Although cotton is made from natural fibres, this doesn’t mean it’s an environmentally friendly fabric. Over the years, we have learnt more about the considerable environmental impact of the cotton industry, leaving many of us seeking an eco-friendlier alternative.
Linen has been around for tens of thousands of years and was one of the first fibres used to make cloth. Linen is a natural material made from flax fibres known for its breathability, durability and sustainable production.
Keep reading to learn more about why your business should make the eco-friendly switch from cotton to linen.
Water Conservation
Cotton is one of the most popular fabrics in the textile production industry. The production of cotton uses a significant quantity of water at every stage. To create a single t-shirt, 2,700 litres of water are required. Unfortunately, rainwater doesn’t suffice so much of the water needed for this crop is taken from other bodies of water like rivers and lakes.
On the other hand, the production of linen requires much less water. To create one linen t-shirt, only 6.7 litres of water are used. Since the flax plant doesn’t need as much water to grow, rainfall tends to be sufficient meaning additional water sources aren’t used.
Some industries like hospitality, require specific uniforms. Switching your restaurant uniforms from cotton to linen will drastically reduce the water consumption attached to your business and help to fight water shortages.
Fewer Pesticides
Cotton is thought of as one of the dirtiest crops. Cotton farming requires a significant amount of pesticides, with around 16% of all pesticides sold being used on cotton. These pesticides can run off cotton fields and make their way into bodies of water, contaminating drinking water and harming wildlife.
Flax plants require much fewer if any pesticides or fertilisers to cultivate, making them close to organic standards naturally. Likewise, the plant is more sustainable because the entire plant can be utilised. The whole plant can be used to create flax fibres and the seeds are harvested for foods, supplements and oil, leading to less crop waste.
Durability and Longevity
Linen is much more durable than cotton, with a piece of linen clothing likely to last up to 20 years while cotton only lasts a couple of years. The more wear we can get out of our clothes the more sustainable the clothing is.
When the time comes to dispose of a fabric, both cotton and linen can be recycled. However, recycling isn’t the perfect solution because it’s not a carbon-neutral process and energy is required to transform materials. Linen, however, is also biodegradable. Flax fibres can be completely decomposed by microorganisms without producing harmful substances or emissions.
London Linen
At London Linen, we provide linen services and laundry services across London. From restaurant uniforms to tablecloth rentals, we have the linen solution to help your business meet its sustainability goals.
The environment matters to us, and we pledge our commitment to sustainability through our strategy, The Johnsons Way which integrates sustainability into every step of our operations. Our sustainability policy positions us as a textile industry leader by actively responding to environmental challenges and protecting the environment for future generations.
For more information about our laundry services or linen services in London, contact us today!
020 8574 5569
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