Virgin Color,
Virgin Fabrics,
Virgin Future

What else do you know that is
untouched by human
intervention or natural?

Our blue planet, upon which we live, has undergone 4.6 billion years of evolution and development. According to the law of natural evolution based on survival of the fittest [2], every living organism and environment presents itself in the most "perfect" form (here, "perfect" refers to contextual, mutually restraining, and complementary interactions).

Nature maintains its most balanced state. These natural resources, untouched and unaltered by human activity, provide direct and effective positive values. From essentials like food, water, and herbal medicine to requirements for construction and development such as climatic conditions, production materials, natural energy, and more, nature offers a huge variety of benefits that are superior to those extracted using human intervention.

From picking and farming to hunting and animal husbandry, let's start with food, which sustains our physical existence and continuation.

Natural olive oil is the most suitable fat for human nutrition. Cold pressing not only preserves natural nutrients but also holds a value much higher than those processed by heating or chemicals [3].

The same applies to freshly squeezed juices. Humans initially obtained nutrients from picking fruits. The now popular "Not from Concentrated" juices on the market restore the benefits of freshly squeezed juices, like the easy absorption of Vitamin C and richness in dietary fibers. Their nutritional content, absorption efficiency, freshness, and taste are also much higher compared to drinkable juices mixed with water, sugar, preservatives, etc. [4].

Yuval Noah Harari, the author of "Sapiens: A Brief History of Humankind," holds the very famous view of wheat-domesticated humans [5].

Viewing Harari’s perspective dialectically, it also represents the direct rewards and sustenance that natural crops offer to humans.

Today, consuming crops that do not use chemical fertilizers or pesticides and meat from animals not injected with growth hormones or antibiotics is collectively known as organic food. This can reduce the risk of certain sensitivity-related diseases and improve the immune system of consumers. Genetically modified foods lack minerals, antioxidants, and other compounds essential for our overall health [6] (*Organic foods are grown and manufactured according to the Department of Agriculture's standards — without synthetic chemicals like artificial pesticides and fertilizers and do not contain genetically modified organisms (GMOs). While a non-GMO label doesn't mean it's organic, an organic label automatically means the product is non-GMO).

However, excessive human intervention in pursuit of high productivity can lead to biological homogeneity in crops, turning what was initially a positive impact into a negative one.

For example, due to the widespread cultivation of potatoes, between 1760 and 1801, the population of Ireland rapidly increased from an initial one million to 5.2 million. Half a century later, in 1845, the Potato Late Blight began to spread among the potatoes planted. In less than a year, the potato yield halved, and many Irish commoners starved to death (despite extensive research, we still haven't found the exact range and number of deaths, only that five million Irish people emigrated, equivalent to the current population of Ireland, of which 1.3 million became the first adventurers in North America), and the deaths also gave rise to cholera caused by bacteria.

The Potato Late Blight spread rapidly throughout Europe and Asia. Why was the range of transmission so wide? Because, at that time, the entire continents of Europe and Asia planted the same variety of potatoes.

1) Known as the lungs of the Earth, the Amazon rainforest holds 45% of the world's timber. Since the 1960s, vast forests have been destroyed under heavy machinery and fire. From 1966 to 1975 alone, more than 11 million hectares of forest were destroyed. Uncontrolled deforestation has reduced Brazil's national forest coverage from 80% to 40%. The dire consequences of rampant deforestation are also evident, as in recent years, Brazil has seen less rainfall and a hotter, drier climate. [9]

2) Dam construction brings benefits to human society in agriculture, water, disaster prevention, and electricity, but it also produces:

Harm to nature and wildlife; geological impacts on a region (changes in water flow and levels will increase or decrease stability); and disruption to human life (relocation, loss of underwater archaeology or cultural materials). [10]

Older dams often don't have fish ladders, preventing many migratory fish from swimming upstream to their natural breeding grounds, leading to failed breeding cycles or blocked migratory paths [11]. In our country, the Chinese sturgeon is facing such a crisis. This ancient life form, which has existed on Earth for 140 million years, now only has 132 individuals left in the wild. Unique Chinese species like the Baiji and the Yangtze River white sturgeon have forever halted in history.

In November 2006, the Institute of Hydrobiology, the Chinese Academy of Sciences, and the Baiji Dolphin Conservation Foundation of Switzerland jointly launched the "2006 Yangtze River Freshwater Dolphin Survey." Experts from China, Japan, the USA, Canada, the UK, Germany, and Switzerland conducted a six-week scientific expedition from Yichang to Shanghai on the Yangtze River's primary stream and found no Baiji dolphins. Hence, it was determined to be functionally extinct. [12]

On September 17, 2019, the IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature) assessed that the Chinese unique species and national first-class protected animal, the Yangtze River white sturgeon, is extinct. [13]

Moreover, a dam can lead to the loss of an entire ecosystem, including endangered and undiscovered species in the area, and a new inland lake replacing the original environment [14]. The construction and operation of the Hoover Dam, causing changes in water flow and usage, had a significant impact on the decline of the Colorado River Delta ecosystem [15].

Due to changes in water load and groundwater levels, large reservoirs formed behind dams have shown a correlation with seismic activity. At the same time, the continually changing water levels in the reservoirs are also a source of greenhouse gases like methane [16].

Furthermore, in 1959, for the construction of the Xin'anjiang Hydropower Station dam, the Xin'an River was diverted, and two historically significant towns in western Zhejiang, Shicheng and Hecheng, quietly "sank" into the bottom of Qiandao Lake. The residents of the cities had no choice but to reluctantly relocate from the ancient towns [17]. Along with Shicheng and Hecheng, two ancient cities built during the Han and Tang dynasties, 27 towns, over 1,000 villages, 300,000 acres of good farmland, and thousands of houses sank into the lake [18].Nick Cullather, in "The Hungry World: America’s Cold War Battle Against Poverty in Asia," points out that it's estimated that by 2008, between 40 and 80 million people worldwide had been displaced due to dam construction [19].

3) In African national parks, artificial fences, excessive tourists, vehicle noise, flash scares, etc., have changed the migratory patterns recorded in animal DNA. Some animals, unable to migrate, like antelopes and gazelles, have experienced large-scale unnatural deaths, breeding a large number of bacteria. At the same time, changes in migration methods affect the survival methods of carnivorous animals along the way and plant growth patterns.

The most severe issue is that such problems are not just confined to one country or region; the world's ecology is negatively affected by humanity's excessive penetration into natural boundaries. The migration of the red-crowned crane in our country has encountered similar issues.

4) Our seemingly insignificant customs and habits can also cause damage to nature. Worldwide, except for a few areas, most countries and ethnic groups tend to adopt cremation.

This practice is considered disruptive to ecological balance because the by-products of cremation are vastly different from the results of microbial decomposition: it artificially accelerates the flow of water and carbon, with the combustion products released in the form of water vapor and CO2. Although this matches the outcome of microbial decomposition, the gases are directly released into the air and do not moisturize the soil as in-ground burial does.

If this destruction is not very evident in terms of water and carbon flow, the damage reflected in other material flows is much more severe.

The vast majority of nitrogen in the atmosphere cannot be directly utilized by plants and animals. Only a few leguminous plants with rhizobia, like alfalfa and soybeans, can fix nitrogen, converting it into nitrates. Plants generally can only indirectly utilize nitrogen in the soil in the form of nitrates and ammonium salts, converting them into amino acids and then synthesizing proteins. Animals obtain nitrogen by consuming plants. After animals and plants die, the proteins in their bodies are decomposed by microbes into nitrates and ammonium salts that return to the soil, with a portion transformed back into nitrogen molecules by denitrifying bacteria and re-entering the atmosphere. The result of humans burning wood and cremating bodies is the oxidation of organic nitrogen into inorganic nitrogen oxides. This not only loses the value of this nitrogen being reused by plants, cutting off the nitrogen flow in the ecosystem but it also causes air pollution, with NOx being a major component of atmospheric pollution.

For phosphorus, it is also an essential element for life. Plants can only absorb phosphorus in phosphates. Its primary sources are the decomposition of animal and plant excreta and remains by microbes and the natural erosion of phosphate deposits. Natural phosphate deposits are scarce, and the utilizable phosphates continuously flow into water bodies, settling into deep-sea sediment layers as non-renewable resources. Cremation turns phosphorus that could have been decomposed by microbes into recyclable phosphates into inorganic oxides of phosphorus, removing it from the cycle. It's evident that the phosphorus flow has a greater vulnerability, and avoidable losses should be prevented.

Similarly, cremation mercilessly disrupts the ecological flow of other elements essential for life. Because the forms are easily absorbed by life, and the results of microbial decomposition are all salts, while combustion produces a series of environmentally polluting oxides. Of course, this shortage in the ecological cycle caused by burning wood and cremation is exacerbated by the population surge and humans' increased demand for material pleasures.

To compensate for the losses caused by the above actions and to meet the material needs of plant production of organic matter, humans have had to use chemical fertilizers to compensate for the lack of soil fertility. Although this practice temporarily alleviates the contradiction, it brings deeper ecological destruction, causing soil salinization, compaction, and impoverishment, not only causing severe environmental pollution but also severely wasting resources.

With the huge base of over five billion people currently on Earth, calculated at one-thousandth of the death rate, there are tens of millions of deaths each year.

In 1988,the number of deaths in
our country alone reached

6.5 million

Average body weight

40 kg

Total weight

260,000 ton

According to statistics, in 1988, the number of deaths in our country alone reached 6.5 million. Based on an average body weight of 80 jin [approximately 40 kg], the total weight is more than 260,000 tons. Considering that some have calculated from a base of 3.68 billion people in the world in 1970, with a doubling every 35 years, by the year 2705, the entire Earth will reach ten people/m2, and by the year 3535, the total weight of the world's population will exceed the total weight of the Earth. Although this is impossible, it highlights the significant role of the human body in ecological material flow.

In response, in 2019, the Washington State Legislature in the United States introduced Bill RCW68.50.100, equating "natural organic reductions" with burial, cremation, and alkaline hydrolysis as final disposition methods for human remains. In 2021, the Colorado State Legislature passed Bill SB21-006, Human Remains Natural Reduction Soil, stipulating the "transformation of human remains into basic elements within a container through an accelerated process" and related appropriation matters.

Considering the two articles published on the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS) open access (online version) and in the journal Nature in 2018 and 2020, respectively, by a research team led by scientists from the Weizmann Institute of Science in Israel, about "The biomass distribution on Earth" and "Global human-made mass exceeds all living biomass," these two bills are of milestone significance. Advocating the disposal of human remains through natural reduction is both a growing trend and a new requirement for the sustainable development of human civilization. [19]

5) Noise pollution is an invisible danger. It's unseen, but it's there, whether on land or under the sea. Noise pollution is considered any unnecessary or disturbing sound that affects the health and well-being of humans and other organisms.

Some of the loudest underwater noises come from naval sonar equipment. Sonar, like echolocation, works by sending sound pulses down into the deep ocean to bounce off objects and return echoes to the ship, thereby indicating the object's location. Sonar sounds can reach up to 235 decibels and travel hundreds of miles underwater, interfering with whales' ability to use echolocation. Studies have shown that sonar causes whales to strand in large numbers on beaches and can alter the feeding behaviors of endangered blue whales (Balaenoptera musculus). Environmental organizations are urging the U.S. Navy to stop or reduce the use of sonar for military training. [21]

However, humanity's excessive penetration will ultimately rebound upon itself. According to Yin Ye from BGI in the "Roundtable," the birth of the SARS virus in 2003 was related to human excessive penetration into the habitats of bats and civets. [22]

Building ski resorts can damage
the ecological environment

Beginner slopes require about

50-100 square meters

Intermediate slopes about

70-130 square meters

Advanced slopes demand

80-160 square meters

In reality, the per capita area for skiing on the slopes cannot be less than the following ranges: beginner slopes require about 50-100 square meters; intermediate slopes about 70-130 square meters; and advanced slopes demand 80-160 square meters. Therefore, constructing ski resorts necessitates the felling of a large number of trees, primarily affecting vegetation, natural water environments, natural scenery, and wildlife, among other aspects.Moreover, most of the snow in ski resorts is artificially made. Ski resorts use snowmaking machines to prepare the slopes. Artificial snow brings about a very serious environmental issue, with the consumption of water resources being astonishing. Some ski resorts build water storage ponds or recycle the melting snow for reuse, but most resorts use natural water or directly extract groundwater, which, over time, can threaten local drinking water reserves. It's estimated that covering the slopes of the Alps with snow requires 95 billion liters of water. Some countries prohibit the use of additives, allowing snow water to be reabsorbed by the soil, but elsewhere, this disrupts the water cycle and aquatic life. The use of snowmaking machines results in substantial carbon emissions and noise pollution [23].

Destruction from Man-made
Outdoor Landscaping

Artificial outdoor landscaping, not a product of natural selection, goes against the laws of natural growth. A slight mishap can easily lead to the invasion of foreign species, thereby encroaching on the living space of similar species and causing ecological destruction.

The Canada Goldenrod (scientific name: Solidago canadensis L.), a plant of the Asteraceae family, is native to North America. It's known for its beautiful, lush yellow color when in bloom and was introduced domestically for ornamental purposes in the 1930s.However, due to its strong reproductive ability, it has grown geometrically in wastelands and open spaces. Moreover, its root system is robust, easily causing damage to surrounding vegetation and native species. It has now become a widespread problem in places like Hubei, Sichuan, and Hebei, requiring the country to spend a huge amount of funds on control measures annually [24].

The tumbleweed often seen in duels in Western American films is also not native to America. In 1970, the United States planned to import flaxseed plants from the former Soviet Union for cultivation, as flaxseed is an important source of plant oil. However, due to the similar shape of the seeds, some tumbleweeds were mistakenly planted. It was these mistakenly planted tumbleweeds that later posed serious hidden dangers to local traffic and safety. (*This plant was introduced in 1970. During the era of Western expansion, there was no such plant in America. Its appearance in films might be due to oversight or artistic embellishment by the directors.)

Tumbleweed’s scientific name is the Russian thistle (Salsola tragus L.), and it carries an average of 250,000 seeds per plant. Due to its tenacious vitality, it can take root and sprout even in arid environments. Every breeding season, the skies are filled with Russian thistles "running" with the wind, blocking traffic in surrounding towns and causing massive fire hazards, threatening people's health and lives. [25]

Human-Induced Animal
Ecological Invasions

One of the more famous cases is that of the Australian wild rabbit. Rabbits are not native to Australia; before 1859, there were no rabbits there. However, it was in that year that a farmer brought a group of wild rabbits from England, totaling 24. He had no idea that his action would trigger an agricultural disaster.

In Australia, rabbits had virtually no natural predators, so over several decades, they became a significant problem. They consumed crops, destroyed newly sown seeds, gnawed on tender tree barks, and dug holes that damaged fields and river embankments. Even building fences couldn't prevent them from invading farmers' fields. Over the decades, Australia's agriculture and livestock industries suffered tremendous losses. By 1926, the rabbit population in Australia had reached an astonishing ten billion. [26]

To address such issues, the initial solution was to use animals to combat animals, leading to the introduction of dogs, cats, and red foxes. However, those who came up with this solution overlooked one thing: these predators also lacked natural enemies. The introduction of cats led to a cliff-like decline in Australian bird species. The introduction of dogs and red foxes encroached on the ecological niches of native animals like the Tasmanian wolf, leading to their eventual extinction. Then, they came up with another solution to tackle the biological invasion — poisoning. Rabbits and cats would die upon ingesting the poison, but local native animals would also be fatally poisoned. Thus, they fell into a vicious cycle of solving one problem only to create a bigger one.

Humans, in their attempts to modify the natural environment, sometimes act out of one-sided considerations, blindly pursuing short-term benefits, leading to discord between artificial and natural environments. This causes destruction to the natural environment, stripping living organisms of their natural habitats.

First, we must make our consumers aware of the severe pollution caused by the clothing and textile industries.

Currently, fast fashion and the textile industry are the second most polluting industries globally, just after oil. From upstream raw material resources to production and processing, down to downstream disposal. About 20% of toxic substances in water originate from this industry. At the same time, greenhouse gas emissions from the textile and clothing industry have exceeded the total emissions from international flights and maritime shipping. It's estimated that by 2050, CO2 emissions from the textile industry will account for about 26% of total emissions [27].

The carbon footprint of a regular cotton T-shirt is approximately

13.6 kg CO2e

A common Gore-tex material is about

61.5 kg CO2e

The carbon footprint of a regular cotton T-shirt is approximately 13.6kg CO2e, while that of a common Gore-tex material is about 61.5kg CO2e. [28]Due to the limitations of current industrial technology, significant pollution during the production and processing of fabrics is evident in the spinning, dyeing, and post-treatment stages. The wastewater and waste gases generated in the process cause irreversible damage to soil, air, and water sources, affecting the entire ecosystem and indirectly endangering people's health.

Here, we will list the main sources of pollution and hazards in the production and processing stages.

Image source: Environmental protection technical document "Feasible Technical Guidelines for Pollution Prevention in the Textile Dyeing and Finishing Industry (Trial)" [29]

Pre-treatment stage

Polyester, nylon, and other synthetic fabrics or petroleum-based plastics all have petroleum as their raw material. Petroleum, as a non-renewable resource, begins to cause energy waste even before production. Taking polyester as an example, long fibers can make polyester yarn, which people then weave together to produce woven goods. However, extracting petroleum and melting plastics requires a lot of energy (such as collection, power generation, transportation, etc.) and creates a large amount of solid waste, wastewater, and waste gas.

During the spinning process, polyester also splits off several plastic fibers. These plastic fibers enter waterways with wastewater discharge, affecting water quality resources. In a 2016 study, investigators found plastic fibers in water quality samples from 29 tributaries in the North American Great Lakes area, accounting for about 70% of all discovered plastic samples. Senior research associate Mark Browne from the University of New South Wales stated that although scientists haven't yet quantified the severity of the problem, early research indicates that plastic fibers have become one of the most significant environmental hazards globally [30].

Dyeing/Printing stage

In 2019, the annual discharge of
textile wastewater was

2.5 billion tons

(about the volume of 230 West Lakes)

textile dyeing wastewater
discharge was

2.0 billion tons

The dyeing stage is the most severe among all sources of pollution. The dyeing process and the chemical dyes used both cause irreversible harm to the environment. Especially in our country, as a major producer, in 2019, the annual discharge of textile wastewater was 2.5 billion tons (about the volume of 230 West Lakes), of which textile dyeing wastewater discharge was two billion tons. Due to the traditional dyeing industry's reliance on water resources and the environmental problems caused by wastewater discharge, the entire industry's sustainable development is restricted [31].

The traditional dyeing and printing process generates a large amount of toxic wastewater. After processing, some toxic dyes or processing aids in the wastewater attach to the fabric, directly affecting human health. For example, azo dyes, formaldehyde, fluorescent brighteners, and softeners are allergenic; polyvinyl alcohol and polypropylene slurries are not easily biodegradable; chlorine bleaches cause serious pollution; some aromatic amine dyes are carcinogenic; dyes contain harmful heavy metals; various finishing agents and dyeing aids containing formaldehyde are toxic to humans, etc. Such wastewater and waste gas, if discharged directly without treatment or not meeting the prescribed discharge standards after treatment, not only directly endanger people's health but also severely damage water bodies, soil, and their ecosystems [32].

1) According to data released by relevant departments in Zhejiang Province, local printing and dyeing enterprises have seen widespread non-compliance and excessive emissions. In the first half of 2013, the number of non-compliant printing and dyeing enterprises exceeded 400, accounting for more than 90% of the total number of enterprises with excessive emissions in the province.

Zhejiang's Shaoxing County is the country's largest industrial cluster base with the highest textile production capacity, with its printing and dyeing output accounting for one-third of the national total and hosting Asia's largest light textile market. Zhejiang Province is home to the two most concentrated textile industrial parks — Shaoxing County Binhai Industrial Zone and Hangzhou Xiaoshan Linjiang Industrial Park, both of which ultimately discharge their wastewater into Hangzhou Bay. According to the 2011 China Coastal Sea Water Quality Report, among the nine major bays in the country, Hangzhou Bay has extremely poor water quality, ranking as inferior Class IV seawater. The 2012 Zhejiang Province Environmental Status Report offers a similar description of Hangzhou Bay, labeling it "entirely inferior Class IV water quality" and "the water body is in a severe state of eutrophication."

In Shaoxing City, where the dyeing industry is highly concentrated, the situation regarding water pollution is equally grim. According to the 2012 Shaoxing City Environmental Status Report, 65.7% of the sections in Shaoxing City did not meet functional requirements in 2012.River and lake pollution is also quite common in the Taihu Lake Basin area in our country. According to the "2011 Taihu Basin and Southeast Rivers Water Resources Report," the annual water quality compliance rate of the water functional zones was only 14.2%. In the Taihu Basin, there are three major bases for the hundred-billion-yuan textile and clothing industry in Jiangsu Province: Changshu, Wujiang, and Jiangyin.

In the Pearl River Delta region, where textile dyeing enterprises are concentrated, the water quality of the rivers and the Pearl River estuary is also not optimistic. The 2011 Pearl River Segment Water Resources Report released by the Pearl River Commission of the Ministry of Water Resources shows that among the water resource secondary areas, the worst water quality is in the Pearl River Delta, with 49.6% of the river length being Class I-III water and the proportion of inferior Class V River length reaching 24.7%. The 2012 Guangdong Province Marine Environment Status Report shows that the percentage of sea areas with water quality inferior to the fourth category of the Sea Water Quality Standard is 6.5%, mainly located in the Pearl River estuary and some local bay areas. [33]

2) Xintang, the Jeans Town in China, produces one-third of the world's jeans. Due to limited regulation and oversight, manufacturers have been directly discharging wastewater containing chemicals from the dyeing process into local waterways. y 2013, the rivers in Xintang had turned deep blue and emitted a foul odor. Large amounts of toxic metals, such as mercury, lead, and copper, were found in the water, which local residents relied on for drinking and bathing. Workers and residents have reported rashes, lesions, and what some locals believe to be infertility (Guang et al., 2020, *as the original report was in English, it is impossible to translate the specific surnames of the patients; hence they are referred to in English).

Producing just one pair of jeans consumes a large amount of water and energy and causes environmental pollution. Concerns extend beyond the health of the workers to the drinking water of downstream residents. The Dongjiang River, which Xintang relies on, is the source of drinking water for millions of people living in Guangzhou. The discharge of wastewater during the dyeing process also threatens the water security of downstream cities Dongguan and Shenzhen. [34]

3) Such cases are not rare. The main five textile sectors in Bangladesh — spinning, weaving, knitting, wet processing, and apparel — generate air, water, noise, or sound pollution. Essentially, the spinning and weaving industries produce air and sound pollution, but dyeing, printing, and finishing, among other wet processes, cause water pollution and have harmful effects on the environment.

The pollution from the textile industry also poses a threat to the land, making it useless and barren in the long run. Surveys show that the raw material for jeans — cotton — consumes the most harmful pesticides and fertilizers. However, most harmful pesticides are not entirely sprayed on the cotton but fall on the crops. If people consume such food over the long term, the human body cannot completely break down the toxic substances. The toxins will accumulate in the body, posing a threat to life. [35]

Post-treatment stage

To give garments functionality, after the dyeing stage, fabrics are sent to another factory for post-treatment processes such as composite coating, silver pressing, gold pressing, matte finishing, shaping, etc.Chemical treatments use but are not limited to softeners, flame retardants, waterproofing agents, anti-static agents, UV protectants, etc. This process also generates a large amount of noise, wastewater, and gaseous waste.Mechanical treatments (physical treatments), including brushing, pressurizing, embossing, etc., produce a lot of waste gases and noise during the process, and some procedures generate dust and inhalable particles, which can also cause trauma to workers' respiratory systems. [36]

According to a study by NIOSH (the study began in 1988 and ended in 2022, health checks and statistics were conducted on the lung conditions of 447 workers in a Shanghai textile factory throughout their careers), six conclusions were drawn, of which we have excerpted the last three:

· Over time, airborne endotoxins are associated with chronic lung function loss;

· Changes in lung function foreshadow long-term loss of lung function;

· Exposure to cotton dust and endotoxins shows additional adverse effects of smoking among smoking cotton textile workers. [37]

Despite strict restrictions by relevant departments, in the Yangtze River Delta and Pearl River Delta regions, where textile factories are concentrated, there are still frequent cases of industrial wastewater and waste gas being secretly discharged; factories secretly operate during nights and weekends, taking advantage of times when the management departments are off work.

According to a report by Guangzhou Daily on May 15, 2020

On the evening of May 14, the Environmental Protection Squad of Hualong Town, Panyu District, made a late-night "raid" on a garment processing factory located in the village-level industrial park of Xishan Village. Inspectors had repeatedly found that the enterprise's doors and windows were tightly closed during the day, but a large amount of discarded fabric, plastic film, and other production waste was piled up in front of the factory, suspected to be a "dirty, messy, and poor" site.

That night, the inspectors found that the production workshop environment on-site was terrible, with two pieces of production equipment mainly engaged in fabric gluing processing. There were no environmental management facilities, the technology was backward, and the environment emitted a pungent, irritating odor, indicating problems with waste gas pollution during the gluing process, making it a typical "dirty, messy, and poor" site. The Environmental Protection Squad immediately cut off the power supply and enforced a production halt, issuing a "Panyu District Environmental Inspection Notification" and ordering the enterprise to clean up and relocate within a specified period.

Recently, during their regular work, the Hualong Town Environmental Protection Squad in Panyu District also found that enterprises with complete environmental protection procedures were secretly adding production processes and illicitly discharging production wastewater. [38]

Why do factories do this?

Based on the "Textile Industry Water Pollutant Discharge Standard" and the "Textile Dyeing and Finishing Industry Atmospheric Pollutant Discharge Standard," if they meet the prescribed standards for energy, water, and pollutant discharge, it often requires a significant investment, which many small and medium-sized enterprises cannot afford.

1) Enterprises settle in government-designated clusters but are limited in the approval scale, with the investment costs for enterprises ranging between 150 million and 300 million yuan.

An excerpt from an interview in the "Daily Economic News":

"The objective factors are mainly the advancement of land approval. Currently, the industrial land required for the entry of printing and dyeing enterprises needs approval from provincial departments, and the annual land approval scale within the region is limited. This year, there is hope to ensure the implementation of the 44 signed enterprises, while other enterprises needing to settle will wait until next year to compete.""We officially moved from the old site in Qianqing Town to the cluster area, with a total relocation construction cost of 200 million yuan, initially planned to be about 100 million yuan. Eventually, in terms of infrastructure layout, to meet the standards, we made multiple modifications, and the cost basically doubled." The CEO of Oriental Times told reporters that basically all the enterprises that settled invested between 150 million and 300 million yuan. [39]

2) Waste gas and wastewater purification equipment

There is a significant price difference between imported equipment and domestic equipment. However, from our interviews with cooperative factories, we learned that the price of the wastewater treatment equipment they use is about ten million yuan or more, which does not include the specific consumption costs during use. For many small factories, this is a prohibitive investment. If the factory does not install purification equipment to meet discharge standards, wastewater must be collected and transported to government-designated factories for treatment, where packaging, transportation, and destruction are also considerable expenses.

Conventional solutions

For the pollution caused by the dyeing/printing segment, there are three specific solutions:

1. Follow the current industrial dyeing methods using eco-friendly dyes.Conventional dyes are typically aromatic molecules from heavy petroleum distillates. Our calculations show that to produce one kilogram of dye, 100 kilograms of petroleum, 1,000 liters of water, and ten kilograms of other chemicals are needed [40]. Eco-friendly dyes are applied through low-impact dyeing, which has been categorized as eco-friendly by the Oeko-Tex Standard 100 (an international certification process). Typically, low-impact dyes do not contain toxic chemicals or mordants (which fix the dye on the fabric), require less rinsing, and have a high absorption rate in the fabric (70%-80%). High absorption rates and reduced use of rinse water produce less wastewater.

However, this method has its downsides:

1) Like other environmentally harmful dyes, reactive dyes are made from synthetic petrochemical products.

2) The process requires very high concentrations of salt (0-80% of the weight of the dye), alkali, and water. Even if unfixed dyes are recovered, the effluents from this process may still contain high concentrations of salt, surfactants, and defoaming agents and be strongly alkaline.

3) Effluents typically contain salt, alkali, detergents, and 0% to 50% of the used dye.

4) Most importantly, it's quite expensive, costing about four to seven times more than traditional dyeing.

2. Use natural dyes and hand dying.As the name suggests, this method uses plants, soil, minerals, and biological enzymes from nature as natural dyes for coloring products, and most importantly it can be traced back to the Qin and Han dynasties. Although natural dyes can be biodegraded, this method has the disadvantages of long cycles, low output, and high labor costs.

Taking indigo dyeing as an example, a skilled artisan needs at least twenty years of practice to control the uniformity and fastness of the color. Moreover, the indigo dyeing process involves dozens of steps, including planting, harvesting, making dye, setting up the dye vat, and dyeing in order to finally present the indigo-dyed garments we commonly see. [41]Moreover, using plant dyes will inevitably lead to an increase in demand for these plants, and modern agriculture is also one of the most severe sources of pollution on the planet. According to surveys, currently, 30% to 50% of the Earth's surface has been affected by non-point source pollution, and of the 1.2 billion hm² of degraded land worldwide, about 12% is caused by agricultural non-point source pollution.In China, nearly twenty million hm² of arable land has been affected by agricultural non-point source pollution, with an annual soil loss of five billion tons, carrying away nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, and trace elements equivalent to the yearly national fertilizer usage, a significant portion of which enters water bodies [42].

Insect dyes, which use insects like Lac and Kermes as raw materials for dyeing garments, are not only inefficient but also require the processing of 800,000 to one million insects to make one kilogram of cochineal dye. Excessive insect harvesting can also lead to ecological imbalances. [43]

What about using soil? Not all soil can be used for dyeing. Soil suitable for dyeing often needs to be rich in iron elements, and such mud fields are very rare. Not only that, but the artisans' experience and kneading strength also determine the success or failure of dyeing a garment, with one garment going through more than 120 dyeing actions, making the process extremely inefficient. Natural dyeing is often passed down from master to apprentice, with no specific formulas or courses, only experience gained through continuous experimentation. [44]For artisans, long-term immersion of their hands in water and hot steam, even with natural dyes, can still cause damage to their hands. Hand-dyed clothes, because they have no fixatives, are very prone to fading, affecting other light-colored garments. Moreover, garments dyed with insects or mud often have residues like insect bodies or soil in the details or seams.

How did we achieve this?

By allowing people to enjoy the outdoors while stepping into nature in the lightest way possible.

3. Completely abandon the dyeing processThis is the best solution among the three. We have added undyed styles to our existing products to alleviate pollution problems in the dyeing process at the source.

Reducing one process means at least reducing energy consumption (such as electricity, and dyes) in this process, wasting and discharging water resources,

transportation (skipping a factory, at least two segments of transportation), etc. As a result, each garment reduces water usage by nearly 72% and decreases carbon emissions by almost 26% [45]. At the same time, it effectively shortens the production cycle of clothing.

Not only that, but the reduction in chemical components is beneficial to health, especially for people with sensitive skin and more friendly to groups. Also, because it’s undyed, there’s no need to worry about the clothing fading and affecting other garments.

Located in the highlands of southwestern Bolivia, South America, lies the world’s largest salt flat, the Uyuni Salt Flat, at an altitude of over 3,000 meters, spanning 10,250 square kilometers. When the salt flat is covered by rainwater during the summer, it creates a natural spectacle where the sky and the sea merge into one, hence the reputation of “Mirror of the Sky.”

The total amount of salt in Uyuni is 65 billion tons, enough for the entire world’s population to consume for thousands of years. Not only that, but Uyuni is also the world’s largest lithium deposit, accounting for 50% of the Earth’s available resources. Lithium-powered battery technology is now used in industries such as smartphones, laptops, electric cars, etc. [46]. Local residents use the salt from Uyuni to construct simple houses and furniture. The naturally formed white salt flat supports technology and human life. We named our undyed series after Uyuni to express a kind of white inclusiveness where nature, technology, and life coexist.

The Uyuni Salt Flat is not as white as snowflakes but is mixed with a slight grayness, which mysteriously matches our undyed series. The common white on the market, like PANTONE® RAL-9003, is often industrially bleached. Unbleached and undyed fabrics are not flawlessly white. Processing techniques or temperatures during production are variables, producing different levels of grayish salt white.

As of today, UPPEROID's undyed series includes a total of four products.

Moreover, we will continue this concept and consistently introduce undyed versions in our product line.

Uses VOIDTECH FEATHER-LITE™ 3-layer composite fabric to achieve 15,000MM waterproofing and 40,000G/M²/24H breathability.

VOIDTECH FEATHER-LITE™ 3-layer composite fabric:

Nylon 6.6 high-stretch fabric is responsible for insulation, firmness, and durability.

Biomimetic high-transmission film prevents any drop of water from penetrating through the fabric.

7D ultra-fine nylon Terylene is responsible for the comfort of the skin-facing side and the durability of the biomimetic high-transmission film.

The 3-layer composite fabric, while providing professional protection, achieves a high density close to what current technology can achieve through 20D yarn weaving. Without sacrificing the performance of the jacket, the weight is minimized, with a final gram weight of an astonishing 83GSM.

This jacket, while becoming lighter and thinner, does not sacrifice the functionality of a hardshell jacket. Its packable feature also makes outdoor travel more convenient and freer.

AEROSHIELD™ 3-layer composite air insulation fabric

Warmth: Utilizes the principle of vacuum heat lock to provide warmth for the body. The clo value can reach up to 1.5, equivalent to the warmth of 600 fill power (PF) down.

Lightweight: Due to the absence of filling, the entire garment is relatively lighter. The warmth provided by filling 10g of air is approximately equivalent to filling 15g of down or 25g of cotton.

Temperature adjustment: Wearers can adjust the air pressure through the valve at the collar. In cases of significant temperature differences between outdoor day/night or urban indoor/outdoor, the amount of air retained can be adjusted anytime, anywhere, to regulate the warming effect.

Environmental protection: Only the most delicate down from the chest and abdomen of ducks and geese can be used as raw materials for down jackets. According to national standards, if the down content is 90%, calculated with a fill of 120g, one down jacket requires the live plucking of at least 13 ducks or geese. The pollution emitted by factories during this process, along with the risk of viruses, also affects environmental health. Using air in place of down and other fillers reduces harm to the environment and animals caused by purchasing.

Water repellent: Air clothing has various properties such as windproof, rainproof, breathable, quick-drying, etc., suitable for wear in various climates.

Air filling: Using air in place of down, fundamentally solving the problem of feather leakage and the residual odor from the animals themselves.

Uses VOIDTECH PRO™ 3-layer composite fabric, achieving 15,000MM waterproofing (five times higher than the standard jacket) and 15,000 G/M²/24H breathability (50% higher performance compared to C+ 1.0).

VOIDTECH PRO™ 3-layer composite fabric:70 X 160D nylon grid Taslan is responsible for insulation, firmness, and durability.

ePTFE dual-component microporous film prevents any drop of water from penetrating through the fabric.

20D nylon tricot is responsible for the comfort of the skin-facing side and the durability of the microporous film.

The 2.0's waterproofing and breathability indices have increased by 50%. The softness level, without sacrificing abrasion resistance and toughness, is 76% softer than before, greatly enhancing comfort and making it more suitable for various scenarios. The weight is 50% that of the 1.0.

Using VOIDTECH AIR™ 3-layer composite fabric, achieving 20,000MM waterproofing and 20,000 G/M²/24H breathability

The 3-layer composite fabric, each layer performing its function, achieves an effect where 1+1+1 > 3.

320T high-count Chunya textile is responsible for insulation, firmness, and durability.

PORELLE® high-transmission biomimetic film prevents any drop of water from penetrating through the fabric.

30D A-grade cool-feel soft yarn is responsible for the comfort of the skin-facing side and the durability of the high-transmission biomimetic film.

The fabric weight is only 130GSM, ensuring protection and functionality while minimizing weight.

PHP 2.0, based on the 1.0, has been adjusted to make the loading method more humane and the breathability more controllable.

How do we "Leave No Trace" through our actions?

Plan ahead thoroughly.

This means more than just choosing a departure date. Check the weather forecast, prepare clothing, and consider drinking water. Also, look into the rules and regulations of the area you'll be visiting.

Stick to designated hiking and camping areas.

While a meadow may seem like an ideal spot to camp, it's also highly susceptible to damage. It's better to camp in areas that have been used before or areas without grass. Also, always walk on trails.

Dispose of waste properly.

Never leave trash behind. Don’t discard food packaging, cans, or leftover food. Whatever you bring, you must take back with you.

Leave what doesn't belong to you.

Take your camping or hiking gear home, but remember to leave the beautiful stones or flowers. [47]

No matter which part of the ecosystem we're in, our every action or decision impacts nature, and nature is crucial. The premise of not disturbing nature should be to respect and understand it, recognizing whether our behaviors or actions will negatively affect the natural environment.

Secondly, we need to restrain ourselves and interfere as little as possible with the original ecosystems and natural laws. Based on harmonious coexistence with nature, we should pursue scientific and moderate development and experience. After all, non-disturbance is the highest form of outdoor activity. And when it comes to non-disturbance, everyone has a responsibility.

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