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Abstract |
Disposable clothing and toxic production methods have become unavoidable across most textile markets. Customer demands for more relevant fashions at lower costs have created a shift in the culture of supply chain and has given an entirely new meaning to “sustainable fashion”. The disposal habits of consumers have impending consequences on products’ life cycles. While conducting research, it was found that there is a gap in the level of awareness between consumers’ habits. Many consumers are unaware how their habits are creating irrevocable consequences on the market and environment. We found that over 50% of participants prefer to dispose of their unwanted or damaged clothing through donation and second-hand organizations. This could be due to lack of knowledge of other sustainable options at their disposal, or the positive reinforcement behind donations. Further research into biodegradable fibers has been a topic of interest in the quest towards sustainability. Cotton fibers have the ability to degrade quicker than others, such as polyester, making it a feasible option. Through our research, we found that 50% of consumers prefer cotton over other fibers. However, awareness on biodegradable fibers as a whole was lacking, outlining room for improvement and education in this area. After examining the relationship between consumer disposal habits and biodegradability, additional questions have been formulated, but it remains unclear if consumers’ are willing to take actionable measures towards a more sustainable future.
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Faculty Mentor
Buhyung (Ellie) Cho |
Modified Abstract |
Disposable clothing and toxic production methods have become unavoidable across most textile markets. Customer demands for more relevant fashions at lower costs have created a shift in the culture of supply chain and has given an entirely new meaning to “sustainable fashion”. Many consumers are unaware how their habits are creating irrevocable consequences on the market and environment. Further research into biodegradable fibers has been a topic of interest in the quest towards sustainability. Cotton fibers have the ability to degrade quicker than others, such as polyester, making it a feasible option. Many consumers prefer cotton over other fibers. However, awareness on biodegradable fibers as a whole is lacking, outlining room for improvement and education in this area. |
Permalink | https://oaks.kent.edu/ugresearch/2020/fashion-merchandising/cotton-clothing-disposal-habits-biodegradability |
Cotton, Clothing Disposal Habits & Biodegradability
Mazzotta, E., & Bauer, E. (n.d.). Cotton, Clothing Disposal Habits & Biodegradability (1–). https://oaks.kent.edu/node/10221
Mazzotta, Erin, and Erin Bauer. n.d. “Cotton, Clothing Disposal Habits & Biodegradability”. https://oaks.kent.edu/node/10221.
Mazzotta, Erin, and Erin Bauer. Cotton, Clothing Disposal Habits & Biodegradability. https://oaks.kent.edu/node/10221.