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The Realist Idealist: Trying to undress my ‘water footprint’

Posted by: Maven on March 13, 2010 at 7:50 am

From the Los Angeles Times:

“I used to look at my closet and see clothes. These days, whenever I cast my eyes upon the stacks of shoes and hangers of shirts, sweaters and jackets, I see water. Specifically, I see the “virtual water” used to make it all.

It takes 569 gallons to manufacture a T-shirt, from its start in the cotton fields to its appearance on store shelves. A pair of running shoes? 1,247 gallons.

Until last fall, I’d been oblivious to my “water footprint,” which is defined as the total volume of freshwater that is used to produce goods and services, according to the Water Footprint Network. The Dutch nonprofit has been working to raise awareness of freshwater scarcity since 2008, but it was through something called the “Green Blue Book,” by Thomas M. Kostigen, that I was able to see how my own actions factored in. … “

Continue reading this article from the Los Angeles Times by clicking here.

March 13, 2010 · Filed Under Conservation

Comments

One Response to “The Realist Idealist: Trying to undress my ‘water footprint’”

  1. Another Unemployed Californian on March 13th, 2010 8:51 am

    >It takes 569 gallons to manufacture a T-shirt, from its start in the cotton fields to its appearance on store shelves. A pair of running shoes? 1,247 gallons.

    the problem with this logic is that California regulations make it impossible for t-shirts or running shoes to be manufactured in California – and in the places outside of california where these products are manufactured, water is not a scarce commodity.

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