From Seed to Product: An Interdisciplinary Approach to Linking the Agriculture and Industrial Stages of Cotton through Water Research

The apparel industry has a tremendous impact on water, yet unlike food systems, where consumer interest in sustainability is growing, it is difficult for the everyday consumer to understand the nuances of sustainable clothing and there has been little growth in sustainability labels and claims. Water use and pollution needs to be evaluated throughout the clothing supply chain to identify leverage points to reduce water impacts and design new processes to integrate water sustainability into production industry-wide.