Sustainable Fabrics • Guide on the most ethical materials [2020] — SustainYourStyle (2024)

FAQs

What is the most ethical and sustainable fabric? ›

Certified organic cotton

Organic cotton is kinder to the planet than traditional cotton and can be one of the most sustainable fabrics.

What are the sustainable fabrics to look for on tags? There are many different eco-friendly fabrics to choose from, the most popular being bamboo, industrial hemp, recycled polyester, wool, TENCEL, soy cashmere/silk, and sustainable cotton.

Best of the best: Organic cotton and linen

See more about certifications at greenamerica.org/ethical-fashion. Linen, which is made from the flax fiber, the same plant that makes the seeds you might add to smoothies, is another greenest pick. Linen takes a lot less water to grow than cotton, even non-organic linen.

Bamboo and Organic Cotton

Bamboo fabric is among the most environmentally friendly clothing materials you can buy. Because bamboo is biodegradable, highly sustainable, and in no need of pesticides, it's a wonderful alternative to typical cotton fabrics.

SYNTHETIC FIBERS (POLYESTER, NYLON, RAYON, ACRYLIC)

Even though synthetic, or plastic-based materials do not require a large body of land to produce and they require less water in production, the consequences on the environment is appalling. Synthetic fibers are by-products of petroleum.

Polyester, acrylic, rayon, nylon and conventional cotton are the least sustainable fabrics. Polyester is often used in clothing items, and most polyesters are non-biodegradable, so it can take up to 200 years to break down if it ends up in a landfill.

Linen: Cotton's cousin linen also biodegrades when buried in the soil. Hemp: Also derived from plants not heavily processed, hemp is a biodegradable fibre. Lyocell and TENCEL^TM: A regenerated cellulosic fibre made from bamboo or wood pulp, lyocell and TENCEL^TM fibres will also biodegrade back into the earth.

Nylon and polyester

Made from petrochemicals, these synthetics are non-biodegradable as well, so they are inherently unsustainable on two counts. Nylon manufacture creates nitrous oxide, a greenhouse gas 310 times more potent than carbon dioxide.

What is the most sustainable type of clothing? ›

Organic cotton is grown without pesticides, insecticides or chemical fertilizers. Its cultivation requires far less water than conventional cotton. It can be used to produce all kinds of materials such as jersey, poplin, canvas or voile, making it a go-to option for many brands.

Hemp: Known as one of the most eco-friendly natural fabrics around, Hemp dates as far back as 8,000 B.C. Unlike cotton, it requires little to no pesticides to grow, and has the same look and feel as linen. It's a cheaper alternative to cotton and is also soft to touch.

Generally, natural fabrics like organic cotton and linen (made from plants) and Tencel (made from sustainable wood pulp) are more sustainable than man-made fabrics like Polyester and Nylon (which are petroleum-based and take hundreds of years to biodegrade).

Hemp, wool, organic cotton, soy silk, bamboo fabrics, jute, corn fiber etc are considered as eco-friendly fabrics due to their availability from nature with out any harmful effects of chemical or toxics.

Without further ado, the fabrics that are worst for the environment and human health are polyester, conventional cotton, viscose, nylon, acrylic, and spandex. While there are certainly other fabrics that are considered unsustainable, these ones are by far the worst and should be avoided when possible.