How can textiles ecology impact on your specialism?

As I specialise in print, Textiles ecology has a big impact on the choices I make and actions I do. Every stage of the production from, for example; cotton cultivation, dying, sampling, printing, fabric finishing, to consumers usage then the end life of which could be donation, waste or recycling. Every stage has pro's and con's, waste and improvements. Overall textiles ecology is complex and almost certainly a grey area. 

I think as a designer it is the designers responsibility to think about how consumers will use their textiles, This is compulsory when designing as each designing stage will be planned, designed and sampled for the purpose of the textiles that the consumer will be buying and using it for. From a consumer point of view I feel like designers should influence and communicate the responsibilities that are being passed to the consumer after buying textiles products such as the importance of textiles ecology. Washing and drying textiles has effects such as energy and chemical use as well as water use and contamination. Designers and the companies they work for should communicate to make improvements such as washing at 30 degrees and washing less regularly. However from a designers point of view I understand how frustrating it could be to have these strong views for textiles ecology as it depends on the company you are working for and their policy on textiles ecology and sustainability. 

As a student working weekly in a print room I can already see the impact my own current sampling process has on the environment. Waste is created at every point of the design cycle. Firstly is the waste of the fabric which is cut away to your preferred sample size, The water contamination from waste print paste and screen cleaning, chemical use from dyes and energy use from the machines such as the spinner and dryer. 

As I also specialise in commercial design and would like to work commercially in industry I worry that I will not have much textiles ecology influential impact on my designs if working for a big company, however it could depend on my professional standing in the company.