62. Colored Cottons

Production of natural fibers such as cotton requires substantial use of land, water, and other natural resources. Processing of the fibers into textiles also needs additional water, energy, chemicals, and other resources. Textile processes such as dyeing are energy intensive and also release considerable amounts of wastewater containing dyes that cause environmental pollution. Although improvements in machinery and processes and increase in environmental awareness and regulations have made some textile processing environmentally friendly and sustainable, the majority of the textile processings, especially in the developing countries, are a cause for environmental concern. Considerable efforts have been made to reduce the waste generated during textile processing and/or to use sustainable and green materials. One such attempt has been to develop colored cottons that could eliminate the need for using dyestuffs, water, and energy required for dyeing.