Author(s): Dr. Santosh Hooda

Abstract:
Today, "sustainability" is a must. Additionally, the garment and textile sectors are not an exception. The manufacturing and finishing of textiles use a tremendous quantity of chemicals and emits hazardous materials into the environment. Therefore, it is crucial to reconsider and improve the chosen ingredients as well as the processing and finishing procedures. The methods must made eco-friendly from the beginning of the manufacturing process till the fabrics are finished. Special finishes are manufactured employing plants with their innate capabilities for novel finishes like antimicrobial, fragrance, antibacterial, insect repellent, etc. as the globe moves toward all alternatives for sustainability. Some of the plant-derived herbal extracts are broadly known for having antibacterial and antifungal properties. These organic goods can be found in great abundance and are widely available. They are cheap and not processed and can be used as raw materials for required applications on human skin as well on textile substrate. These plant products do not cause any significant harm or irritation to human skin. In the present study Neem herb is used to finish the cotton fabric. The Maceration procedure was used to prepare herbal methanolic extract from Neem leaves. The methanolic Neem extract has been imparted to cotton fabric as herbal antimicrobial finish using exhaust method. The outcomes of applying two different concentrations—3 g/l and 5 g/l—were compared. In terms of bacterial reduction, the finish's antibacterial activity was quantified. The bacterial count of treated samples was retested after 5 and 15 washing cycles according to standard ISO: 6330-1984E. According to the findings, bacterial reduction also decreased with higher extract concentration. Neem has been shown to be effective against bacterial development on cotton fabric. Neem leaves can act as a suitable replacement for dangerous chemicals that are currently in use. Therefore, the current inclination towards sustainability is imperative to keep up with the future demands balancing it with wellbeing of mother earth. The herbal processes mentioned in the paper give a huge boost to sustainability in textile industry.