Where electricity is carbon-intensive, the use phase of cotton garments often has a bigger carbon footprint than production, especially if there’s a lot of machine drying. To reduce the environmental footprint of cotton jeans and t-shirts, wash less frequently, air dry rather than tumble dry (extending the garments’ lifespan), run the washing machine at full capacity with less detergent. Minimize ironing. Purchase fewer new clothes; choose higher quality, more durability; keep them longer. Alter, repair, and resell clothes.
Climate Crisis Blog
