conscious choices. The Wash and care guide provides a number of simple advices on how to act more sustainable by making small changes in your everyday life.
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Wash less: Reduce your environmental footprint by washing less.
Airing will refresh your clothes and many stains can be removed manually with a damp cloth.
- Lower the temperature: Lowering the temperature on the washing machine when laundering will make your clothes equally clean and save you energy (and money). The care label is an indication of the highest temperature allowed.
Fact: Switching from 60 to 40 degrees when washing saves 41% of the energy used
- Less detergent: Using too much detergent in laundering is unnecessary.
Lower the amount and keep our water clean. Help the environment by using detergents that are Eco labeled – for instance The Swan (Nordic Eco Label) or the EU ower.
Fact: The textile industry accounts for 20 % of global water pollution and an unnecessary use of detergents will further impact the environment negatively - Use a laundry bag for fine materials such as silk, viscose, wool and Tencel. Always turn the clothes inside out to avoid colour changes and pilling.
- Treat your knit with care. Pilling is a common occurrence in natural materials such as Cashmere and Merino. Brush a sweater stone or comb gently across your clothes to remove pilling, it's the most eco friendly and gentle alternative. When stored always fold your knitwear, never hang, as it will loose it ́s shape. Instead lay it at to dry and to store.
- Air dry: A perfect alternative for the tumble dryer. Your clothes will smell of fresh air, remain quality and you will spend no energy consequently reducing your environmental footprint.
Fact: 36% of a t-shirts climate impact occurs when it is washed and tumble-dried at home - Build a long-lasting wardrobe: Purchase high-quality clothes that complement your wardrobe and are meant to last.
Fact: The average Danish consumer consumes 16 kilograms of clothing annually. This is adequate to 64 t-shirts or 16 pairs of jeans - Repair when broken: Learn how to sew on a button and do a few stitches instead of throwing away perfectly fine clothes.
- Reuse and swap: Benefit from each other’s hidden treasures by reusing and swapping your clothes.
Fact: 30% of our clothes have not been worn for over a year (WRAP)
- Recycle: Re-using recycled textiles will decrease the use of raw materials and lower pollution caused by manufacturing processes. High-quality cotton can be recycled up to three times.
At BLANCHE, we recommend consumers to look for the Clever Care-label, when making new purchases. The label provides a simple guide on how to prolong the life of clothes, by following advice for clever laundering. The advice is not only to prolong clothes’ lifecycle but to an equal extent limit one's personal environmental footprint and reduce costs for new pieces.