Amid growing concerns about the textile industry’s environmental impact, the pressure on finding the most sustainable fabrics is more important than ever. Unfortunately, fashion greenwashing makes it harder for you and all other consumers to figure out which materials are sustainable and which are not. So, we have to ask: Which fabrics are the most sustainable? 

The most sustainable fabrics include organic hemp, organic linen, and recycled cotton which are sourced environmentally-friendly and have a long life-cycle. In addition, recycled polyester and recycled nylon re-circulate plastic waste that would otherwise take up landfills and harm the environment.

In this article, we will walk you through the life-cycle of the most sustainable fabrics. Then, we will evaluate their sustainability, potential, and shortfalls. And in the end, we’ll show you tips for buying sustainable fabrics.

Here’s How We Assessed the Sustainability of All Fabrics

The textile industry is rife with synthetic chemicals, often from sourcing raw materials to processing them. However, there are sustainable fabric options that avoid using toxic chemicals while utilizing renewable and/or waste materials. 

“Sustainable: The ability to be maintained at a certain rate or level | Avoidance of the depletion of natural resources in order to maintain an ecological balance”

Oxford Dictionary

One way to assess the sustainability of fabrics is to go through their life-cycles and evaluate each stage’s sustainability. This life-cycle assessment (LCA) is a method to assess the environmental impacts of products and materials. Over the years, companies have strategically used LCA to research and create more sustainable products. So, let’s look at the LCA of the 10 most sustainable fabrics.

In this article, we’ll use the cradle-to-grave perspective of the LCA, examining the five stages of each fabric’s life-cycle. Where it is relevant, we also use data from cradle-to-gate assessments.

These Are the 10 Most Sustainable Fabrics

These fabrics utilize renewable and/or waste materials to lower the environmental impacts of sourcing. The many natural-based fabrics on this list are biodegradable and compostable, returning nutrition to the soil as they break down. 

Overall, these fabrics are all highly sustainable. However, the actual environmental impact of using a specific textile product depends on many factors, including: 

• the sourcing of fibers
• the type of energy used in manufacturing and usage
• the distance and mode of transportation 
• the type of energy used in the house during the usage phase. 

Let’s dive deeper into each type of fabrics and the stages of its life-cycle and find out how it can be even more sustainable. 

Organic Hemp Fabrics: Durable Natural Materials From Productive, Adaptive Plants 

The industrial hemp plant has huge potential for sustainable fabrics. The plant can easily thrive without agrochemicals, yielding a lot of fibers to make organic hemp fabrics. 

Here are the life-cycle stages of organic hemp fabrics and each stage’s sustainability assessment:

• Growing of industrial hemp plants in organic farms: The hemp plants sequester a significant amount of carbon while improving soil nutrition. Little water is needed for hemp cultivation, yet the fiber yields are the highest of any natural fiber. Organic hemp planting uses no toxic synthetic fertilizers and pesticides. This species has a wide natural range and multiple outputs (fiber, wood, oil, food, and dietary supplements).
• Manufacturing of organic hemp fabrics: Organic hemp fabric production doesn’t involve harmful synthetic chemicals. The mechanical processes to produce organic hemp can be labor-intensive and energy-demanding. 
• Transportation of organic hemp fabrics: Organic hemp fabrics typically travel from fields (where industrial hemp plants are grown) to factories, then sorting centers, shops, and consumer’s houses before going to recycling centers or landfills. The GHG emissions associated with transporting vehicles could be significant. 
• Usage of organic hemp fabrics: Organic hemp fabrics are lightweight and highly breathable. They don’t need to be washed too frequently, saving water and energy. Industrial hemp fibers are strong: three times the tensile strength of cotton. It means materials made with organic hemp fibers can last long before a replacement is needed, being more sustainable. 
• End-of-life of organic hemp fabrics: The end-of-life stage for organic hemp is sustainable because the fiber is biodegradable and compostable. 

Organic hemp fabrics are one of the most sustainable textile materials. They are durable and biodegradable materials made with natural fibers without harmful synthetic chemicals. Industrial hemp plants produce the highest fiber yield among all plant fiber crops. These plants are adaptive and typically rainfed. 

Organic Linen Fabrics: Durable, Breathable Materials From Organically Cultivated Flax Plants 

Organic linen fabrics are typically made with natural fibers from flax plants cultivated without toxic synthetic chemicals. The flax crops sequester carbon and promote biodiversity while requiring little or no irrigation. There are also linen fabrics made from bamboo (bamboo linen). 

Here are the life-cycle stages of organic linen fabrics and each stage’s sustainability assessment:

• Growing of organic flax plants: A flax field has high carbon sequestration potential and harbors rich biodiversity. Flax is a rainfed, versatile crop with a relatively short rotation (100 days). Organic flax plants are grown without toxic synthetic chemicals. 
• Manufacturing of organic linen fabrics: Organic linen fabric production doesn’t involve harmful synthetic chemicals. The mechanical processes to produce organic linen can be labor-intensive and energy-demanding. 
• Transportation of organic linen fabrics: Organic linen fabrics typically travel from flax fields to factories, then sorting centers, shops, and consumer’s houses before going to recycling centers or landfills. The GHG emissions associated with transporting vehicles could be significant. 
• Usage of organic linen fabrics: Organic linen fabrics are breathable. They don’t need to be washed too frequently, saving water and energy. Flax fibers are relatively durable: stronger and more sunlight resistant than cotton. It means materials made with flax fibers can last long before a replacement is needed, being more sustainable. 
• End-of-life of organic linen fabrics: The end-of-life stage for organic linen is sustainable because the fiber is biodegradable and compostable. 

Organic linen fabrics are among the most sustainable textile materials. They are durable and biodegradable materials made with natural fibers without harmful synthetic chemicals. The flax crop—which provides raw materials for linen fabrics—is a versatile rainfed crop. 

Recycled Cotton Fabrics: Breathable Natural Textiles Re-Circulating Waste 

Recycled cotton fabrics are cotton materials without the many adverse environmental impacts of using a lot of water, land, and energy to grow the thirsty, agrochemical-dependent cotton crop. 

Here are the life-cycle stages of recycled cotton fabrics and each stage’s sustainability assessment:

• Sourcing of recycled cotton fabrics: Utilizing cotton waste for recycled cotton fabrics reduces waste and lessens the pressure on natural resources (water and land) needed to grow new cotton crops. Sourcing discarded cotton materials is even more sustainable if the original cotton fibers were organically grown and processed (i.e., no toxic synthetic chemicals). 
• Manufacturing of recycled cotton fabrics: Manufacturing recycled cotton fabrics with discarded cotton fibers has relatively low energy consumption compared to processing virgin cotton fibers. The mechanical process of breaking down cotton waste to retrieve the fibers often shortens the fiber length and, thus, can’t be repeated indefinitely (to allow recycled cotton to be truly circular).
• Transportation of recycled cotton fabrics: Recycled cotton fabrics typically travel from various locations to collection hubs, processing factories, sorting centers, shops, and consumer’s houses before going to recycling centers or landfills. The GHG emissions associated with transporting vehicles could be significant. 
• Usage of recycled cotton fabrics: Cotton fabrics, including the recycled variety, are breathable. They don’t need to be washed too frequently, saving water and energy. Mechanically recycled cotton fibers are typically not as strong as virgin cotton fibers due to the shorter lengths of the former. 
• End-of-life of recycled cotton fabrics: The end-of-life stage for recycled cotton is sustainable because the fiber is biodegradable and compostable. Blending recycled cotton fibers with synthetic fibers increases the strength and durability of recycled wood fabrics but reduces their recyclability and degradability. 

Recycled cotton fabrics are among the most sustainable textile materials largely because recycling cotton waste reduces pressure on land, water, and other resources needed to grow new cotton plants and store discarded cotton materials. It leads to recycled cotton being a low-impact fabric compared to conventional cotton.

Recycled Wool Fabrics: Odor-Resistant Natural Textiles Re-Circulating Waste 

Recycled wool fabrics are wool materials without the many adverse environmental impacts associated with the land and water use for rearing more animals to collect their hair or fleece. 

Here are the life-cycle stages of recycled wool fabrics and each stage’s sustainability assessment:

• Sourcing of recycled wool fabrics: Utilizing wool waste for recycled wool fabrics reduces the pressure on natural resources (land and water) needed to raise “wooly animals .”Sheep and goat farming for meat and wool exacerbates climate change largely because of the potent greenhouse gas (enteric methane) emitted by these ruminant animals. Sourcing discarded wool materials is even more sustainable if the original wool fibers were organically farmed and processed (i.e., no toxic synthetic chemicals). 
• Manufacturing of recycled wool fabrics: Manufacturing recycled fabrics has high energy demand, particularly regarding breaking down wool waste to retrieve the fibers (shredding or fraying). The mechanical process of breaking down wool waste to recover the fibers often shortens the fiber length and, thus, can’t be repeated indefinitely (to allow recycled wool to be truly circular). 
• Transportation of recycled wool fabrics: Recycled wool fabrics typically travel from various locations to collection hubs, processing factories, sorting centers, shops, and consumer’s houses before going to recycling centers or landfills. The GHG emissions associated with transporting vehicles could be significant. 
• Usage of recycled wool fabrics: Wool fabrics, including the recycled variety, are odor-resistant. Wool clothing requires fewer washes than many other textile materials, saving water and energy. Mechanically recycled wool fibers are typically not as strong as virgin wool fibers due to the shorter lengths of the former. 
• End-of-life of recycled cotton fabrics: The end-of-life stage for recycled wool is sustainable because the fiber is biodegradable and compostable. Blending recycled wool fibers with synthetic fibers increases the strength and durability of recycled wood fabrics but reduces their recyclability and degradability. 

Recycled wool fabrics are a highly sustainable textile material largely because recycling wool waste reduces pressure on land, water, and other resources needed to raise animals for their hair or fleece. It leads to recycled wool being a low-impact fabric compared with conventional wool.

Recycled Polyester Fabrics: Low-Impact Textiles Re-Circulating Plastic Waste 

Recycled polyester fabrics are synthetic materials made with plastic waste that would otherwise take up landfills for centuries or get into marine environments, potentially harming animals and humans. 

Here are the life-cycle stages of recycled polyester fabrics and each stage’s sustainability assessment:

• Sourcing of recycled polyester fabrics: Utilizing plastic waste for recycled polyester fabrics avoids further depleting nonrenewable fossil fuels—the conventional raw materials for virgin polyester—and the serious adverse environmental impacts associated with extracting and refining fossil fuels. Diverting plastic waste back into usage prevents it from clogging up landfills for hundreds of years or entering water bodies where it can harm wildlife and humans. 
• Manufacturing of recycled polyester fabrics: Recycled polyester fabrics can be manufactured via mechanical recycling or chemical recycling. Mechanical recycling is more sustainable than chemical recycling because the former doesn’t depend on toxic synthetic chemicals. However, polyester fibers recycled mechanically have inferior qualities compared to ones made via the chemical route. 
• Transportation of recycled polyester fabrics: Recycled polyester fabrics typically travel from various locations to collection hubs, processing factories, sorting centers, shops, and consumer’s houses before going to recycling centers or landfills. The GHG emissions associated with transporting vehicles could be significant. 
• Usage of recycled polyester fabrics: Washing polyester fabrics, the recycled variety included, releases microplastics into water bodies, causing harm to fishes that ingest them and numerous animals further up the food chain. Due to a low moisture absorbency rate, polyester fabrics often require washing more frequently, increasing water and energy usage. Due to their shortened length, mechanically recycled polyester fibers are typically less durable than virgin polyester fibers. 
• End-of-life of recycled polyester fabrics: The end-of-life stage for recycled polyester is not sustainable because this fossil-based material is not biodegradable. Polyester fabrics, the recycled variety included, take centuries to decompose in natural environments. 

Mechanically recycled polyester fabrics are generally considered one of the most sustainable textile materials. Reusing plastic bottles or discarded polyester fibers to make recycled polyester clothes reduces the pressure on fossil fuels, the raw materials for most virgin polyester. Consequently, recycled polyester fabrics have relatively low environmental impacts, especially compared to conventional polyester. 

Recycled Nylon Fabrics: Low-Impact Textiles Re-Circulating Plastic Waste 

Recycled nylon fabrics are synthetic materials made with plastic waste that would otherwise take up landfills for centuries or enter marine environments, potentially harming animals and humans. Econyl is a well-known recycled nylon yarn produced in a closed-loop system.

Here are the life-cycle stages of recycled nylon fabrics and each stage’s sustainability assessment:

• Sourcing of recycled nylon fabrics: Utilizing plastic waste for recycled nylon fabrics avoids further depleting nonrenewable fossil fuels—the conventional raw materials for virgin nylon—and the serious adverse environmental impacts associated with extracting and refining fossil fuels. Diverting plastic waste back into usage prevents it from clogging up landfills for hundreds of years or entering water bodies where it can harm wildlife and humans. 
• Manufacturing of recycled nylon fabrics: Recycled nylon fabrics can be manufactured via mechanical recycling or chemical recycling. Mechanical recycling is more sustainable than chemical recycling because the former doesn’t depend on toxic synthetic chemicals. However, nylon fibers recycled mechanically have inferior qualities compared to ones made via the chemical route. 
• Transportation of recycled nylon fabrics: Recycled nylon fabrics typically travel from various locations to collection hubs, processing factories, sorting centers, shops, and consumer’s houses before going to recycling centers or landfills. The GHG emissions associated with transporting vehicles could be significant. 
• Usage of recycled nylon fabrics: Washing nylon fabrics, the recycled variety included, releases microplastics into water bodies, causing harm to fishes that ingest them and numerous animals further up the food chain. Due to a low moisture absorbency rate, nylon fabrics often require washing more frequently, increasing water and energy usage. Mechanically recycled nylon fibers are typically less durable than virgin nylon fibers due to their shortened fiber lengths. 
• End-of-life of recycled nylon fabrics: The end-of-life stage for recycled nylon is not sustainable because this fossil-based material is not biodegradable. Nylon fabrics, the recycled variety included, take at least decades to decompose in natural environments. 

Mechanically recycled nylon fabrics are generally considered among the most sustainable textile materials. Reusing discarded fishing nets or throwaway nylon fabrics to make recycled nylon clothes reduces the pressure on fossil fuels, the raw materials for most virgin nylon. It leads to recycled nylon generally being a low-impact fabric, especially compared to conventional nylon. 

Organic Cotton Fabrics: Breathable Natural Materials From Organically Cultivated Cotton Plants 

Organic cotton fabrics are made with natural fibers from cotton plants cultivated without toxic synthetic chemicals. In contrast, conventional cotton is notorious for polluting production, both during farming and manufacturing. 

Here are the life-cycle stages of organic cotton fabrics and each stage’s sustainability assessment:

• Sourcing of organically-cultivated cotton plants: As they grow, cotton plants sequester carbon, helping to mitigate climate change. Organic cotton plants are grown without toxic synthetic chemicals and generally need less blue water (water from rivers, groundwater, and surface water). 
• Manufacturing of organic cotton fabrics: Manufacturers of organic cotton fabrics don’t use synthetic chemicals as conventional cotton manufacturers do, especially in the dyeing and finishing processes. Manufacturing is an energy-intensive process with serious knock-on ecological impacts if fossil fuels are the main source of energy generation. 
• Transportation of organic cotton fabrics: Organic cotton fabrics typically travel from cotton fields to factories, then sorting centers, shops, and consumer’s houses before going to recycling centers or landfills. The GHG emissions associated with transporting vehicles could be significant. 
• Usage of organic cotton fabrics: Organic cotton fabrics are breathable. They don’t need to be washed too frequently, saving water and energy. 
• End-of-life of organic cotton fabrics: The end-of-life stage for organic cotton is sustainable because the fiber is biodegradable and compostable. 

Organic cotton fabrics are largely sustainable because the cotton fibers are grown and processed without harsh synthetic chemicals. They are also breathable and biodegradable, two tell-tale signs of textile sustainability. 

Lyocell Fabrics: Durable, Breathable Materials From Plants 

Lyocell fabrics are semi-natural/semi-synthetic fabrics made with plant materials. Tencel and Monocel are two examples of lyocell fabrics made in closed-loop processes where almost all chemicals are recovered and reused. 

Here are the life-cycle stages of lyocell fabrics and each stage’s sustainability assessment:

• Sourcing plant materials for lyocell fabrics: Eucalyptus is the commonly used feedstock for lyocell fabrics. As they grow, eucalyptus trees sequester carbon, mitigating the climate crisis. Eucalyptus species are highly adaptive and can grow rapidly with little irrigation or agrochemicals. 
• Manufacturing of lyocell fabrics: The organic dissolvent solution used in manufacturing lyocell fabrics can be recycled almost fully, with an inconsiderable percentage discharged as non-hazardous liquid waste. The manufacturing process of lyocell fabrics uses a lot of energy. However, part of the energy can be recovered in integrated production. 
• Transportation of lyocell fabrics: Lyocell fabrics typically travel from forests to factories, then sorting centers, shops, and consumer’s houses before going to recycling centers or landfills. The GHG emissions associated with transporting vehicles could be significant. 
• Usage of lyocell fabrics: Lyocell fabrics are breathable. They don’t need to be washed too frequently, saving water and energy. Lyocell fibers are very strong: strong enough even for conveyor belts. It means lyocell fabrics can last long before a replacement is needed, being more sustainable. 
• End-of-life of lyocell fabrics: The end-of-life stage for lyocell is sustainable because the fiber is biodegradable and compostable. 

Lyocell fabrics are largely sustainable because they are derived from fast-growing, adaptive plants. They are breathable, durable, and biodegradable, three tell-tale signs of textile sustainability. 

Ramie Fabrics: Durable Natural Materials From Chinese Nettle Plants 

Ramie fabrics are made with natural fibers from Chinese nettle—one of the oldest fiber crops. Chinese nettle can grow with little irrigation and agrochemicals while providing fibers repeatedly. 

Here are the life-cycle stages of ramie fabrics and each stage’s sustainability assessment:

• Sourcing of fibers for ramie fabrics: Growing Chinese nettle plants, particularly long-term cultivation, for ramie fibers, has climate benefits via carbon sequestration. This fiber crop can be harvested up to 6 times a year. Ramie fiber crop is also not water-intensive. It can produce a high fiber yield without excessive pesticides, herbicides, and fertilizers. 
• Manufacturing of ramie fabrics: Similarly to other bast fibers (hemp, linen), the mechanical processes used in ramie fabric manufacturing demand a lot of energy. Unlike linen and hemp, which can be degummed without toxic chemicals (dew retting), large-scaled ramie fibers often undergo a chemical-intensive degumming process.
• Transportation of ramie fabrics: Ramie fabrics typically travel from fields (where Chinese nettle plants are grown) to factories, then sorting centers, shops, and consumer’s houses before going to recycling centers or landfills. The GHG emissions associated with transporting vehicles could be significant. 
• Usage of ramie fabrics: Ramie fibers are very strong and can hold shape well, enabling ramie fabrics to last long before a replacement is needed. 
• End-of-life of ramie fabrics: The end-of-life stage for ramie is sustainable because the fiber is biodegradable and compostable. 

Ramie fabrics are generally considered sustainable, mainly because they are durable and biodegradable. Ramie’s raw materials come from a low-input, repeated-yield crop. 

Piñatex Fabrics: Durable, Breathable Materials From Pineapple Leave Waste

Piñatex is a leather alternative made with plant-based materials: one part corn-based polylactic acid (PLA) and four parts pineapple fibers from pineapple leaves, which are usually thrown away after fruit harvest. 

Here are the life-cycle stages of Piñatex fabrics and each stage’s sustainability assessment:

• Sourcing of plant materials for Piñatex fabrics: Using pineapple leaves to make Piñatex fabrics prevents the release of greenhouse gases and other pollutants when pineapple leaves are often burned. Burning the leaves is a common waste disposal practice after harvesting pineapple fruits. As pineapple leaves are a by-product of an existing industry, they require no extra environmental resources (like water or land). Piñatex fabrics also use a bioplastic derived from corn. 
• Manufacturing of Piñatex fabrics: Piñatex production is closed-loop, it starts from waste yet yields no waste. Fiber processing is done mechanically without toxic chemicals. The dyeing pigments are GOTS-certified and the resin top coating is REACH-compliant.
• Transportation of Piñatex fabrics: Piñatex fabrics typically travel from fields to factories, then sorting centers, shops, and consumer’s houses before going to recycling centers or landfills. The GHG emissions associated with transporting vehicles could be significant. 
• Usage of Piñatex fabrics: Piñatex tends not to be as strong as animal leather and, thus, wouldn’t last as long. However, its relatively high flex resistance makes it partially durable for clothing items that don’t bear high forces, such as handbags or jackets (rather than shoes). 
• End-of-life of Piñatex fabrics: The end-of-life stage for Piñatex is not as sustainable as other plant-based fabrics on this list because the material is not fully biodegradable. It is because Piñatex contains PLA, a bioplastic made with corn. 

Piñatex is generally considered a sustainable textile material alternative to animal leather. 80% of raw materials for Piñatex fabrics come from pineapple leaves, an agricultural waste from the pineapple fruit industry. Piñatex fabric production is a closed-loop mechanical process without synthetic chemicals. 

How Can You Buy Fabrics More Sustainably

The key to sustainably buying fabrics is to check on relevant environmental and original certifications. 

For natural fabrics: 

• Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS): A globally-recognized certification system that ensures a certain threshold of organic content has been met. It covers manufacturing, packaging, labeling, transportation, and distribution (but not what happens in the fields where crops are grown). 
• USDA Certified Biobased Product: The USDA BioPreferred® Certification is a voluntary certification offered by the United States Department of Agriculture. The certification identifies products made from plants or other renewable materials.
• Ecolabel: Ecolabel is the official European Union voluntary label recognized worldwide for certified products with a guaranteed, independently-verified low environmental impact. The label requires high environmental standards throughout the entire life-cycle: from raw material extraction through production and distribution to disposal. It also encourages companies to develop innovative, durable, easy-to-repair, and recyclable products. 

For plant-based semi-natural/semi-synthetic fabrics:

• Forest Stewardship Council: An FSC certification ensures that the wood (or wood-like material) comes from responsibly managed forests that provide environmental, social, and economic benefits. There are two types of FSC Certification: 
  • FSC Forest Management Certification, with a focus on the origin of the wood—the forest. 
  • FSC Chain of Custody Certification, which focuses on the path from the forest to the customer’s home. 

• Program for Endorsement of Forest Certification: PEFC’s approaches to sustainable forest management are in line with protecting the forests globally and locally and making the certificate work for everyone. Getting a PEFC certification is strict enough to ensure the sustainable management of a forest is socially just, ecologically sound, and economically viable but attainable not only by big but small forest owners.

For recycled fabrics:

• Recycled Claim Standard (RCS): The Textile Exchange RCS was originally developed as an international, voluntary standard that sets requirements for third-party certification of Recycled input and chain of custody. 
• The Global Recycled Standard (GRS): The Global Recycled Standard (GRS) is an international, voluntary, full product standard that sets requirements for third-party certification of Recycled Content, chain of custody, social and environmental practices, and chemical restrictions. It can be used for any product with more than 20% recycled material.

For all types of fabrics:

• STeP by OEKO-TEX®: STeP by OEKO-TEX® is an independent certification system for brands, retailers, and manufacturers from the textile and leather industry. It communicates organizational environmental measures, including reducing carbon footprint and water usage.
• OEKO-TEX^® Standard 100: OEKO-TEX® labels aim to ensure that products pose no risk to human health (i.e. containing banned chemicals). 

Some certifications that are signaling brands’ efforts toward lowered environmental impacts and a circular economy are: 

• B Corp Certification: The label B Corp is a certification reserved for for-profit companies. Certified holders are assessed on their social and environmental impacts. 

• Cradle2Cradle certification: Cradle2Cradle provides a standardized approach to material circularity. It assesses whether products have been suitably designed and made with the circular economy in mind covering five critical categories: material health, material reuse, renewable energy and carbon management, water stewardship, and social fairness.

Why Is It Important to Buy Products Made of More Sustainable Fabrics

It is important to buy products made of more sustainable fabrics because a sustainable textile industry has a lower carbon footprint, helps save natural resources, and is better for forests, animals, and humans. 

Buying Sustainable Fabrics Reduces Your Carbon Footprint 

The production of clothing and footwear is estimated to contribute 10% of global greenhouse gas emissions – more than all international flights and shipping combined. If the fashion industry were a country, it would be the fourth largest emitter of carbon dioxide. 

One way to reduce the carbon footprint of the clothes you buy is to opt for sustainable fabrics. Sustainable fabrics, which are often made with natural or recycled fibers, have relatively low carbon footprints compared to petroleum-based fabrics. For example, organic cotton made in the US has a carbon footprint of 2.35 kg CO₂ (per ton of spun fiber) – a quarter of polyester’s carbon footprint. 

Buying Sustainable Fabrics Reduces Demand For Natural Resources and Waste Management

The textile industry uses water and land to grow cotton and other fibers. It is estimated that 79 billion cubic meters of water were used for the sector worldwide in 2015. For example, producing a single cotton t-shirt requires as much water as one person drinks for 2.5 years (2,700 liters of fresh water).

Worse yet, the textile economy is vastly more linear than circular: the largest amount of resources used in clothes ended up in landfill (instead of being recycled to remake clothes). According to a report by the Ellen MacArthur Foundation,

• Less than 3% of materials used in the textile economy in 2015 came from recycled sources.
• In other words, more than 97% of resources used in making clothes are newly extracted. 

When clothing items are disposed of within a short period of time – under a year in the case of half of the fast fashion clothes – the natural systems that provide raw materials for fabrics don’t have enough time to recover and regenerate, which could lead to ecological breakdown. 

Sustainable fabrics are made with less water and emissions while lasting longer:

• Because they are durable, you don’t need to buy new clothes too often. 
• Thus, you help reduce the pressure to extract more resources for making new items. 

Similarly, making and consuming sustainable fabrics made with recycled materials reduces the demand for virgin materials while helping tackle waste management. 

Buying Sustainable Fabrics Encourages Sustainable Management of Forests

Sustainable plant-based fabrics are made with raw materials from forests and plantations that are sustainably managed, such as complying with FSC standards. 

When you buy sustainable plant-based fabrics, you discourage unsustainable forestry practices like illegal logging. You can help reduce deforestation, biodiversity loss, and the effect of climate change. 

Buying Sustainable Fabrics Encourages Fairer Treatment of Animals 

The fashion industry is rife with animal mistreatment when it comes to making animal-based fabrics like wool or silk. Every year, billions of animals suffer and die for clothing and accessories.

Buying sustainable vegan alternatives can help to reduce the pressure on raising more and more animals to meet the demand for animal-based fabrics while sacrificing their well-being and lives. 

Suppose you have to buy fabrics made with, for example, wool or silk; make sure you only choose brands committed to cruelty-free products. In that case, you help advocate better treatments for animals raised within the textile industry. 

Using Sustainable Fabrics Encourages Fairer Treatment of Textile Workers 

Recent statistics from UNICEF estimated as many as 170 million child laborers worldwide, many of whom were engaged in some form of work in the textile industry. They don’t get paid minimum wages and often work long hours. 

When you buy sustainable fabrics from brands transparent about the working conditions at their factories, you discourage the use of child labor and help promote better working conditions for textile workers.

Final Thoughts

To recap, the most sustainable fabrics are as follows: 

1. Organic Hemp
2. Organic Linen
3. Recycled Cotton
4. Recycled Wool
5. Recycled Polyester
6. Recycled Nylon 
7. Organic Cotton
8. Lyocell 
9. Ramie
10. Piñatex

These fabrics utilize easily renewable materials and/or waste to lower the environmental impacts of sourcing. The nature-based fabrics are either free of toxic synthetic chemicals or relatively low in chemical usage and disposal. 

To make it even more sustainable to use these fabrics, follow these steps:

1. Buy second-hand, recycled, or upcycled clothes made with these fabrics.
2. While using these fabrics, maximize the number of wears between washes and keep them as long as possible.
3. At the end-of-life of the fabrics, upcycle materials to extend their usage and arrange for them to be recycled or properly disposed of to.

Stay impactful,

Sources

• Science Direct: Life-cycle assessment (LCA)
• MIT SMR: Strategic Sustainability Uses of Life-Cycle Analysis
• European Environment Agency: Cradle-to-Grave
• Science Direct: Cradle-to-Gate Assessment
• Impactful Ninja: How Sustainable Are Organic Hemp Fabrics? A Life-Cycle Analysis
• Impactful Ninja: How Sustainable Are Organic Linen Fabrics? A Life-Cycle Analysis
• Impactful Ninja: How Sustainable Are Recycled Cotton Fabrics? A Life-Cycle Analysis
• Impactful Ninja: How Sustainable Are Recycled Wool Fabrics? A Life-Cycle Analysis
• Impactful Ninja: How Sustainable Are Recycled Polyester Fabrics? A Life-Cycle Analysis
• Impactful Ninja: How Sustainable Are Recycled Nylon Fabrics? A Life-Cycle Analysis
• Impactful Ninja: How Sustainable Are Organic Cotton Fabrics? A Life-Cycle Analysis
• Impactful Ninja: How Sustainable Are Lyocell Fabrics? A Life-Cycle Analysis
• Impactful Ninja: How Sustainable Are Ramie Fabrics? A Life-Cycle Analysis
• Impactful Ninja: How Sustainable Are Piñatex Fabrics? A Life-Cycle Analysis
• GoodEarth Resources: The Role of Industrial Hemp in Carbon Farming
• CFDA: HEMP
• Sew Port: What is Hemp Fabric: Properties, How its Made and Where
• FIBRE2FASHION: Hemp Fiber – Eco Friendly Fabric
• Impactful Ninja: How Sustainable Are Bamboo Fabrics? A Life-Cycle Analysis
• Alliance for European Flax-Linen & Hemp: Everything you need to know about European flax
• CFDA: FLAX (LINEN)
• Madehow: Linen
• Impactful Ninja: How Sustainable Are Cotton Fabrics? A Life-Cycle Analysis
• Wageningen Food and Biobased Research: Textiles for Circular Fashion: The Logic behind Recycling Options
• Impactful Ninja: How Sustainable Are Wool Fabrics? A Life-Cycle Analysis
• European Commission: Methane emissions
• MDPI: Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) of MWool® Recycled Wool Fibers
• Woolmark: RESEARCH |Wool reduces body odour
• International Wool Textile Organization: How Wool Reduces Climate Impact
• Impactful Ninja: How Sustainable Are Polyester Fabrics? A Life-Cycle Analysis
• WORLD WILDLIFE FUND: OIL AND GAS DEVELOPMENT: OVERVIEW
• European Bioplastics: MECHANICAL RECYCLING
• Ellen MacArthur Foundation: A New Textiles Economy: Redesigning fashion’s future
• Intechopen: Natural Fibers: The Sustainable Alternatives for Textile and Non-Textile Applications
• FABRIC INSIGHT: UNEXPECTED SUSTAINABILITY: RECYCLED AND BIODEGRADABLE POLYESTER AND POLYAMIDE
• Impactful Ninja: How Sustainable Are Econyl Fabrics? A Life-Cycle Analysis
• Impactful Ninja: How Sustainable Are Nylon Fabrics? A Life-Cycle Analysis
• Cottonique: HOW LONG WILL IT TAKE FOR FABRICS TO DECOMPOSE?
• Textile Exchange: THE LIFE CYCLE ASSESSMENT OF ORGANIC COTTON FIBER – A GLOBAL AVERAGE – SUMMARY OF FINDING
• Impactful Ninja: How Sustainable Are TENCEL^TM Fabrics? A Life-Cycle Analysis
• Launch: JONNY KRISTIANSEN: MONOCEL
• DownToEarth: Why Eucalyptus?
• Lenzing: Technologies
• Puratium: What Is Lyocell Fabric & Why Is It a Sustainable Material
• Research Gate: Life Cycle Assessment of man-made cellulose fibres
• The Guardian: Pulp fabric: everything you need to know about lyocell
• MAKE FASHION BETTER: What is Lyocell Fabric and is it Sustainable?
• Science Direct: Geoderma | Perennial ramie cropping sustainably increases C sequestration of subtropical upland soils
• Eco World: What Material is Ramie?
• TRVST: What is Ramie? Sustainability, Pros, and Cons
• Impactful Ninja: How Sustainable Are Hemp Fabrics? A Life-Cycle Analysis
• Impactful Ninja: How Sustainable Are Linen Fabrics? A Life-Cycle Analysis
• Science Direct: The Textile Institute Book Series | Sustainable Fibres and Textiles | 3 – Sustainable production of bast fibres
• MDPI: Aerospace | Life Cycle Assessment of Ramie Fiber Used for FRPs
• Research Gate: Evaluation of Ramie Fibre Quality: A Review
• Ananas-Anam: FAQ
• Ananas-Anam: Ananas Anam: the pioneers of innovative natural textiles from waste pineapple leaves.
• Ananas-Anam: Responsibility
• Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS): Home
• ECHA – EUROPEAN CHEMICALS AGENCY: Understanding REACH
• Utrecht University: Innovative Leather Alternatives: A Short- Lived Trend or the Future of Fashion?
• Impactful Ninja: How Sustainable Are Natural Fabrics? A Life-Cycle Analysis
• Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS): Home
• BioPreferred: WHAT IS THE BIOPREFERRED PROGRAM?
• European Commission: Environment | EU Ecolabel
• Impactful Ninja: How Sustainable Are Semi-Natural/ Semi-Synthetic Fabrics? A Life-Cycle Analysis
• Forest Stewardship Council
• FSC Forest Management Certification
• FSC Chain of Custody Certification
• Program for Endorsement of Forest Certification
• Textile Exchange: The RCS and GRS are designed to boost the use of recycled materials.
• OEKO-TEX: Certification according to STeP by OEKO-TEX®
• OEKO-TEX^® Standard 100: Home
• B Corp Certification: Home
• C2CCertified: Home
• European Parliament: The impact of textile production and waste on the environment (infographic)
• Science Direct: The challenge of “Depeche Mode” in the fashion industry – Does the industry have the capacity to become sustainable through circular economic principles, a scoping review
• Science Direct: Carbon Footprint of Textile and Clothing Products
• European Parliament: Environmental impact of the textile and clothing industry
• European Parliament: What if fashion were good for the planet?
• Ellen MacArthur Foundation: A New Textiles Economy: Redesigning fashion’s future
• McKinsey: Style that’s sustainable: A new fast-fashion formula
• Forest Stewardship Council: Home
• Our World in Data: Deforestation and Forest Loss
• Our World in Data: Renewable Energy
• Peta: Animals Used For Clothing
• The Guardian: Child labour in the fashion supply chain