17 Eco-Friendly Fabrics
When shopping for clothes, many people shop based on things like comfort or style, but not many people check for clothing’s eco-friendliness.
More and more clothing companies are providing clothes made from eco-friendly fabrics. Demand for these clothes is increasing too. This makes sense given the environmental issues we’re faced with in today’s world.
What Makes a Fabric “Eco-Friendly”?
Eco-friendly fabrics generally have the following characteristics:
- Minimum use of chemicals and pesticides
- Best land manangement practices
- Sustainable farming practices
- Eco-friendly certification (i.e. EU-Eco label certification)
- Animal friendly
- Production adheres to fair trade practices
By purchasing organic, you can be sure that the product was produced without the use of harsh chemicals and pesticides, and is not only healthy for the environment but is also healthy for you.
The Fabrics
Here’s a list of eco-friendly fibers to look out for. Next time you’re shopping for clothes, look out for clothes that are made from the following fibers (or other eco-friendly fibers):
- Hemp - An amazing natural fiber. Some say hemp could have 25,000 uses. Hemp provides enormous benefit to the natural environment. This is true when used in products and when growing the hemp plant.
- Jute - Similar to hemp, jute is a type of vegetable fiber used for thousands of years, with outstanding potential for the future.
- Ingeo - Trademark for a man-made fiber derived from corn.
- Calico - Fabric made from unbleached cotton. Also referred to as muslin.
- Hessian Cloth - Coarse woven fabric made from jute or hemp.
- Organic cotton - Cotton grown organically (without pesticides etc)
- Recycled Polyester - Polyester created from used polyester garments.
- Bamboo Fiber - Bamboo fabric is very comfortable and 100% biodegradable.
- Tencel® - Brand name for a biodegradable fabric made from wood pulp cellulose.
- Ramie - Ramie fibers are one of the strongest natural fibers. Ramie can be up to 8 times stronger than cotton, and is even stronger when wet.
- Organic Wool - Organic wool is wool that has been produced in a way that is less harmful to the environment than non-organic wool.
- Organic Linen - Linen that is made from flax fiber. Could also refer to be linen made from other organically grown plant fibers.
- FORTREL EcoSpun - Fiber made from plastic containers
- Milk Silk - Silk made from milk
- Soy Silk - Silk made from soybeans
- Nettle fiber - Made from stinging nettle (commonly known as a weed)
- Spider-web fabric - Fabric made from spider webs. Still in the experimental stages.
Eco-Friendly Finishes and Dyes
As well as the fabric used to make clothes, many clothes are dyed and/or have laminate finishes etc. Here are some eco friendly options:
- Biodegradable TPU Laminate - Solvent free TPU that can biodegrade in as little as 4 years.
- NanoSphere® Textile Finish - Self cleaning textile finish for clothing and other textiles.
- Non-Toxic Dyes - These can be better for your health as well as the environment.
Tags: eco friendly dyes, eco-friendly clothes, hemp, jute, Sustainability
July 7th, 2008 at 1:15 am
Are any of these fabrics waterproof?
If not - is there a waterpfoor covering or lamination that is eco-friendly?
April 28th, 2009 at 4:53 am
Recycled polyester is waterproof (:
June 7th, 2009 at 10:04 am
I have heard of wax-coated coats that are eco-friendly. But there is a whole section on “green” rain gear at http://www.thegreenguide.com!
June 19th, 2009 at 7:28 am
Oh em gee Isabelle! You totally saved my life I have been looking for a website like this for forEVER!!!!! Hugs and kisses to you gurrrl!
October 15th, 2009 at 9:58 pm
Is polyester safe with food? What about dyes? Im looking for a eco friendly/recyled fabric 4 snack bags. I have been searching for weeks.
October 16th, 2009 at 2:04 pm
Will u please contact me. Im having a lot of trouble finding someone to talk to about fabric. Know one seems to know anything about this topic.
October 16th, 2009 at 6:29 pm
will recycled polyster harm our body
October 31st, 2009 at 11:03 am
I recently purchased a bra for my daughter and it is made with polyamide and spandex. Can you tell me anything about both of those and the effects they may have on her health? Thanks!
November 17th, 2009 at 3:10 pm
Most of the fabrics listed as “environmentally friendly” on this page are exactly the opposite. Soy, bamboo, tencel and milk are all turned into rayon to make it into fiber, one of the most toxic manufacturing processes there is. Rayon production is banned in the U.S. Recycled polyester is a huge consumer of water and energy just to re-extrude it into a usable fiber, not including chemicals needed to dye and finish the fabric. This is issue is very complex and this article is very misleading. Textile manufacturers and scientists are still trying to figure this stuff out. The best advice I can give is that if you go with natural fibers like cotton, wool, silk and hemp these are the best options for the environment. They don’t have fancy names but at least they really are sustainable and biodegradable materials.
November 25th, 2009 at 8:50 am
I always appreciate the people for their efforts towards the eco-friendliness & glad to see your so eco-friendly blog post. I’d like to refer SUPERIOR LIGHTING as they also playing an important role by launching their energy efficient LEDs & soothing light bulbs for eco-friendliness.
March 9th, 2010 at 9:08 pm
I truly appreciate this article! Thank you! I’ve recently started my own small home based indie craft business and this information is very helpful!
March 9th, 2010 at 9:13 pm
Thank you Meg for your comment as well. Looks like I need to do a little digging. So far I’ve been using wool but want to use other natural fibers as well, as well natural dyes.
June 10th, 2010 at 5:00 am
very nice post dude! great website… will be back soon!
July 23rd, 2010 at 2:37 am
Thanks for this very informative post! I’ve been looking into eco-friendly fabrics recently and this was very helpful.
July 25th, 2010 at 3:45 pm
I am having difficulty understanding how recycled polyester fabric can be waterproof. Polyester fabric is usually not waterproof in and of itself unless somehow treated. Could you go into this a little more?
Also I don’t see anyone who claims to have written the above post - no author posted. Ian, was this written by yourself? You may want to look it over again ’cause some of it just doesn’t hang together. I know your blog is a tribute to your love of the earth and this is commendable but I don’t think you want to be putting stuff out there that is not quite right.
July 25th, 2010 at 6:23 pm
@Judy B. Can you please indicate where I state that recycled polyester is waterproof? (unless your comment is directed at @Gemma)
Also, can you please indicate which parts are “not quite right”? I’m always happy to review and amend where appropriate.
August 6th, 2010 at 11:19 am
What a super blog!Eco Rocks Thanks
August 7th, 2010 at 6:02 am
I should really be working Thanks a million for giving me a break
August 17th, 2010 at 6:45 am
I would like to say “wow” what a inspiring post. This is really great. Keep doing what you’re doing!!
October 5th, 2010 at 5:33 am
Any word on an organic, non-polyester fire retardant textile that will meet NFPA 701 fire codes for commercial buildings? I know there was talk some time ago of a bamboo alternative, but I haven’t heard of any movement in that direction as of late…
October 22nd, 2010 at 3:41 pm
I AM PLEASURE AFTER READ AII RESEASAERSH ABOUT ECO-CLOTHES AND ORGANEC DAYAND NATURAL FAIBER.
January 4th, 2011 at 11:28 am
Great way of helping save Earth. Thumbs up for this blog.
By the way, if anyone is interested with a guest post, we can arrange one for you
January 13th, 2011 at 11:10 am
Next year, i need to do personal project and im doing something about eco friendly fabric and designing shoes. So can someone email me if they have a good idea and where i can buy this in England, London. thanks x
January 13th, 2011 at 12:41 pm
Genuinely professional piece, I really liked looking through it. It had quite a few superb insight. I’m bookmarking this web site.
January 17th, 2011 at 1:47 am
Beatiful Blog! the product is eco friendly and you indicate the informations that we need to know the product. Thank you and please post more of your blogs and we can also do a guest post (please follow this link) http://www.arnoldsofficefurniture.com/blog/used-office-furniture/your-go-to-guide-for-choosing-environmentally-friendly-office-furniture
Office Furniture
Editorial Coordinator
February 14th, 2011 at 10:31 am
Great rundown on fabrics. Thanks for all the info.
February 21st, 2011 at 8:49 am
Hello,
We are 1st ukrainian production company that engaged in growing of industrial hemp in most ecological Poltava region in Ukraine and production of hemp products (fiber, bed cloth, etc)
Currently we in searching for partner in UK that also working in the same direction to make our common efforts more effective.
For more details please do not hesitate to visit our website http://www.agrohanf.com or contact us by e-mail export@agrohanf.com
BR
March 12th, 2011 at 7:09 am
Hello,
can u able to give me the detail of the excel fiber
March 21st, 2011 at 4:01 am
hey awesome website mann, totally rad!
March 21st, 2011 at 4:09 am
yo man,this websites totally groooovy,peace outtt
April 8th, 2011 at 11:27 pm
I found a great hemp fabric website. All organic hemp fabric for home furnishings and hemp clothing.
http://www.hempskinz.com
April 28th, 2011 at 12:08 am
I always appreciate the people for their efforts towards the eco-friendliness.. come visit http://thegreenconnoisseur.com heard that they got eco-friendly products too..
June 8th, 2011 at 8:49 pm
The list is incomplete without Khadi.
June 15th, 2011 at 2:04 am
Hi
We are mnaufacturer of organic and eco friendly fabrics and garments for mens, ladies, kids and babies
You can check put our online store - http://www.earthstore.in or face book page
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Earth-Store/223706200975226#!/pages/Earth-Store/223706200975226
July 3rd, 2011 at 7:54 pm
thank you so much for the information on eco-friendly fabrics. I think everyone should really take this as a first step to a more environmental friendly initiative.
July 7th, 2011 at 7:38 am
I am looking for a mesh material to make a baby item. It was be 100% breathable. Does anyone have any ideas? Thank you
October 8th, 2011 at 7:21 am
Where can one buy these materials? Any advice on suppliers would be great
December 7th, 2011 at 1:05 am
Does anyone know of an earth-friendly alternative fabric to Latex for Lingerie applications? Maybe something with a Viscose base? Must have a 100% waterbarrier. Thanks!
May 2nd, 2012 at 2:44 pm
Being Eco-Friendly is Boomerang’s business model, that is the reason we recycle as much as possible on a daily basis. The typical life cycle of pre-owned office furniture begins with trucks being unloaded from their former home into our warehouse. At that time 10%-15% of all damaged or unusable product is recycled. Wood product is sent to power plants to burn and metal product is sent to a metal facility for recycling creating as little waste as possible. The remaining product is then recycled within our redistribution process and sold at 90% off new prices to new customers.