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A2 Textiles
Miss Brewer
The textiles and clothing sector is a large, diverse sector across all
The textiles Member States and with a turnover of over EUR 200 billion. An
industry with a long history, the products manufactured range from
industry in Europe hi-tech synthetic yarns to wool fabrics, cotton bed linen to industrial
filters, nappies to high fashion. The sector employs over 2.5 million
workers, many of them women. In some states, women form the
majority of workers in the sector.
The industry can be split into a number of sub sectors:
the treatment of raw materials, i.e. the preparation or production of
Legislation various textiles fibres, and/or the manufacture of yarns such as
Much of Europe’s legislation for protecting the safety and through spinning
health of workers is based on a common structure. This
"natural" fibres, including cotton, wool, and silk
is a series of directives made up of council directive
89/391 (the “framework directive”) and its “daughter "man-made" fibres, including cellulosic fibres such as viscose,
directives” on a range of more specific subjects such as synthetic fibres such as polyester, and fibres from inorganic
noise, chemical agents, and manual handling. The materials such as glass
directives, transposed into law in all Member States set the production of knitted and woven fabrics (i.e. knitting and
minimum standards, so check with the relevant national weaving)
enforcing authorities. These directives take the same finishing activities such as bleaching, printing, and dyeing
approach to prevention; risk assessment followed by the transformation of the fabrics into goods, including the “clothing”
prevention measures based upon the following common industry, carpets and other textile floor covering manufacture, the
principles of prevention: production of home textiles such as bed linen, and the manufacture
•avoiding risks
of technical or ‘industrial’ textiles.
•evaluating the risks which cannot be avoided
•combating the risks at source
•adapting the work to the individual The textile and clothing sector in Europe is changing as a result of
•adapting to technical progress developing technology and economic conditions, with businesses
•replacing the dangerous by the non-dangerous or the restructuring, modernising, and adapting to technological change.
less dangerous There is a trend of moving away from mass production of simple
•developing a coherent overall prevention policy products towards a wider variety of products with a higher added
•giving collective protective measures priority over value. The technical and industrial product subsector in particular is
individual protective measures an area where European producers are world leaders. These
•giving appropriate instructions to the workers developments have also had an impact on employment in the
sector, with changes in employment models (e.g. subcontracting),
and as a result of the techniques involved, on the hazards and risks
to which workers are exposed.
Hazards and risks in the textiles
Health & Safety
sector
The textiles sector contains many hazards and
risks to workers, ranging from exposure 1. Exposure to physical agents
to noise and dangerous substances, to Workers may be exposed to noise and vibrations, for example during
manual handling and working with weaving, spinning, sewing, twisting, and cutting. Exposure to loud noise
dangerous machinery. Each processing can result in permanent hearing damage such as noise-induced hearing
stage — from the production of materials loss and tinnitus. Exposure to vibration, particularly together with risk
to the manufacturing, finishing, colouring factors for MSDs, can lead to long-term harm. Electromagnetic fields
and packaging —poses risks for workers, may also be found in some workplaces in the textiles sector.
and some of these are particularly
dangerous for women’s health.

4. Exposure to dusts and


fibres
3. Exposure to The exposure of workers to dusts from
chemical agents material such as silk, cotton, wool, flax,
2. Musculoskeletal disorders Many different groups hemp, sisal, and jute can occur during
Musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) are the most of chemical weaving, spinning, cutting, ginning, and
common work-related health problem in Europe, substances are used packaging. Division of tasks along gender
with almost one in four workers reporting backache in the textiles sector, lines may mean that women are exposed
and one in five complaining of muscular pains. including dyes, to organic dusts more than men, with
Manual handling, the lifting, holding, putting down, solvents, optical respiratory diseases being diagnosed
pushing, pulling, carrying or movement of a load, is brighteners, crease- more often in women than men. Exposure
the largest cause of injury in the textiles sector. resistance agents, to fibres and yarns may cause nasal or
Manual handling can cause either cumulative flame retardants,
disorders from the gradual deterioration of the heavy metals, bladder cancer.
musculoskeletal system, such as lower pack pain, pesticides, and
or acute trauma such as cuts or fractures due to antimicrobic agents. 5. Exposure to biological
accidents. They are used in agents
In the textiles sector, risk factors for MSDs include: dyeing, printing, In some activities, such as carding and
Working in awkward postures, such as during finishing, bleaching, willowing, workers may be exposed to
spinning, cutting, product control, and packaging, washing, dry cleaning, biological agents such as anthrax,
Repetitive movements, such as during spinning, weaving clostridium tetani (the causative agent for
cutting, product control, and packaging, slashing/sizing, and tetanus), and coxiella burnetti (which
Fatigue from manual handling, during the storage, spinning. causes Q fever). Exposure to biological
inspection, treatment, shipping, finishing, and Respiratory and skin agents can result in allergies and
cutting of textiles. sensitisers can be respiratory disorders.
found in the textiles
What is Tencel® fabric? Tencel is grown sustainably
Tencel® (generic name lyocell)
is a sustainable fabric,
regenerated from wood
But, unlike rayon and bamboo, Tencel’s supply chain is
transparent. It is obtained from eucalyptus trees that are Lyocell
grown on farms—no old growth forests, genetic
cellulose. It is similar in hand to manipulation, irrigation, nor pesticides are used. These
rayon and bamboo, both forests and the pulp produced for Tencel have earned Forest
regenerated fabrics. Stewardship Council (FSC) certification that the products
come from socially and environmentally responsible forests.
Tencel eliminates the The European Programme for the Endorsement of Forest
negative environmental Certification has also endorsed Tencel's farming practices as
impacts of traditionally made sustainable.
rayon Tencel fabric processing is environmentally friendly
Tencel has some distinct The cellulose or ground pulp used for Tencel is treated in what is known as a closed loop process in which non-
advantages over traditional toxic organic solvents are recycled with a recovery rate of 99.5% and bleach is not required. The tiny amount of
rayon. Rayon manufacturing remaining emissions is decomposed in biological purification plants. The fabric manufacturing process was awarded
generates highly polluting air the “European Award for the Environment” by the European Union.
and water emissions and uses TENCEL® fabric carries the Oeko Tex 100 certification, an international standard developed in 1992 to certify that it
catalytic agents containing contains no harmful substances. Tencel also has been awarded the European Community Eco-label flower for
cobalt or manganese. products and services with reduced environmental impacts.
Processing rayon causes a Tencel clothing is comfortable
Tencel fibres are spun into yarns and then woven into textiles that are soft, absorbent, very strong when wet or dry,
strong, unpleasant odour
resistant to wrinkles and drape well. Tencel lends these qualities to the fabrics with which it is blended. It is often
blended with natural fabrics such as hemp, cotton and wool
MORE PERFORMANCE
Soft but strong, TENCEL® proves that aesthetics need not be sacrificed for durability and performance, Its durability exceeds that of most
natural or man-made fibres, which translates into quality yarns and fabrics and clothes that resist wear and tear .And its cellulosic base allows
for the breathability nature intended. TENCEL is the first man-made cellulosic fibre stronger than cotton. Dry or wet, and that approaches the dry
strength of polyester. TENCLE’s strength in denim is as rugged as all cottons that weigh considerably more. TENCEL’s enhanced strength.
Sophisticated handle and relaxed. washed appearance make it the ideal fibre for today’s contemporary casual lifestyle. Even the lightest weight
TENCEL fabrics, such as voile and gauze, offer exceptional performance.
Travel-ready. Many TENCEL garments are good for travel-unpacked clothes quickly shed wrinkles, and washed clothes dry rapidly.
Comfortable stretch. TENCEL’s unique structural differences enable high levels of comfort stretch to be engineered into TENCEL® Natural
Stretch fabrics. TENCEL Natural Stretch not only has better memory and stronger recovery than other cellulosics, but also meets the wash test
standards developed for elastane-containing fabrics and can be made from blends with nylon, polyester and some other cellulosic fibres.
Options, TENCEL fibre readily hosts a variety of functional. topical finishes for home and apparel textile markets with critical performance
requirements. Compared to other cellulosic fibres, TENCEL needs smaller amounts of these finishes to achieve equally effective results. Value-
added options like water-repellent and stain-resistant agents readily take to TENCEL Standard resin finishes allow TENCEL fabrics to hold long-
lasting pleats or trouser leg creases. Anti-allergens and anti-microbials open TENCEL to a variety of home textile uses including bedding.
mattress ticking and towels
Between 2002 and 2006, world exports of Textiles grew at an
average annual rate of 7.1 percent. With exports from emerging
economies growing at a slightly higher rate (9.8 percent), their share
of world exports increased from 52.1 percent in 2002 to 57.4 percent
in 2006.Chart 1B shows the importance and dynamics of LCCs (Low
Cost Countries) as locations of global production by industry
segment:
► In terms of world export share, LCCs are more or less equally

Global Production
important as sources of supply for yarn, fabrics and made-up articles.
► But since 2002, LCCs have gained more ground in made-up
articles (8.8 percentage points) and yarn (6.2) than in and fabrics
(4.6).Asia is the leading low-cost source region in the Textile industry.
However, since 2002, Asia's share of world low-cost exports has
slightly declined, mainly to the benefit of the Middle East and Africa.
Manufactured Textile Fibres – the Global trends Specialty Fibres
The fastest gains will be experienced by specialty synthetic fibre
For centuries, natural fibres has been the preference production including spandex, aramid and carbon fibres. Spandex will
for textile manufacturers due to their comfort and easy particularly remain high as it is finding new application beyond its
access. However natural fibres are continually being traditional uses in sportswear and underwear. Its qualities such as those
replaced by the cheaper, better performing man-made of light weight, softness, stretchability and resistance to deterioration from
fibres. perspiration, lotions or detergents will continue to be appreciated in the
market. Specifically, its blends with cotton and other fibres are being used
extensively. With the demands of flame-resistant and other protective
clothing rising, aramide fibre will also grow due to its high strength and
The Forecast superior heat-resistance.
The global production of manufactured textile fibre, both of
synthetic and cellulosic, is expected to grow by 5.7 percent Polyester
per annum through 2012 to over 62 million metric tons. Polyester will remain the largest manufactured fibres segment due to its
Apart from the growing demand of man-made fibres in versatility and cost-performance characteristics. Cotton and cellulosic
fibres as well as other synthetics such as nylon and acrylic, will
comparison to natural fibres, the rising personal income in

Trends – The Forecast


continually be replaced by Polyester fibres.
developed as well as developing countries will contribute

Global Production
this trend of growth. A look at the projected performance of Nylon
individual fibres is worth mentioning. The present crisis in global economies and the unpredictable fluctuations
in energy prices is affecting the nylon petrochemical value chain
significantly. Also, there is a slow growth in global nylon fibre demand,
particularly outside Asia. Apart from this, the lower priced, high quality
polyester is giving nylon a stiff competition. In view of all these, nylon will
continue to struggle and its growth in the forecast period will be lower than
Regional Production of Manufactured Fibres in recent years.
The market for fibres, yarns and threads is very important
for the whole textile industry. Of these, fibres market is Acrylic Staple Fibre
obviously crucial as the basis for both yarns and threads. The demand for acrylic staple fibre is declining continuously since 2001.
Regionally speaking, the Asia-Pacific region, particularly In 2006 and 2007, its consumption declined significantly by 9% and 6%
respectively. In the next five years too, its demand is expected to have a
China and India, will continue to be the largest producer of
slower growth. Keeping in view the current market conditions, the
manufactured fibres. This region is also expected to
consumption of acrylic staple fibre is expected to grow only by 2.3 percent
experience the most rapid growth. The greatest share of per annum during 2008 and 2013
manufactured fibre production will remain with China.
By 2012, China is expected to manufacture over 70 percent of all polyester output. India will also
increases its production of manufactured fibres, but its total production levels will remain well below
that of China. The European, North American and Japanese manufacturers will continue to face stiff
challenges like market maturity, capacity rationalization, competition from imports and business
shifting to nations that have lower production costs. Asia is the only place where any meaningful
capacity additions are expected to occur.
• Environmental
• Satin weave cotton fabric
• Care labels – dry cleaning reasons
• Global production
• Product maintenance

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