In a world increasingly aware of environmental challenges, choosing sustainable fabrics is a crucial step toward reducing the sportswear industry’s environmental footprint. Clothing and activewear contribute significantly to pollution, water consumption, and waste and the consumer is now demanding change for brands to start to adopt more sustainable solutions. Fortunately, by selecting sustainable fabrics, consumers can actively support more eco-friendly practices. But how do you identify these materials? Here’s a comprehensive guide to help you find sustainable activewear fabrics for your sportswear brand.
Understanding Sustainability in Fabrics
Before diving into specific materials, it’s important to understand what makes a fabric “sustainable.” A sustainable fabric has a minimal environmental impact throughout its lifecycle — from production to disposal. This includes factors like water and energy usage, greenhouse gas emissions, biodegradability, and recyclability. In addition to environmental concerns, sustainability also encompasses ethical labour practices and animal welfare.
We also need to factor in how the fabric biodegrades after use and how this effects the earth as the fibres break down.
Key Characteristics of Sustainable Fabrics
When searching for sustainable sportswear fabrics, look for these core characteristics:
- Low Water Usage: Fabrics that require less water to produce are preferable, especially in areas facing water scarcity.
- Low Chemical Usage: Fabrics made without toxic chemicals or harmful dyes are more sustainable for both the environment and the people producing them.
- Biodegradability: Fabrics that can decompose naturally in a relatively short period without releasing harmful substances are ideal. These are usually natural fibres.
- Renewable Resources: Materials made from quickly renewable plants or recycling processes are more sustainable.
- Fair Labor Practices: Sustainability also means treating workers ethically, ensuring they are paid fairly and work in safe conditions.
Now that we have a better understanding of what makes a fabric sustainable, let’s explore some common materials that fit these criteria and how to find them.
Popular Sustainable Sportswear Fabrics
1. Organic Cotton
Organic cotton is a much more sustainable alternative to conventional cotton, which is known for being resource intensive. Conventional cotton requires a tremendous amount of water and pesticides. Organic cotton, on the other hand, is grown without synthetic pesticides and fertilizers, using more sustainable farming practices.
How to Find It: Look for certifications like GOTS (Global Organic Textile Standard) or OCS (Organic Content Standard) to ensure the cotton is truly organic. Many sustainable fashion brands, such as Patagonia and Everlane, offer organic cotton clothing.
2. Hemp
Hemp is a highly sustainable material due to its minimal environmental impact. It requires very little water, grows quickly without pesticides, and enriches the soil. Additionally, hemp is strong, durable, and naturally resistant to mold and UV light.
How to Find It: Hemp fabric is becoming increasingly popular, and you can find it through eco-conscious retailers. Look for companies that prioritize sustainable practices, like Thought Clothing or Jungmaven, which offer a range of hemp-based products.
3. Linen
Linen is made from the flax plant, which requires fewer resources to grow than cotton. Flax plants thrive with little water and no chemical pesticides. Linen is also biodegradable and becomes softer and more comfortable with each wash.
How to Find It: Look for linen products from brands that emphasize sustainable sourcing and production. Brands like Eileen Fisher and Reformation often use linen in their collections. You can also look for certifications like OEKO-TEX to ensure that the fabric is free from harmful chemicals.
4. Tencel (Lyocell)
Tencel, also known as Lyocell, is made from wood pulp, usually sourced from sustainably managed forests. The production process is closed-loop, meaning nearly all of the solvents and water used to make Tencel are recycled, reducing its environmental footprint. Tencel is soft, breathable, and biodegradable.
How to Find It: Tencel is often labelled as such on clothing tags, making it easy to identify. Many ethical fashion brands, including Amour Vert and Reformation, feature Tencel in their collections. Look for Tencel that comes from FSC (Forest Stewardship Council) certified forests to ensure responsible sourcing.
5. Recycled Polyester
While traditional polyester is made from petroleum, recycled polyester (rPET) is made from post-consumer plastics like water bottles, helping to reduce plastic waste. The production of recycled polyester also uses less energy than virgin polyester and prevents plastics from ending up in landfills or oceans.
Note however that at the end of the life of a rPET garment, the fabric will take decades to decompose and when it does, it will release the petrochemicals into the soil. Also worth noting that the fibres that wash away when the garments are washed cannot be collected and end up in our waterways.
How to Find It: Recycled polyester is commonly used in activewear and outdoor gear. Patagonia, Adidas, and Girlfriend Collective are just a few brands leading the way in producing recycled polyester products. Look for the GRS (Global Recycled Standard) certification to verify the use of recycled content.
6. Merino Wool
Merino Wool is a natural fibre that is 100% natural. It regulates temperature keeping the users warm when it’s cold and cool when it’s warm. The fibre doesn’t harbour bacteria and therefore doesn’t smell like typical nylon or polyester, so the same garment can be worn for several days without the need to wash it, making it more sustainable and last longer
Outdoor, ski and some cycle brands use Merino Wool as a superior alternative to polyesters such as Patagonia and GRVL.
Certifications to Look For
To ensure the fabrics you’re purchasing are genuinely sustainable, it’s essential to look for third-party certifications. Here are some of the most reputable ones:
- GOTS (Global Organic Textile Standard): This certifies that textiles are made from organic fibers and meet stringent environmental and social criteria throughout the supply chain.
- OEKO-TEX Standard 100: This certification guarantees that textiles are free from harmful chemicals and safe for human use.
- Fair Trade Certified: This ensures that products are made by workers who are paid fairly and work in safe conditions.
- Cradle to Cradle: This certification assesses products based on their environmental and social performance, including material health, reuse, and water stewardship.
- FSC (Forest Stewardship Council): This certifies that wood-based products, including Tencel, come from sustainably managed forests.
Tips for Finding Sustainable Fabrics
1. Look at competitive brands
The easiest way to find sustainable fabrics is to shop from brands committed to eco-friendly practices. Many brands are transparent about the materials they use and the environmental impact of their production processes. Brands like Patagonia, Outerknown, GRVL and Pact are excellent examples of companies focused on sustainability.
2. Purchase our sustainable fabric source file.
At Blue associates Sportswear, we have compiled a database for sustainable fabrics that you can simply purchase and download. The file is – https://blueassociatessportswear.com/product-page/find-fabrics/
3. Sustainable Fabric Guide
If you are still not sure which fabric is right for your brand, then download our sustainable fabric guide that highlights many of the most sustainable fabrics available today for performance sportswear. https://blueassociatessportswear.com/product-page/sustainable-fabrics-guide/
4. Be Wary of Greenwashing
Greenwashing occurs when companies make misleading claims about their sustainability efforts. To avoid being misled, always check for third-party certifications and research a brand’s or fabric mills practices before making a purchase. Just because something is labelled “eco-friendly” doesn’t necessarily mean it’s sustainable.
Conclusion
Finding sustainable performance sportswear fabrics is not just about making environmentally friendly choices; it’s about supporting a fashion industry that respects both people and the planet. By choosing materials like organic cotton, hemp, Tencel, Merino and recycled polyester, you can reduce your brands environmental impact and contribute to a more sustainable future. Always look for certifications that guarantee eco-friendly practices and shop from ethical fabric mills. With a little effort and awareness, finding sustainable fabrics becomes a rewarding step toward conscious consumption that your customers are wanting to purchase.
