Experiment shows which clothing fibers are more environmentally friendly

Wool, chemical fibers and cotton are traditionally used in cold-weather clothing. But which fiber has the fastest degradation speed and which is the most environmentally friendly? Shaanxi province’s Yulin city, the largest research, development and production base of wool-based cold-proof clothing in China, is running an experiment to reveal the answer.

On April 11, the launch ceremony of its degradable environmental protection test was held in Yulin Munsell Group Co., Ltd, under the guidance of the Woolmark Company, Shaanxi Economic Union and Yulin Industry and Information Technology Bureau, and with technical support provided by the Shaanxi Cashmere Goat Engineering Technology Research Center of Yulin University.

The launch ceremony is held on Sunday in Yulin, Shaanxi province in Northwest China.

With the theme of "choosing natural healthy clothing and enjoying a green life", the experiment divided testing materials into two groups. One test saw them bury ordinary wool, chemical fibers and cotton in the soil, and the other saw them add a newly-developed fertilizer catalyst to these three fibers which were then also buried in the soil. After six months, the changes to each fiber will be inspected, and the residual components of each fiber and their effects on the soil and environment will be analyzed in order to improve people's awareness of environmental protection and promote the use of degradable fiber products.

Officials, experts and enterprise representatives bury the experimental materials in the soil after the launch ceremony. 

"Theoretically speaking, wool has a very strong degradation ability. Its properties of moisture absorption and perspiration, helping sleep, antistatic and improving the micro environment are obviously better than those of other fibers. However, the wool cold-proof clothing industry has not done such a degradation comparative test before. Therefore, no matter what the result is, the organizer's bold exploration of the truth of things and desire to promote innovative ideas are worthy of affirmation," said Chu Jiewen, technical director of the Woolmark Company’s China Bureau.

In order to improve the scientific rigor and authority of the test, Yulin Fiber Inspection Institute, Purney Testing Group Shaanxi Co., Ltd. and other testing units read out the test materials, soil profile and other related testing reports at the ceremony. Representatives of citizens and students attended and witnessed the launch ceremony, and signed the environmental protection commitment on the signature wall.

The results of the test will be announced in six months, at which time another ceremony will be held.

Yulin is the largest sheep-raising city in China's non pastoral areas and the largest cashmere production city in China. In September 2013, Yulin city was awarded the title of "famous city of Chinese wool cold proof clothing" by the China Textile Industry Federation and China Clothing Association.