Amid growing concerns about the textile industry’s environmental impact, there is pressure to find greener clothes for your wardrobe, from work blazers to smart casual hoodies. Unfortunately, fashion greenwashing makes it harder for you and all other consumers to figure out which clothing brands offer the most eco-friendly garments. So, we had to ask: Which are the most sustainable hoodie brands?

The most sustainable hoodie brands are Happy Earth Apparel, PANGAIA, and Patagonia, which use low-impact materials, reduce carbon emissions, and strive for circularity. Also, Tentree and Colorful Standard are notable for minimizing chemical use and textile waste. 

Whether you are searching for a comfortable or chic hoodie to add to your wardrobe without negatively impacting the soil, water, animals, and other people, there is a brand for you. So, let’s keep reading to learn more about the most sustainable hoodie brands and how they ensure sustainable, ethical practices. 

Here’s How We Selected the Most Sustainable Hoodie Brands

The fast fashion industry has pushed for casual hoodies to be trend-dependent and easily replaceable, leading to the huge adverse environmental impacts of making and landfilling garments, especially when made with certain high-impact materials like conventional cotton or virgin synthetic fabrics. 

“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

The brands on this list were chosen based on their commitment and actions to promote sustainable practices while reducing the environmental impacts of the textile industry. 

They are transparent about their materials, processes, and workforce management within their supply chain. 

Some brands focus their efforts on reducing waste and optimizing natural resources while others strive to reduce the carbon footprint of their clothes. 

All of these brands share the commitment to reshape the textile industry toward a more sustainable and Earth-friendly sector. 

These Are the 9 Most Sustainable Hoodie Brands

Most Sustainable Hoodie Brands

Happy Earth Apparel | Visit online shop

PANGAIA | Visit online shop

Patagonia | Visit online shop

Tentree | Visit online shop

Colorful Standard | Visit online shop

Girlfriend Collective | Visit online shop

Paka | Visit online shop

Pact | Visit online shop

Threads 4 Thought | Visit online shop

Overall, these hoodie brands are sustainable. Yet, they take various approaches to reduce environmental impacts and uphold ethical standards. Let’s dive into each brand and find out more. 

Happy Earth Apparel: Earth-First Organic Clothing Brand 

Happy Earth Apparel was founded in New Jersey in 2015 by two scientists—David Winters and Victoria Gennaro—with a vision to build a platform and community that made environmental conservation, sustainability, and advocating for the planet their core values. Today, they are a B Corporation recognized for organic apparel and their giving-back efforts. Happy Earth Apparel also has a selection of organic hoodies.

“We’re not cool with compromise when it’s at the expense of our world. We’ll find a good way to do something, or we won’t do it.”

Happy Earth Apparel 

Happy Earth Apparel ensures sustainability by sourcing sustainable and organic textile materials, using recycled and recyclable packaging, and reducing waste. Firstly, Happy Earth Apparel uses a high proportion of organic cotton. For example, their All-Gender Beach Break Hoodie is made with 100% organic cotton. Secondly, they use 100% post-consumer, recycled plastic to make durable packaging bags that can be recycled again. Also, these bags are lightweight, cutting down on transporting emissions and costs. Thirdly, Happy Earth Apparel has waste-reduction incentives regarding plastic (shipping in bulk), water (wastewater recycling and rain harvesting), and textile (low-waste cutting techniques). Furthermore, Happy Earth Apparel is Climate Neutral Certified for reducing and offsetting their emissions. They also use solar energy in their supply chain to reduce their carbon emissions. Regarding emissions that can’t be avoided, they offset them through clean energy projects in the US, Uganda, India, and China. These include providing energy-efficient stoves, capturing methane, and installing biodigesters in rural homes that convert manure waste into gas for cooking. 

Happy Earth Apparel ensures their ethics by binding suppliers with a Code of Conduct covering four of ILO’s Fundamental Principles and Rights at Work. Additionally, over 95% of their products are made in Fairtrade-certified factories, while part of their final production stage is certified by Worldwide Responsible Accredited Production (WRAP). Finally, Happy Earth Apparel traces most of their supply chain. 

Happy Earth Apparel actively participates in giving-back programs. As a member of 1% for the Planet, they are committed to donating a minimum of 1% of their revenue to charitable organizations through their Tree Planting, Climate Change, and Trash Clean-Up projects. For example, customers can choose to plant five trees for every purchase. 

• Best for: womenswear, menswear
• Product range: shirts, T-shirts, sweatshirts, hoodies, jackets, bottoms, dresses, pants, leggings, shorts, socks, accessories 
• Price range: $$
• Size range: XXS–XXL

PANGAIA: Comfort-Focused Clothing Made Sustainably With Innovative Textiles 

PANGAIA was founded in London, England, in 2011 by Miroslava Duma with the goal of designing an Earth-positive business model where their products are better for the planet than if they did not exist. Today, they are recognized as a sustainable brand at the intersection of science, purpose, and design, as well as for their philanthropy efforts. PANGAIA also has extensive collections of hoodies for women and men. 

“ Every product we create is born from science and purpose, each solving an environmental problem of the industry. ”

PANGAIA 

PANGAIA ensures sustainability by diversifying materials options and shifting toward circular systems in which they regenerate nature, design out waste and pollution, and keep products and materials in use. Regarding sourcing materials, they opt for low-impact materials from nature and introduce new and lower-impact alternatives when possible. PANGAIA has also established their Preferred Material List (PML), which is diligently assessed based on a variety of criteria, including end-of-life pathways, visibility of the supply chain and raw material inputs, LCA results, certifications, chemical and water intensity, recycled and diverted waste streams, geographical provenance, end-use of the material, and performance against conventional alternatives. In 2022, 29% of PANGAIA’s collections were made with the top two most sustainable materials on this list, which include natural fabrics made fully with organic cotton, regenerative cotton, organic linen, organic hemp, organic kapok, regenerative cashmere, and recycled cashmere. They also make use of innovative materials to replace high-impact traditional fabrics, for example, plant-based, ethically-sourced FLWRDWN™ to replace goose and duck down, FRUTFIBER™ to replace conventional cotton, or bio-based material MIRUM^® to replace animal and synthetic leather. Further down the life-cycle in the manufacturing stage, PANGAIA applies innovative treatments to reduce waste and water use. These include AIR INK^®, miDori^® bioWick, and the bioengineered dye technology COLORFIX. 

PANGAIA binds suppliers in a Code of Conduct that covers all of the ILO’s Four Fundamental Freedoms principles. They also make statements regarding Diversity and Inclusion, Modern Slavery, Child Labour & Young Workers Policy, and Human Rights Policy. On top of that, they trace most of their supply chain, including all of the final stages of production. In 2022, they extended their transparency by mapping and publishing their Tier 1 subcontractors and Tier 2 suppliers while having 95% of their suppliers audited by a third party. 

PANGAIA has been part of various philanthropic programs since their inception. They plant a mangrove tree for every product sold. PANGAIA is also a member of 1% for the Planet, meaning that with every product you buy from them, a sum is going toward supporting the planet in one way or another. For example, through their partnership with Milkywire, PANGAIA launched two grassroots funds, Tomorrow Tree and Bee the Change, working collaboratively with communities in various conservation initiatives. They also partner with Coral Gardeners, an organization dedicated to saving our oceans’ coral reefs, which are in rapid decline. Additionally, they provide financial and in-kind support for humanitarian causes such as support for refugees and displaced people, racial justice and LGBTQIA+ rights, frontline workers, and young people. 

• Best for: womenswear, menswear, kidswear
• Product range: hoodies, knitwear, outerwear, sweatshirts, tops, T-shirts, pants, denim, shorts, activewear, gloves, hats, socks, accessories 
• Price range: $$$$
• Size range: XS–XL

Patagonia: Everyday Wear for Those Who Care

Patagonia was founded in California in 1973 by Yvon Chouinard as a small climbing equipment company committed to environmental responsibility and outdoor adventure. Today, they are a global leader in sustainable outdoor apparel, crafting high-quality, eco-friendly products and calling for change in the “business as usual“ way to tackle the climate crisis and protect the planet. Patagonia also has a range of hoodies for both men and women. 

“Together, we can prioritize purpose over profit and protect this wondrous planet, our only home.”

Patagonia

Patagonia puts sustainability at the center of their operation. They work to reduce, rather than simply offset, carbon emissions where it matters the most: in the supply chain and material manufacturing. They reduce their carbon footprint by removing high-impact virgin fossil-based fibers from their collections, using “Environmental Profit and Loss” to guide their production decision, and helping their suppliers to cut emissions. For example, Patagonia’s fall 2023 collection was made up mostly of preferred materials (91% by fabric weight), including Regenerative Organic Certified fibers, hemp, man-made cellulose fibers, recycled cotton, and recycled polyester. On top of that, Patagonia’s Worn Wear Program encourages customers to repair and recycle their products, extending the textile lifecycle and reducing waste. Lastly, Patagonia is certified as a B Corporation and a Bluesign^® brand. 

Patagonia commits to fair trade practices. Through the partnership with Fair Trade USA, they currently produce 86% of their clothes in 20 Fair Trade Certified™ factories. Patagonia pays a premium for every item produced in such factories, accumulating in a fund for workers to use in their chosen community projects, whether in healthcare or parent support or to withdraw as a cash bonus. Additionally, they have various social responsibility programs to prevent harm and create positive impacts on the lives of apparel workers in their supply chain. These include the Fair Labor Association, the Living Wage Program, the Migrant Workers Program, and the Responsible Purchasing Practices. Patagonia is also fully transparent about the locations of their facilities and suppliers. 

Since 1985, Patagonia has pledged 1% of sales annually to environmental causes. They have awarded over $89 million in cash and kind donations to domestic and international grassroots environmental groups, making a difference in their local communities. In 2022, the founder of Patagonia gave away his family’s ownership of the company to the newly created Patagonia Purpose Trust and the not-for-profit organization Holdfast Collective, ensuring that all future profits from the company are used to fight the climate and extinction crisis. 

• Best for: kidswear, menswear, womenswear 
• Product range: shirts, pants, jackets, blazers, hoodies, sweatshirts, T-shirts, shorts, plus-size
• Price range: $$$ 
• Size range: XXS–XXXL

Tentree: A Lifestyle Clothing Brand That Plants Trees for Every Item Purchased

Tentree was founded in Vancouver, Canada, in 2012 by brothers Derrick and Kalen Emsley with a vision to combat deforestation and climate change by planting 10 trees for every item sold. Today, they are a prominent eco-conscious apparel brand, promoting various climate actions beyond planting trees and restoring ecosystems. Tentree also sells hoodies for both men and women. 

“ We believe the future of business is restorative.”

Tentree 

Tentree ensures sustainability by planting trees, promoting circularity, opting for low-impact fabrics, and attaining responsible packaging. Since their inception, they have planted more than 100,000,000 trees, which helps regenerate ecosystems, capture carbon, and provide forestry jobs in communities around the world. Together with textile recycler SuperCircle and resale guru Treet, Tentree has created an integrated solution to resell or recycle pre-loved Tentree clothing items, keeping them in circulation and out of landfills. Tentree also uses eco-friendly fabrics and blends, including organic cotton, hemp, recycled polyester, and TENCEL™. Regarding packaging, they replaced all single-use plastics with FSC-certified and 100% recycled paper. Finally, they have B Corporation and Climate Neutral certifications. 

Tentree enforces fair labor practices by collaborating only with manufacturers and suppliers that guarantee a safe and respectful environment for their employees. They also regularly audit their partner facilities to ensure compliance with their Code of Conduct and international labor standards. Part of their supply chains is certified by organizations that protect workers, such as Fair Wear Foundation, Global Organic Textile Standard, Sedex Members Ethical Trade Audit, and Worldwide Responsible Accredited Production – WRAP. Additionally, Tentree commits to protecting forests through their paper, packaging, and fabric choices. 

Giving back is a cornerstone of Tentree’s mission. Tentree plants 10 trees worldwide for every item purchased, contributing to reforestation and combating climate change. In 2022 alone, their customers helped plant over 22 million trees across nine countries, restoring over 2,000 hectares of terrestrial forests, over 1,000 hectares of coastal mangrove forests, and hundreds of hectares of marine land. 

• Best for: kidswear, menswear, womenswear
• Product range: T-shirts, tank tops, shirts, sweaters, cardigans, dresses, pants, hoodies, dresses, shorts, skirts, joggers, jackets, coats, underwear
• Price range: $$
• Size range: XXS–XXL

Colorful Standard: Hoodies Made With Organic and Recycled Materials

Colorful Standard was founded in Copenhagen, Denmark, in 2017 by entrepreneur Tue Deleuran to “shake up” the fashion industry in terms of standards of ethics. Today, their organic, nature-inspired, colorful apparel is available at over 1,100 retailers with flagship stores in France, Switzerland, Germany, England, Belgium, and Denmark. Colorful Standard also sells a selection of organic hoodies for both men and women.

“Our brand centers around the fact that we don’t care much for seasons or trends, instead, we create timeless and long-lasting products to avoid the downward spiral that is over-consumption.”

Colorful Standard

Colorful Standard ensures their sustainability by sourcing low-impact materials, minimizing waste, and striving to extend the product lifespan. Firstly, they source 100% eco-friendly textile materials, specifically organic cotton and GRS-certified recycled merino wool, saving water and energy while avoiding harmful chemicals. Also, all the dyes they use to develop their various shades are certified by OEKO-TEX^® as being thoroughly tested for harmful chemicals. Colorful Standard further ensures that all labels and boxes come from recycled plastics and FSC-certified paper. Secondly, their waste reduction approaches include garment dyeing instead of piece dyeing to save water, precise laser cutting to keep fabric waste to a bare minimum, and utilizing fabric scraps as furniture filling. Lastly, they design timeless essentials that withstand the test of time by using high-quality materials and advising on proper garment care. 

Colorful Standard traces most of their supply chain. Their final production stage happens in Portugal, a medium-risk country for labor abuse. They manufacture in-house at their own manufacturing center, RTG Textiles, to ensure ethics in the supply chain. They state that they work under the European Labour Law, which ensures that all employees at their manufacturing center work fair hours for fair wages. 

Colorful Standard is not known to be part of any giving-back programs. 

• Best for: menswear, womenswear
• Product range: hoodies, sweatshirts, T-shirts, shirts, tank tops, pants, shorts, underwear, activewear, socks, accessories
• Price range: $$
• Size range: XS–2XL

Girlfriend Collective: Essential and Timeless Athleisure Made Out of Recycled Materials

Girlfriend Collective was founded in Seattle in 2016 by husband-and-wife duo Quang and Ellie Dinh to create eco-conscious activewear that combines sustainability with style and inclusivity. Today, they are a prominent player in sustainable fashion, known for their eco-friendly materials and recycling practices. Girlfriend Collective’s hoodies are available in an inclusive range of sizes (2XS–6XL). 

“We make everything locally in small batches to make sure we don’t have a negative impact on the environment.”

Girlfriend Collective 

Girlfriend Collective’s sustainability efforts start with using recycled and recyclable textile and packing materials. Their clothes are made from recycled materials such as post-consumer water bottles, fishing nets retrieved from the seas, fabric scraps, and other waste. On top of that, their packaging is 100% recycled and recyclable. After their clothes are dyed, all the wastewater is sent to a treatment plant 100 feet away. Treated water that meets safety standards is released into the waterway, while mud dye is donated to a pavement facility to be turned into paving stones. Additionally, they help prevent microfiber release with a branded microfiber filter. Their program “Recycle. Reuse. Regirlfriend.” collects old Girlfriend Collective compressive leggings and upcycles them into new pieces that can be worn again and again, reducing waste while moving toward a more circular fashion model. Lastly, Girlfriend Collective partners with EcoCart to provide a carbon-neutral option for all orders placed on their site to offset the carbon footprint of their products.

Girlfriend Collective’s facilities are fully certified by Social Accountability International – SA8000. An SA8000 certification guarantees no forced or child labor, safe working conditions, and the right to unionize. They also ensure all workers in their supply chain are paid fair wages and provided with free lunch and guided exercise breaks. 

Girlfriend Collective is not known to be part of any giving-back programs. 

• Best for: womenswear
• Product range: dresses, hoodies, sweatshirts, hoodie, sportswear, maternity wear, tops, blouses, T-shirts, stockings, tights, shorts, lingerie, plus-size
• Price range: $$$ 
• Size range: 2XS–6XL

Paka: Outdoor Clothing Made With Traceable Alpaca Wool 

Paka was founded in Peru by Kris Cody via a Kickstarter crowdfunding campaign launched in 2017 with a mission to create natural, all-purpose clothing for people who love the outdoors. Today, Paka is a Colorado-based B Corporation selling activewear for the outdoors made with alpaca wool from the Andes Mountains. Paka also sells a range of hoodies for both men and women. 

“Paka was created to bring you closer to where your clothing comes from, what it’s made of, and who made it.”

Paka

Paka prioritizes sustainability by innovating and making low-impact, high-performing fabrics with ethical alpaca wool. They source alpaca wool from small-scale, family-owned herds. Each herd contains 60 to 90 animals roaming free throughout the Peruvian Andean Highlands. After the fleece is shorn, the fiber is collected and separated by hand before being colored (if needed) with environmentally friendly dyes certified by OEKO-TEX^® and GOTS. Half of the energy used in their alpaca wool spinning process comes from solar energy. Further down the life-cycle in the transporting stage, Paka alpaca products are delivered carbon-neutral through their partnership with Ecocart. The packaging is also fully biodegradable. Last but not least, Paka is a B Corporation. 

Paka ensures their ethics by making their alpaca wool products fully traceable, from free-roaming alpacas up in the Andes Mountains to customers’ homes in the US. The 100+ Quechua women weavers who make Paka’s products are employed by the brand and paid 4 times the family living wage. Regarding alpaca treatment, Paka uses a special technique (Inca Esquila) to minimize the time and stress posed upon the animal during the shearing process. 

Through their partnership with Peruvian Hearts, Paka supports the education of underprivileged Peruvian young women with 1% of their annual revenues. Another 1% of the sales supports regenerative agriculture and alpaca families. Additionally, they provide free weaving training for women who want to learn a skill, as well as a “Wawa Wasi” (daycare) in the neighborhood, with full-time supervision and a trained psychologist to enable mothers to go to work. Lastly, Paka is helping to build an NGO that preserves the Inca traditions. 

• Best for: women’s and men’s activewear
• Product range: jackets, sweaters, hoodies, baselayer, T-shirts, joggers, socks, underwear, accessories
• Price range: $$$
• Size range: XXS–XXL

Pact: Stylish, Comfortable, Essential Clothing Made Ethically and Sustainably 

Pact was founded in 2009 in Colorado by Jason Kibbey and Jeff Denby to pioneer new models of supply chain transparency in the fashion industry. Today, they are recognized as a sustainable and ethical fashion brand that uses organic fabrics and fair trade factories to design stylish essential clothing. Pact also sells a range of hoodies for both men and women. 

“We believe the planet, and the people on it, should always come first in fashion.”

Pact

Pact ensures sustainability by using low-impact textile and packaging materials, offsetting the carbon impact of all their products, and facilitating the donation of used clothes to reduce waste. They use a high proportion of eco-friendly fabrics, including organic fabrics made with GOTS-certified cotton. Additionally, their clothes are delivered in Vela^TM paper bags. These bags are made with carbon-neutral, FSC-certified, recyclable paper. Pact also partners up with SimpliZero. This partnership enables measuring the impact of every product Pact makes and offsetting it through reforestation, renewable energy, and community projects sequestering carbon from the atmosphere. Their Give Back Box incentive enables their customers to reuse the boxes their Pact orders came in and donate their used clothes to local charities with the postal fee paid for by Pact. 

Pact uses Fair Trade Certified^TM factories, providing safe working conditions, community support, and additional development funds to workers in their supply chain. They also trace most of their supply chain, including the final stage of production. 

Pact is not known to be part of any giving-back programs. 

• Best for: womenswear, menswear
• Product range: dresses, hoodies, sweatshirts, activewear, sleepwear, maternity wear, T-shirts, underwear, jumpsuits, playsuits, plus-size
• Price range: $$$
• Size range: XS–XXXL

Threads 4 Thought: Everyday Basics Produced Responsibly 

Threads 4 Thought was founded in California in 2006 by husband-and-wife team Eric and Leigh Fleet to create products that leave an innately smaller impact on our environment, supports in-need communities, and assists in changing the narrative and understanding of ethical standards within the fashion industry. Today, Threads 4 Thought has grown into a recognized brand in sustainable fashion, offering ethically manufactured apparel you can wear anywhere, anytime. The brand also sells a range of hoodies for women and men.

“From our original designs to our fabrics to the factory floor, we are committed to leaving an innately smaller impact on our planet.”

Threads 4 Thought

Threads 4 Thought promotes sustainability by sourcing a high proportion of eco-friendly materials including recycled polyester, organic cotton, and modal with Lenzing’s renewable beech tree pulp. For example, the Madge Feather Fleece Hoodie contains 95% LENZING™ Modal. Further down the life-cycle in manufacturing, they lower their environmental impacts by implementing a dye technology that eliminates all harmful chemicals and reduces water usage during the dyeing process by 95%. They also recycle 80% of their main factory’s industrial wastewater. Additionally, their packing materials are fully FSC-certified, with 90% being WaveBags, which are 100% recyclable, water resistant, and strong. Lastly, 99% of their products are transported by boat rather than air, reducing carbon emissions during the transportation stage. 

Threads 4 Thought traces most of their supply chain and reduces their impact through Greenstory. They also have a Supplier Code of Conduct that covers all of the ILO’s Fundamental Freedoms. 

Threads 4 Thought partners with the International Rescue Committee to help people displaced due to various conflicts. 

• Best for: menswear, womenswear, kidswear
• Product range: sweaters, dresses, pants, jackets, blazers, shorts, hoodies, sweatshirts, T-shirts, tops, blouses, maternity, stockings, tights, jumpsuits, playsuits, sportswear, sleepwear, accessories, plus-size 
• Price range: $$
• Size range: XS–XXL

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 landfills (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 natural fiber fabrics are made with raw materials from forests and plantations that are sustainably managed, such as complying with FSC standards. 

When you buy sustainable natural fiber fabrics, you discourage unsustainable forestry practices like illegal logging. You can help reduce deforestation, biodiversity loss, and the effects 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.

How Can You Generally Buy More Sustainable Fabrics

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 natural fiber 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.

Final Thoughts

The fast fashion industry has pushed for casual hoodies to be trend-dependent and easily replaceable, leading to the huge adverse environmental impacts of making and landfilling garments, especially when made with certain high-impact materials. Thus, it is important to shop with ethics and sustainability in mind when choosing your next hoodie. 

By purchasing hoodies from brands that commit to sustainability, you support their mission to create a fairer and less harmful textile industry for all lives on Earth. 

Here is the list (again) of the most sustainable hoodie brands:

• Happy Earth Apparel
• PANGAIA
• Patagonia
• Tentree
• Colorful Standard
• Girlfriend Collective
• Paka
• Pact
• Threads 4 Thought

To make your use of these clothing items even more sustainable, follow these steps:

1. Buy recycled or upcycled hoodies made with low-impact materials. 
2. Keep your hoodies for as long as possible.
3. At the end-of-life of your hoodies, upcycle the materials to extend their usage and arrange for them to be recycled or properly disposed of.

Stay impactful,

Sources

• Impactful Ninja: How Sustainable Are Cotton Fabrics? A Life-Cycle Analysis
• Impactful Ninja: How Sustainable Are Synthetic Fabrics? A Life-Cycle Analysis
• Science Direct: Life-cycle assessment (LCA)
• Happy Earth Apparel: Home
• PANGAIA: Home
• Patagonia: Home
• Tentree: Home
• Colorful Standard: Home
• Girlfriend Collective: Home
• Paka: Home
• Pact: Home
• Threads 4 Thought: Home
• B Corporation: Happy Earth Apparel
• Happy Earth Apparel: Organic Sweatshirts and Hoodies
• Happy Earth Apparel: About Us
• Good On You: Brand Directory | Happy Earth Apparel
• Impactful Ninja: How Sustainable Are Organic Cotton Fabrics? A Life-Cycle Analysis
• Happy Earth Apparel: All-Gender Beach Break Hoodie
• Change Climate: Happy Earth LLC | A Climate Neutral Certified Brand
• Happy Earth Apparel: Supporting Carbon Emissions Reduction
• Happy Earth Apparel: Code of Conduct
• International Labor Organization (ILO): Fundamental Principles and Rights at Work
• Worldwide Responsible Accredited Production: Home
• Happy Earth Apparel: Tree Planting
• PANGAIA: Women’s Organic Cotton Hoodies
• PANGAIA: Men’s Organic Cotton Hoodies
• PANGAIA: Innovative Materials and Systems
• PANGAIA: PREFERRED MATERIAL LIST 2022
• PANGAIA: Impact Report 2022
• PANGAIA: Organic Cotton | Plant Fibers
• Impactful Ninja: How Sustainable Are Cotton Fabrics? A Life-Cycle Analysis
• Impactful Ninja: How Sustainable Are Organic Linen Fabrics? A Life-Cycle Analysis
• Impactful Ninja: How Sustainable Are Organic Hemp Fabrics? A Life-Cycle Analysis
• Impactful Ninja: How Sustainable Are Kapok Fabrics? A Life-Cycle Analysis
• Impactful Ninja: How Sustainable Are Cashmere Fabrics? A Life-Cycle Analysis
• PANGAIA: Recycled Cashmere | Earth Positive Fabrics
• PANGAIA: Science & Innovative Hub
• PANGAIA: FLWRDWN™
• PANGAIA: FRUTFIBER™
• PANGAIA: MIRUM^®
• PANGAIA: AIR INK^®
• PANGAIA: miDori® bioWick
• PANGAIA: COLORFIX
• PANGAIA: Code of Conduct
• Good On You: Brand Directory | PANGAIA
• PANGAIA: Diversity and Inclusion Statement
• PANGAIA: Modern Slavery Statement
• PANGAIA: Child Labour & Young Workers Policy
• PANGAIA: Human Rights Policy
• PANGAIA: Giving back
• 1% for the Planet: Home
• Patagonia: Men‘s Sweatshirts, Hoodies & Crewnecks
• Patagonia: Women‘s Sweatshirts, Hoodies & Crewnecks
• Patagonia: The Climate Crisis Is Our Business
• Patagonia: The Climate Crisis Is Our Business | No More Virgin Petroleum Fibers by 2025
• Patagonia: The Climate Crisis Is Our Business | Is Each Product Worth the Environmental Cost?
• Patagonia: The Climate Crisis Is Our Business | Help Suppliers Cut Emissions
• Patagonia: Environmental Responsibility
• Patagonia: Regenerative Organic Certified fibers
• Patagonia: Hemp
• Patagonia: Man-made Cellulose Fibers
• Patagonia: Recycled Cotton
• Patagonia: Recycled Polyester
• Patagonia: WORN WEAR
• B Corporation: Patagonia
• Bluesign: Home
• Fair Trade: Home
• FAIR TRADE CERTIFIED: Improving Lives, Protecting the Planet.
• Patagonia: Social Responsibility
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• Patagonia: Living Wage Program
• Patagonia: Migrant Workers Program
• Patagonia: Responsible Purchasing Practices
• Patagonia: Where We Do Business
• Patagonia: 1% for the Planet
• Forbes: Yvon Chouinard And The Patagonia Purpose Trust— What Is It And Will It Work?
• Fast Company: Patagonia uses capitalism to save the planet with the Holdfast Collective
• The New York Times: Patagonia Founder Gives Away the Company to Fight Climate Change
• Tentree: Men‘s Hoodies
• Tentree: Women‘s Hoodies
• Tentree: Tree Planting FAQ
• Tentree: Circularity By tentree
• Tentree: Our Materials
• Tentree: Thinking Outside the Box
• Tentree: WE’RE TENTRE | We Believe Big Change Starts Small.
• SuperCircle: Home
• Treet: Home
• Tentree: SuperCircle
• Impactful Ninja: How Sustainable Are Organic Cotton Fabrics? A Life-Cycle Analysis
• Impactful Ninja: How Sustainable Are Hemp Fabrics? A Life-Cycle Analysis
• Impactful Ninja: How Sustainable Are Recycled Polyester Fabrics? A Life-Cycle Analysis
• Impactful Ninja: How Sustainable Are TENCEL^TM Fabrics? A Life-Cycle Analysis
• Tentree: Eco-friendly socks
• Tentree: Responsible Packaging
• B Corporation: Tentree
• CLIMATE NEUTRAL: Tentree
• Tentree: Ethical Manufacturing
• Good On You: Brand Directory | Tentree
• Fair Wear Foundation: Home
• Sedex Members Ethical Trade Audit: Home
• Worldwide Responsible Accredited Production – WRAP: Home
• Shopify: Ten Tree International Inc. (tentree) | Commitment to Protect Forests Through Our Paper, Packaging and Fabrics Choices
• Tentree: THE ENVIRONMENTOR | Here’s Where We Plant Your Trees
• Tentree: 04 nature | TENTREE SUSTAINABILITY
• Colorful Standard: Men’s Organic Hoodies
• Colorful Standard: Women’s Organic Hoodies
• Impactful Ninja: How Sustainable Are Organic Cotton Fabrics? A Life-Cycle Analysis
• Textile Exchange: Global Recycle Standard
• Impactful Ninja: How Sustainable Are Merino Wool? A Life-Cycle Analysis
• Colorful Standard: Sustainable Materials
• OEKO-TEX: Home
• Colorful Standard: Environmentally friendly dyes
• Colorful Standard: Zero Waste
• Colorful Standard: No season and long-lasting
• Good On You: Brand Directory | Colorful Standard
• Colorful Standard: Transparency
• Colorful Standard: Ethical labor practices
• Girlfriend Collective: Hoodies
• Girlfriend Collective: About
• Girlfriend Collective: How is your recycled fabric made?
• Girlfriend Collective: Is everything eco-friendly?
• Girlfriend Collective: The Microfiber Filter
• Girlfriend Collective: Recycle. Reuse. Regirlfriend
• EcoCart: Home
• Girlfriend Collective: Are you carbon neutral
• Good On You: Brand Directory | Girlfriend Collective
• SA8000 Standards: Home
• Paka: Men’s Wool Sweaters & Hoodies
• Paka: Women’s Wool Sweaters & Hoodies
• Paka: Traceable Alpaca Fiber
• OEKO TEX: Home
• Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS): Home
• Impactful Ninja: How Sustainable Are Alpaca Wool? A Life-Cycle Analysis
• Paka: Earth
• B Corporation: Paka
• Peruvian Hearts: Home
• Paka: Empowerment
• Pact: Women’s Organic Hoodies & Sweatshirts
• Pact: Men’s Organic Hoodies & Sweatshirts
• Good On You: Brand Directory | Pact
• Impactful Ninja: How Sustainable Are Organic Fabrics? A Life-Cycle Analysis
• Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS): Home
• Impactful Ninja: How Sustainable Are Cotton Fabrics? A Life-Cycle Analysis
• Vela^TM paper bags: Home
• Pact: Responsible Packaging
• SimpliZero: Home
• Pact: Sustainability, Certified
• Pact: Give Back Box
• Threads 4 Thought: Women’s Sweatshirts
• Threads 4 Thought: Men’s Sweatshirts
• Good On You: Brand Directory | Threads 4 Thought
• Impactful Ninja: How Sustainable Are Recycled Polyester Fabrics? A Life-Cycle Analysis
• Impactful Ninja: How Sustainable Are Organic Cotton Fabrics? A Life-Cycle Analysis
• Impactful Ninja: How Sustainable Are Modal Fabrics? A Life-Cycle Analysis
• Threads 4 Thought: Materials
• Threads 4 Thought: Madge Feather Fleece Hoodie
• Threads 4 Thought: Ethical Manufacturing
• WaveBags: Home
• Threads 4 Thought: About Threads 4 Thought
• Greenstory: Home
• International Rescue Committee: Home
• NEWSWIRE: Threads for Thought Donates $200,000 to the International Rescue Committee
• 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
• 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
• Textile Exchange: The RCS and GRS are designed to boost the use of recycled materials
• Program for Endorsement of Forest Certification
• Impactful Ninja: How Sustainable Are Recycled Fabrics? A Life-Cycle Analysis
• Textile Exchange: Recycled Claim Standard
• Textile Exchange: Global Recycled Standard
• OEKO-TEX: Certification according to STeP by OEKO-TEX®
• OEKO-TEX: OEKO-TEX^® Standard 100
• B Corp Certification: Home
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