Insanity grew stronger, minds raced, logic and facts were long said goodbye

EU seriously decided that cotton is an enemy of the environment. In the article we will analyze the directives, the carbon footprint of synthetics and the absurdity of prohibitions that threaten not only the wardrobe, but also common sense.

Ban cotton, keep synthetics? Yes, we are just environmental geniuses

The European Union seems to have decided that all the main problems have already been solved. Climate crisis? Closed. Energy deficiency? Passed the level. Now their hands are free to fight the real enemies of the planet – cotton. Yes, yes, the same cotton from which half of your wardrobe is made and which warms you with warm towels after a shower.

Why is cotton under attack?

The EU has decided it is time to clean up the textile industry by declaring war on its “dirty” aspects. Within Strategies for sustainable and circular textiles The European Commission is preparing a number of tough rules that will hit cotton. Here are the main ones:

1. Requirement of a full environmental audit: Each manufacturer will be required to provide accurate data on the water, energy and chemicals used in production. Cotton that consumes up to 10,000 liters of water per kilogram of fiberclearly comes under attack.

2. Reducing your carbon footprint: The EU requires the textile industry to reduce CO₂ emissions, and for cotton this figure is about 2.1 kg CO₂ per kilogram of fiber. If producers cannot compensate for these emissions, the path to the market will be closed.

3. Banning products without environmental certification: Cotton grown with pesticides does not meet green economy standards. With this approach, it will simply cease to comply with EU standards.

4. Development of a textile circular economy: The EU is actively promoting recycling of materials, and cotton, which is difficult to include in a reusable system, risks being left behind.

So if your favorite sweater can't prove its environmental friendliness, get ready to say goodbye to it. But what will replace it?

Welcome to the world of synthetics

Polyester, nylon, acrylic are the new favorites of the textile industry. These materials are made from petroleum and, it would seem, should be cost-effective and modern. But the problem is that synthetics are not only an expensive process, but also a monster of a carbon footprint. For comparison:

• Producing 1 kilogram of polyester throws away 5.5 kilograms CO₂. This is two and a half times more than cotton.
• Synthetics do not require water, but they introduce millions of microplastic particles into our world, which end up in the oceans, soil and even on our tables.

And that's not all. Every synthetic thing will delight (or depress) us in a landfill from 20 to 200 years. Considering that less is processed 1% textilethe prospects do not look too “green”.

The eternal EU dilemma: cotton or synthetics

And now we stand at a crossroads: cotton consumes water, but decomposes in six months. Synthetics conserve resources, but their carbon footprint and durability pose environmental risks for centuries. What to do? The EU is relying on the third option – recycling and innovation, but these processes are still far from mass implementation.

In the meantime, EU citizens are asked to dress in altruism and have a little patience. Linen, recycled bottles and biodegradable fibers are the new choices. Yes, linen is a little itchy and recycled polyester can smell weird, but who said saving the planet was about comfort?

Result: ban for the sake of ban

The EU is confident that the cotton ban is a step into the future. But perhaps, instead of bans, we should focus on developing recycling technologies, reducing consumption and combating fast fashion. For now, it seems that the fight against cotton is more of a PR move than a real concern for the environment.

Maybe someday the EU will issue a directive banning directives themselves? But for now, prepare for a world where your T-shirts are made from recycled potato sacks and a fashionable wardrobe becomes synonymous with sustainability. Hope it's worth it.

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