The escalating climate crisis demands urgent action, and one of the major contributors to this crisis is the fashion industry’s colossal waste issue, estimated at 92 million tons annually. This staggering figure equates to a dump truck being filled every second, according to Lisbeth Kaufman, Head of Climate Tech Startups at Amazon Web Services (AWS). Much of this waste results from defective fabric that never makes it to consumers.
The Role of Innovative Companies
Forward-thinking companies are harnessing artificial intelligence (AI) and advanced technologies to disrupt obsolete practices and reduce waste significantly. Backed by giants like AWS, these climate tech startups are not only enhancing efficiency but also transforming the future of fashion.
AWS’s Pioneering Initiatives
AWS has launched the Compute for Climate Fellowship, a program dedicated to funding and supporting tech startups aiming to combat climate change. “Our broader goal is to help climate tech startups grow and succeed,” Kaufman emphasized. One such innovative startup is Smartex, a Portuguese deep-tech company revolutionizing textile manufacturing with AI-driven defect detection.
Addressing Fabric Defects
A significant source of waste in the fabric industry is defects hidden in the fabric. Smartex is attempting to detect and rectify these shortcomings early in the production process. Smartex’s co-founder and CEO, Gilberto Loureiro, has developed a sophisticated camera system capable of capturing defects from multiple angles using varied lighting conditions, such as UV and infrared lights. This intricate setup allows the identification and halting of production for even minute errors, through machine learning models trained on billions of fabric images.
The infrastructure support provided by AWS enables Smartex to collect and process this data efficiently, demonstrating the integral role of AI in this innovative approach.
Expanding Innovations
The reach of AWS isn’t limited to Smartex alone. Among the program’s notable companies is Xatoms, a Canadian company utilizing AI to discover molecules that can purify water using solar energy. Furthermore, Hume AI is developing generative AI models to monitor and safeguard the world’s natural ecosystems, supporting habitat preservation.
Economic and Environmental Impact
Smartex’s groundbreaking technology is unique in its approach to halting issues at their source, ultimately saving manufacturers both waste and costs. “Their technology isn’t just about reducing waste; it also helps their customers save money,” Kaufman pointed out. This dual benefit makes Smartex an attractive option for companies eager to boost efficiency and reduce expenses.
Beyond Waste: The Broader Climate Impact
The fashion industry is responsible for 10% of global carbon emissions and consumes 79 trillion liters of water annually, adding to concerns about water scarcity. Fashion waste further aggravates pollution issues by contributing to non-biodegradable waste in oceans and food chains.
AI’s potential goes beyond defect detection; it also proves invaluable in minimizing excess production and overstocking. Through AI-enabled innovations, such as defect detection in manufacturing, water purification, and ecosystem monitoring, technology offers viable solutions to reduce waste and increase efficiency. This demonstrates AI’s capability in addressing environmental challenges at their root, driving sustainable practices and shaping a more responsible future for the fashion industry.
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Note: This article is inspired by content from https://www.yahoo.com/lifestyle/ways-artificial-intelligence-is-helping-disrupt-the-climate-crisis-in-fashion-across-the-globe-135706043.html. It has been rephrased for originality. Images are credited to the original source.