by Aimee Chen, Environmental Stewardship Program member, Saratoga High School Junior
Last week, I went to watch the RiverBlue documentary during one of the Environmental Stewardship Program sessions. My mom was interested as well, so she joined me.
RiverBlue is a documentary that uncovers the severe pollution of the world’s waterways caused by the fast fashion industry, particularly denim manufacturing. It highlights how toxic waste runoff from factories destroys rivers, which then negatively impacts human health due to the only safe water available becoming contaminated. It argues for a shift toward sustainable and ethical production. Filmed across several continents in places such as China, Bangladesh, India, Indonesia, and the United Kingdom, the documentary shows the impact the fashion industry has on the planet, especially due to the demand for fast fashion.
Throughout the documentary, there are countless shots of people standing in rivers, exposing themselves to chemicals as they complete daily chores such as washing clothes. The infamous Ganges, a sacred river, is shown as a dumping ground for factory waste, to the point where the water turns a murky brown. This was a moment that truly shocked me. The documentary opened my eyes to the extreme effects that commercial fast fashion has on the Earth. When people debate ethics in life, most tend to focus on wars or politics, but clothing is often overlooked. Seeing major fashion brands, companies that have the resources to make changes, fail to take action is tragic.
This reaction was not just mine; my mother had a very similar response. She was saddened to learn how much damage fast fashion causes to the environment. She said she would be more mindful when choosing brands that aim to protect our planet.
However, this may not be an option for many people who struggle to make ends meet. Most consumers will still choose the most cost-efficient option when buying clothing, even if they are aware of the environmental impacts.
The documentary brings attention to the environmental damage affecting waterways, but it does not offer clear solutions. I assume this is because the issue is not easy to fix. Still, I found myself wondering. Are there any real solutions? My mother and I actually had a conversation about this afterward.
The documentary begins with China, although the river shown there did not appear as polluted compared to later scenes from other countries. I have been to China many times, and I do not recall seeing heavily polluted rivers. My mother suggested that this may be because the water is now treated more effectively. With a stronger economy, technological innovations, and stricter environmental regulations, conditions have improved or are at least more controlled.
I cannot help but wonder if this is why the documentary does not present a clear solution. The problem cannot be solved simply by shutting down cheap factories or forcing all manufacturers to adopt more sustainable methods at a higher cost. It takes a village! We need to address priorities, embrace innovation, and implement stronger regulations.
I hope that in the future, there will be a RiverBlue Part II that shows a world with cleaner, more beautiful waterways.
After watching RiverBlue, my thoughts turned to the Permanente Creek restoration efforts near where I live. A 13-mile stream in Santa Clara County, Permanente Creek was severely degraded by industrial pollution from the Lehigh Permanente Quarry cement plant. The massive restoration of Permanente Creek, which started in July/August 2025, was the direct result of a legal battle spearheaded by the Loma Prieta Chapter of the Sierra Club.
The restoration of Permanente Creek stems from a Clean Water Act citizen lawsuit brought by the Loma Prieta Chapter of the Sierra Club through Attorney Reed Zars against Lehigh Southwest Cement Company, over longterm pollution of the creek with selenium and sediment. The case was resolved through a 2013 decree that required Lehigh to reduce discharges and restore the creek.
Although the legal win happened years earlier, the restoration work—removing contaminated mine waste and rebuilding habitat in and along the channel—did not begin until July 2025 when Heidelberg Materials (formerly Lehigh) finally secured necessary agency permits and broke ground on the project. Heavy equipment is now in the creek corridor, and the process of healing Permanente Creek is finally happening.
Securing environmental justice for Cupertino residents has been a long and difficult process, but the Loma Prieta Chapter of the Sierra Club and Attorney Zars persisted, and Permanente Creek is at last beginning to recover. However, I believe that Cupertino residents and local environmentalists will need to continue monitoring the pace and quality of the cleanup so that the restoration does not stall or weaken over time.
I am so proud of my local Sierra Club Chapter’s work!
This victory by our Loma Prieta chapter gave me hope that the many polluted rivers featured in the film will be cleaned up eventually. This local victory led by our Chapter has also inspired me to become more involved in our Chapter’s environmental work.