Note to students: This is an example of a critical thinking paper written by a student that received an A. While it is not perfect, it is an excellent place to start when you’re thinking about your paper’s organization, style, and format.
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GEO 300, RECITATION DAY/TIME
TA: Eddie
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Word Count: 550
The Downfall of Synthetic Clothing Materials
Interpretation: (16 words)
Research and industry trends show that synthetic clothing materials aren’t as sustainable as natural clothing materials.
Analysis: (421 words)
Synthetic clothing materials, like polyester and nylon, aren’t nearly as sustainable as their natural, eco-friendly counterparts. The first reason synthetic clothing isn’t as sustainable is the production of these materials is very energy intensive. As Luz Claudio (2007; p. A450) found through her research, “The manufacture of polyester and other synthetic fabrics is an energy-intensive process requiring large amounts of crude oil and releasing emissions including volatile organic compounds, particulate matter, and acid gases.” Although natural fabrics like cotton also leave an environmental footprint, it is minimal when compared to synthetic materials (Claudio, 2007; p. A450). Energy intensive processes are only one way in which synthetic materials are harming the environment.
New types of synthetic materials, like non-organic cotton, are also having a severe impact on the environment. For example, non-organic cotton “uses petrochemical fertilizers and leads to reduced soil fertility, soil erosion, water pollution and reduced biodiversity which are highly vulnerable environmental hazards” (Mahajan, 2012; p. 2). As shown, not only is the atmosphere being damaged by synthetic material production, but the ground and soil are as well. Mahajan (2012; p. 2) also found that the eco-friendly organic materials had a minimal environmental impact when compared with synthetic clothing materials. From an environmental standpoint, it’s clear that synthetic materials aren’t as sustainable as natural materials. The trends of clothing producers also support the assertion that natural clothing materials are more sustainable than synthetic materials.
Fashion designers all over the world are creating more eco-friendly clothes for boutiques and mass markets alike (Winge, 2008; p. 511). For example, Patagonia, a very well known clothing producer, evaluated its environmental impact and made some changes to materials it uses (Hepburn, 2013; p. 636). The clothing item with the greatest environmental impact was one of their fleeces, which they now make out of recycled plastic bottles (Hepburn, 2013; p. 636). In addition, Patagonia was concerned about the cotton they were using, so they switched to using purely organic cotton because of its reduced environmental impacts (Hepburn, 2013; p. 636). In addition to Patagonia, Wal-Mart has also announced an initiative to help farmers grow organic cotton, instead of synthetic cotton (Kuchment, 2008; p. 68). Wal-Mart has recognized the growing environmental importance of natural materials and has agreed to pay a higher price to farmers who make the switch from synthetic to organic cotton (Kuchment, 2008; p.68).
Although natural clothing materials may not be completely sustainable, they offer a significant advantage versus synthetic materials. Synthetic materials not only require copious amounts of crude oil to produce, but they also give off harmful substances that negatively affect the ground, water, and atmosphere. Producers like Patagonia and Wal-Mart, are already taking notice of these negative effects and becoming more sustainable by switching to organic cotton.
Evaluation: (43 words)
Claudio worked on the U.S. Agency for Toxic Substances, which shows her bias towards finding the downfalls of synthetic clothing materials. Mahajan is a professor researching the negative affects of clothing, which could bias her towards looking for the negatives of synthetic materials.
Inference: (18 words)
The trend toward organic cotton could force non-organic cotton growers in the U.S. to switch their growing techniques.
Explanation: (16 words)
Natural clothing materials such as organic cotton are more sustainable when compared with synthetic clothing materials.
Self Regulation: (21 words)
I approached the paper knowing synthetic materials required energy and chemicals to produce and this led me to favoring natural materials.
Bibliography:
Claudio, L. (2007). Waste Couture: Environmental Impact of the Clothing Industry. Environmental Health Perspectives, 115(9), A448-A454.
Hepburn, S. J. (2013). In Patagonia (Clothing): A Complicated Greenness. Fashion Theory: The Journal Of Dress, Body & Culture, 17(5), 623-645.
Kuchment, A. (2008). Sense and Sensibility. Newsweek, 151(15), 68.
Mahajan, S. (2012). Sustainability of Green Fashion. International Conference: Textiles and Fashion 2012, 1-11
Winge, T. M. (2008). "Green Is the New Black": Celebrity Chic and the "Green" Commodity Fetish. Fashion Theory: The Journal Of Dress, Body & Culture, 12(4), 511-523.