100 square feet of land per pair of jeans sounds downright reasonable to me.
Defintely more reasonable than leather pants. And if we changed the dyes/chemical treatments, 100% cotton jeans could be biodegradable with their zippers and buttons removed which is better than materials like polyester. Of course most jeans these days are a mix of materials.
“-And at home you’re probably using harmful detergents”
Wow, fuck off meme. I’m gonna buy more jeans than ever now
Without providing an alternative, this infographic (not a meme) is useless to me. For all I know, every other kind of trouser is worse. Without a source for the data, it could all just be lies.
The biggest problem is that artificial fabrics are better if you only use these measures. Nylon doesn’t require arable land, or fertilizers, nor take the place of food production. Nylon is much lighter so far more efficient to ship. I don’t know about manufacturing water or co2, but I wouldn’t be surprised if nylon wins.
This is why it’s not that easy. This is why “plastics” will be impossible to stop using. Do we really think it’s beneficial to continue down the path of fewer natural fabrics, even if common metrics say it is?
As you said , we need alternatives, including why. Some of that may be additional metrics (anyone concerned about micro plastics in wastewater?). Otherwise this just creates stress and hopelessness.
This overlooks that 100% cotton jeans will break down when they are discarded (unlike polyester and nylon). A good pair of jeans can be mended and worn for many years instead of a new pair every year. Jeans can lead a very useful “after life” as insulation or be recycled into new fabric.
It also ignores the chemicals and energy required to turn beechwood and bamboo into wearable fabric.
I don’t know what the solution is but natural fabrics aren’t the enemy.