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Australian Textile, Clothing, Footwear and Allied Industries

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Sustainable textiles answers

Suggested answers for Activity 2

1. State the four key ways Patagonia are addressing environmental issues.
    
   Patagonia addresses environmental issues by :
   • using organic cotton
   • using post-consumer recycled (PCR): fleece from bottles.
   • using wind energy
   • designing and building a green building.
   
    
3. The policy on pesticides for organic cotton is they are not used.
    
   Integrated pest management (IPM) is one aspect of BMP. The use of pesticides is a part of the IPM system. The aim is high yield, quality cotton and reduction of pesticides.
    
   One alternative to spraying is bio-technology that attacks the heliothis insect. In 1996/97, 10% of the national crop was Ingard, a cotton featuring the protein that attacks the heliothis insect.

   Pesticide applications on the Ingard crop have been reduced by over 50%.
   (Cotton Australia, www.cottonaustralia.com.au/LI_envbmp.html)

4. One hundred and fifty Synchilla garments can be made from 3 700 recycled two-litre bottles. How much oil and toxic emissions does this save?
    
   The use of 3 700 recycled two-litre bottles saves a barrel of oil and half a ton of toxic air emissions.
    
5. What policy does Patagonia promote to its customers?
    
   Patagonia encourages their customers to help the environment by:
   • buying only what is needed
   • wearing it out or passing it on to charities for redistribution.
      
6. Patagonia buys all its power from renewable energy sources such as wind energy. What similar programs are available in Australia for businesses and households?
    
   Switching to PureEnergy can reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Every standard unit of electricity, that is, 1 kilowatt hour (1 kWh)) used will instead be purchased from green, renewable sources.