When it comes to the environment, not all clothing materials are created equal, and choosing the right fabric can make or break your commitment to environmental sustainability.
Some materials are champions for the planet, nurturing ecosystems with every thread, while others wreak havoc, literally destroying the Earth by contributing to pollution and resource depletion.
I love nature, I love helping out the environment, and I don’t even like to mess with cool natural places in Minecraft, so that’s why I’m going to rank all the clothing materials by their eco-friendliness.
That way you can feel good about what you are wearing, reducing the size of your carbon shirt-print.
Most Eco-Friendly
Hemp
Rating: 10/10
Hemp is probably the most eco-friendly clothing material because the plants can be grown in many different climates and don’t use as much water as other materials, making them extremely sustainable at the farming stage.
Hemp Pros: Hemp grows quickly, reaching maturity in just a few months, and requires minimal water, no pesticides, and naturally improves soil health. It’s one of the least resource-intensive crops available.
Hemp plants absorb significant amounts of CO2, more than trees, acting as a carbon sink and helping to combat climate change.
Fabric made from hemp is exceptionally strong, long-lasting, and gets softer with use, reducing the need for frequent replacement of garments and thereby decreasing textile waste.
Hemp can be used for a vast array of products, from clothing to building materials, reducing reliance on less sustainable alternatives.
Hemp products are fully biodegradable, making sure they won't contribute to landfill waste or pollution.
Hemp Cons: The cultivation and processing of hemp into textiles can be more expensive due to the specialized machinery needed and the current smaller scale of production compared to conventional materials. The cost of certification for organic or sustainable practices also adds to the price.
Hemp fibers are naturally quite stiff, requiring more energy and water for processing to achieve a softer, more wearable fabric, although advancements are being made in this area.
Despite its many benefits, hemp's association with cannabis has led to regulatory hurdles in some regions, impacting its cultivation and market growth.
While interest in hemp is growing, the supply chain for hemp textiles isn't as developed as for cotton or synthetic fibers, which can affect availability and cost.
Organic Cotton
Organic cotton is another top tier clothing material when it comes to the environment on par with hemp. It provides many benefits, not just for reducing chemicals and pollution, but also for the local wildlife and farmer’s health.
Rating: 10/10
Organic Cotton Pros: Organic cotton uses far fewer chemicals than conventional cotton, promoting soil health, farmer health, and reducing the risk of chemical residues in water supplies or on the skin. It employs natural methods like crop rotation for pest control, contributing to a balanced ecosystem.
By avoiding chemical pesticides, organic cotton farming helps maintain local wildlife, supports biodiversity and creates healthier habitats for insects and other creatures.
Practices in organic cotton farming enhance soil fertility over time, using natural compost and avoiding soil degradation that can come from chemical-intensive agriculture.
Although cotton is generally water-intensive, organic methods often involve efficient irrigation techniques, reducing water use compared to conventional cotton farming.
For both farmers and wearers, organic cotton reduces exposure to harmful substances, potentially lowering health risks associated with pesticide use or skin irritation.
We wrote a whole article about
why organic cotton is great for the environment!
Organic Cotton Cons: Organic cotton typically has lower yields per acre due to the absence of synthetic aids, leading to higher costs for land, labor, and the organic certification process. This makes organic cotton more expensive for consumers.
Without chemical pesticides, pest control can be more labor-intensive, requiring more hands-on management which adds to production costs.
To meet demand, more land might be needed for organic cotton due to lower yields, which could pose challenges if not managed with sustainability in mind.
Although growing in popularity, organic cotton still represents a smaller portion of the cotton market, which can limit supply and increase costs due to the premium on organic products. However, as supply increases the price may lower.
Tencel/Lyocell
Tencel, or Lyocell, is a modern marvel in the world of sustainable clothing. This fabric is made from wood pulp, primarily from sustainably managed forests, providing a lot of environmental benefits.
Rating: 9/10
Tencel Pros: Eucalyptus trees, the primary source for Tencel, grow quickly with minimal water, no irrigation, and without the need for harmful pesticides, making it a highly sustainable raw material.
The closed-loop production process recycles up to 99% of the solvents used, drastically reducing chemical pollution and water use compared to conventional fibers. This process minimizes environmental impact.
Tencel offers a silky, smooth texture that's breathable and moisture-wicking, providing comfort similar to cotton but with a more luxurious feel.
Being made from natural cellulose, Tencel is biodegradable, ensuring that at the end of its life, it won't contribute to long-term waste and will go back where it came from.
Similar to bamboo, Tencel has natural antibacterial properties, which can extend the lifespan of garments by keeping them fresher for longer.
Tencel Cons: While the production process is highly efficient in terms of solvent reuse, it does require energy, particularly for dissolving the wood pulp and spinning the fibers. This energy use can lead to a carbon footprint, though efforts are ongoing to use renewable energy sources.
The advanced technology and sustainable manufacturing processes can make Tencel more expensive than conventional fabrics like cotton or polyester, which might be a barrier to wider adoption.
Ensuring that Tencel is produced in an environmentally friendly manner involves certifications like EU Ecolabel or OEKO-TEX, which add to the cost but are crucial for maintaining the fabric's green credentials.
While eucalyptus trees are less demanding than many crops, large-scale plantations could impact local ecosystems if not managed with biodiversity in mind.
Bamboo (Lyocell-processed, not viscose)
Bamboo, when processed with the Lyocell method, is one of the best choices in eco-friendly clothing materials, balancing sustainability with performance and comfort.
Rating: 9/10
Bamboo Pros: Bamboo is one of the fastest-growing plants, requiring no pesticides or fertilizers, which means it's naturally organic. It grows well without much water, helping conserve this precious resource.
Similar to Tencel, the Lyocell process uses a closed-loop system where solvents are recycled, significantly reducing chemical waste compared to traditional bamboo viscose processing. This method is much kinder to the environment, producing less pollution.
Products made from bamboo Lyocell can biodegrade, reducing long-term waste compared to synthetic fibers.
Bamboo Lyocell offers remarkable softness, breathability, and moisture-wicking properties, making it ideal for comfort in clothing.
Bamboo naturally has antibacterial properties, which help in reducing odors and extending the life of garments.
Bamboo Cons: Although the Lyocell process is more eco-friendly, it still requires energy to process bamboo into fabric, particularly for the dissolution and regeneration phases.
The production of bamboo Lyocell can be more expensive than conventional materials due to the specialized processing required, which might reflect in the final product's price.
While bamboo is fast-growing, extensive cultivation for textile use can lead to monoculture, potentially reducing biodiversity if not managed sustainably.
Ensuring that bamboo is sustainably sourced and processed according to green methods can be challenging, with certifications like OEKO-TEX or GOTS adding to costs but ensuring environmental claims are genuine.
Linen (Flax)
Linen stands tall in the eco-friendly material rankings, almost as good as materials above. This ancient fabric, comes from the flax plant, offers a bunch of environmental benefits, enhancing both the health of the planet and those who work the fields.
Rating: 8/10
Linen Pros: Flax is another plant that thrives with minimal water, pesticides, or fertilizers. This makes linen production less resource-intensive, particularly in terms of water, compared to other fibers like cotton.
Linen is fully biodegradable, which means at the end of its life cycle, it will decompose naturally, reducing landfill waste.
Linen is known for its strength and longevity. Garments made from linen can last for years, reducing the need for frequent replacements and thus lessening the environmental impact over time.
Linen's natural breathability and moisture-wicking capabilities make it perfect for hot climates, reducing the need for energy-intensive air conditioning.
Flax cultivation removes more carbon dioxide from the atmosphere than it produces, contributing positively to climate change mitigation.
Linen Cons: Flax requires a fair amount of land to grow, and while it's beneficial for soil health, converting large areas to flax fields could potentially impact local ecosystems if not managed sustainably.
The traditional retting process, where flax stalks are soaked to separate the fibers, can lead to water pollution if not controlled. Modern, closed-loop systems are reducing this impact, but they're not universally adopted yet.
Linen production can be labor-intensive, from harvesting to processing, which can drive up costs. The fabric's natural wrinkles also demand careful handling and often specialized care in laundering, which might not appeal to all consumers.
The yield per acre for flax is typically lower than for other crops like cotton, which might lead to higher land requirements for the same volume of fabric.
Recycled Materials (like Recycled Polyester, Recycled Wool)
Recycled materials such as recycled polyester and recycled wool, stand out in the sustainable clothing world for their significant impact on waste reduction and resource conservation.
Rating: 8/10
Recycled Materials Pros: By using recycled polyester, we keep plastic bottles out of landfills and oceans. Recycled wool repurposes textiles that would otherwise go to waste, reducing the demand for new raw materials.
The production of recycled polyester uses far less energy than virgin polyester, which means lower greenhouse gas emissions. Recycled wool similarly saves energy by bypassing the energy-intensive processes of shearing, cleaning, and dyeing new wool.
Manufacturing recycled polyester significantly reduces water use compared to creating new polyester from petroleum. Recycled wool also conserves water that would be used in the processing of virgin wool.
Although recycled materials might still need some processing, the overall use of chemicals is reduced compared to producing new materials, thus lessening pollution and health risks.
Recycled Materials Cons: Recycled materials can sometimes be of lower quality or have a less uniform texture than their virgin counterparts, which might affect the look and durability of the final product.
Recycled fibers often need to be blended with new fibers to achieve desired properties like strength or softness, which can counter some of the environmental benefits.
The color range in recycled materials, especially wool, might be limited or inconsistent due to the recycling process, which can impact fashion choice.
While it might seem counterintuitive, recycled materials can sometimes be more expensive due to the collection, sorting, and processing of waste materials, although economies of scale are gradually making these more competitive.
Moderately Eco-Friendly
Wool
Wool comes from cute little sheep, and is a natural fiber with a long history in textile production, providing warmth, durability, and a range of environmental benefits, though not without its environmental challenges.
Rating: 7/10
Wool Pros: Wool is a renewable and biodegradable material. Sheep naturally grow wool, which can be shorn annually, making it a sustainable resource if managed properly.
Wool decomposes over time, returning nutrients to the soil rather than contributing to long-term waste.
Wool's natural crimp provides excellent insulation, breathability, and moisture management, making garments comfortable in a wide range of climates.
Wool is naturally flame-resistant, adding a safety aspect to its use in textiles.
Wool fibers are strong, leading to long-lasting garments that reduce the need for frequent replacements, thus lowering environmental impact over time.
Wool Cons: Sheep farming requires land, and intensive grazing can lead to soil degradation and loss of biodiversity if not managed with rotation and rest periods for pastures.
Sheep produce methane, a potent greenhouse gas, through digestion, contributing to climate change. Sustainable farming practices aim to mitigate this but don't eliminate the issue.
The wool industry sometimes uses chemicals for processing, like in scouring or dyeing, which can have environmental impacts if not managed properly. There's also the issue of mulesing, which has animal welfare concerns.
While wool production might use less water than some crops, the processing of wool into yarn or fabric can be water-intensive, particularly in cleaning and dyeing.
Wool, especially high-quality or ethically sourced wool, can be costly due to the labor involved in shearing, processing, and the care needed for animal welfare.
Silk
Silk is known for its luxurious feel and sheen, and is traditionally extracted from silkworms, offering unique properties, but not without a few sustainability challenges.
Rating: 5/10
Silk Pros: Silk is a natural protein fiber, which means it's biodegradable, breaking down over time without contributing to long-term waste.
Silk offers unparalleled comfort, with its natural properties providing breathability, temperature regulation, and a hypoallergenic quality that benefits sensitive skin. And it just feels so smooth!
Despite its delicate appearance, silk is remarkably strong for its thickness, leading to long-lasting garments if cared for properly.
The silkworm itself requires few resources to grow, and the mulberry leaves they feed on can be cultivated sustainably.
Silk Cons: The traditional method of silk production (sericulture) involves boiling silkworms alive in their cocoons, raising ethical concerns about animal cruelty. Peace silk, where moths are allowed to emerge before harvesting, is an alternative but less common, more costly, and not as good quality.
The processing of silk, including degumming to remove sericin and dyeing, often involves harsh chemicals that can pollute water if not responsibly managed.
Silk production can be water-intensive, particularly in the rearing of silkworms and in the processing stages.
Mulberry trees or other food sources for silkworms require land, and while they can be part of agroforestry systems, large-scale production might compete with natural habitats or food crops.
Silk is labor-intensive, from rearing silkworms to harvesting and processing the fibers. This increases the cost, making silk a luxury material and potentially less accessible for sustainable practices to become mainstream.
Not Eco-Friendly
Conventional Cotton
Conventional cotton, the most widely used natural fiber globally, comes with significant environmental and social implications due to its production methods. Despite its popularity, it ranks extremely low on this list compared to other materials.
Rating: 4/10
Conventional Cotton Pros: Cotton is known for its comfort, breathability, and absorbency, making it suitable for a wide range of garments from everyday wear to high-performance textiles.
When treated with modern finishes, cotton can be quite durable, offering longevity to products.
Due to high yield and established production systems, conventional cotton is generally less expensive than organic or other specialty fibers, making it accessible to a much broader market.
As a natural fiber, cotton will eventually decompose, though this benefit is somewhat diminished by the chemicals often used in its production.
Conventional Cotton Cons: Cotton farming requires vast amounts of water, with irrigation often leading to depletion of local water resources.
Conventional cotton cultivation relies heavily on pesticides and fertilizers, which not only harm the environment but also pose health risks to farmers and workers. These chemicals can contaminate soil, water bodies, and affect biodiversity.
The intensive farming methods associated with conventional cotton can lead to significant biodiversity loss, both from habitat destruction and chemical pollution.
The cotton industry has been criticized for poor labor conditions, including child labor in some regions, highlighting extreme social issues.
Monoculture practices and chemical use can degrade soil over time, reducing its fertility and increasing the need for more synthetic inputs.
From farming to processing, cotton has a high energy footprint, contributing to greenhouse gas emissions throughout its lifecycle.
Rayon/Viscose
Rayon, often marketed as viscose, is a versatile, semi-synthetic fiber made from wood pulp or other plant materials, offering silk-like qualities. Being made from wood and other plants makes it seem like it should be good for the environment, but it’s not.
Rating: 4/10
Rayon/Viscose Pros: Rayon has a luxurious feel, similar to silk, providing comfort and excellent drape, making it popular for a variety of clothing items especially t-shirts.
It can imitate the texture of various natural fibers, allowing for a wide range of applications from casual wear to evening gowns.
Rayon is highly absorbent, which adds to its comfort, particularly in warm weather or for activewear.
As a cellulosic fiber, rayon can biodegrade, though this is contingent on the absence of synthetic blends and specific disposal conditions. Most of the time rayon is combined with other materials.
Rayon/Viscose Cons: The manufacturing of viscose involves hazardous chemicals like sodium hydroxide and carbon disulfide, which are harmful to workers' health and constant exposure can contribute to severe health issues.
The process is water and energy-intensive, with water pollution being a major issue due to chemical discharges, leading to significant environmental damage. Efforts like closed-loop systems are emerging but not yet universally adopted.
Viscose production has historically led to
significant deforestation, often targeting ancient and endangered forests for wood pulp. This not only disrupts ecosystems, but also contributes to climate change, which outweighs most of the pros.
While some brands are moving towards more sustainable practices, the majority of viscose production still has a high environmental impact, and greenwashing can confuse consumers about the true sustainability of products. Viscose is not nearly as good for the environment as we are led to believe.
Polyester
Polyester, a synthetic fiber derived from petroleum (plastic), is one of the most commonly used materials in textiles due to its durability and low cost, but it is really bad for the environment, people, and just about everything on Earth.
Rating: 2/10
Polyester Pros: Polyester is known for its toughness, resistance to wrinkles, shrinking, and stretching, making clothes last longer and reducing the need for frequent replacements.
It can be engineered to have various properties like water resistance, stretch, or quick-dry capabilities, suitable for a broad spectrum of clothing and uses.
Being produced from petroleum by-products, polyester is generally cheaper to manufacture than many natural fibers, making it accessible to a wide consumer base.
Polyester garments are often low-maintenance, requiring less washing and ironing, which can save on water and energy compared to some natural fibers.
Polyester Cons: Polyester does not biodegrade; it can take hundreds of years to break down, contributing significantly to plastic pollution
Every wash releases thousands of microfibers (microplastics) into waterways, which are detrimental to aquatic life and can enter the food chain, impacting human health as well. We all have plastic inside of us due to materials like polyester even if you have never worn it.
The production of polyester relies on non-renewable petroleum resources, contributing to climate change through its carbon footprint.
Manufacturing involves the use of petroleum, which requires energy-intensive refining, and the use of chemicals for dyeing and finishing that can pollute if not managed properly.
Polyester is not as breathable as natural fibers, which can be less comfortable in hot conditions, potentially leading to more frequent washing.
While recycling polyester is possible, it's complex, with most polyester garments ending up in landfills or incinerated because of contamination or degradation of the material over time.
Nylon
Nylon is a synthetic polymer and is renowned for its strength, elasticity, and versatility, but its environmental impact is a big concern in the fashion industry.
Rating: 2/10
Nylon Pros: Nylon is exceptionally strong and resilient, offering garments that are hard-wearing, resistant to abrasion, and able to stand up to harsh conditions.
It has excellent stretch and recovery properties, ideal for sportswear, hosiery, and other apparel requiring flexibility.
Nylon is lightweight, making it suitable for outerwear and activewear where weight is a consideration.
Can be engineered to repel water, useful in outdoor gear and performance clothing.
Nylon Cons: Like polyester, nylon is made from petroleum and does not biodegrade, contributing to long-term plastic pollution.
Nylon sheds microfibers during washing, which enter waterways, marine environments, and the human food chain, posing ecological and health risks.
The production of nylon involves energy-intensive processes, from the extraction of petroleum to the polymerization of caprolactam or adipic acid, contributing to a significant carbon footprint.
Manufacturing nylon involves chemicals that can be harmful if released into the environment, including during dyeing and finishing processes.
Nylon's reliance on petroleum makes it a contributor to the depletion of non-renewable resources and climate change.
While recycling nylon is theoretically possible, in practice, it's challenging due to the need to separate it from other materials and degradation over time, leading to most nylon ending up in landfills.
Summary
At the top of the list are the most environmentally friendly clothing materials like hemp, organic cotton, and bamboo.
A couple clothing materials that aren’t that good for the environment, but also aren’t that bad are wool and silk.
Some of the worst clothing materials for the environment are conventional cotton, polyester, and nylon.
Now What?
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