NATURAL DYEING: SOCIAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT AND APPLICATION OF WORKSHOPS FOR WOMEN IN VULNERABLE SITUATIONS

Abstract

The textile industry is a sector of great importance in the economy, moving billions of dollars and employing millions of people. However, due to the high use of synthetic materials and water, combined with the intensive business model and exacerbated consumption, this sector is also among those that generate the most worrying environmental and social impacts. This scenario contrasts with sustainable initiatives, such as natural dyeing, a practice that takes up ancestral methods and promotes environmentally responsible processes. Unlike synthetic dyes, natural, biodegradable and less harmful dyes stand out for reducing environmental impact and aligning with the circular economy and the Sustainable Development Goals, established by the United Nations (UN). In this context, natural dyeing reemerges as a viable alternative to mitigate the challenges of the modern textile industry. This approach offers a promising path to balancing production, sustainability, and ethics in fashion.