Are You Eating Your Clothes?! — A Sustainable Clothing Guide
By: Angelina Elido
Tags: Climate Action, Sustainable Clothing, Mindful Spending, Mindfulness, Plastic Pollution

The following is a guide that will help you choose better sustainable clothing alternatives.

Personally, I am a huge advocate of buying secondhand. Thrifting is my trade. Scavenging through bags of old clothes, hand-me-downs, and spotting treasures on the roadside are my specialty.

If you’re not into that sort of thing, however, I’ve created a list of what to consider when you’re buying — which urges you to think about your clothing’s life before, during, and after you come into the picture.

But before getting into that, we need to understand what the current climate of the fashion and textile industry consists of. Let’s get learning!

NAVIGATION

Unsustainable Habits and Unsustainable Fabrics

Sustainable Clothing Guide

The Load on Material: What are you wearing?

The Best Fabric Material

A Sustainable Afterlife

Call To Action

A woman prepares to make Image Source: Kenny Luo via Unsplash

UNSUSTAINABLE HABITS AND UNSUSTAINABLE FABRICS

Every second there is a garbage truck-sized load worth of clothes burned or dumped in a landfill.

Out of that pile of clothes, it takes a healthy amount of water that an average person would drink over the span of three and a half years, to produce just one . . . yes, one . . . cotton shirt.

There seems to be a pattern — places with the largest cotton industries tend to be places deprived of access to clean water, such as Pakistan.

And to produce a pair of denim jeans — also made from cotton — it takes about the same amount of greenhouse gases one person would emit if they were to drive a car for 80 miles! Too bizarre to be true, but sadly it is.

All of these statements found in this article from the World Resources Institute came as a tremendous shock to me, and really put things into perspective.

Five denim jeans, hung out for drying outside a yellow building. Denim is one of the most resource intensive fashion trends, one that never go out of style! Image Source: Ricardo Gomez Angel via Unsplash

But wait, there’s more.

Did you know that when we wash our synthetic clothing, thousands of invisible microfibers are released into our laundry water? That of which is then treated in a wastewater plant — where microfibers are too small to filter out — then redirected into your local bodies of water like our lakes, oceans, streams and rivers.

So if microfibers are so insignificant that industrial water treatment plants don’t even detect them, why should it even matter?

Well, first off, they take hundreds to thousands of years to decompose.

Microplastics are the biggest culprit of The Great Pacific Garbage Patch, and let me tell you, there’s nothing great about it.

According to this article, microfibers usually like to bind with chemical pollutants, making them toxic. Shown in this statistical graphic, microfibers were found in 80% of sampled fish and shellfish in the United States alone. They litter their stomachs, sometimes to the point of death, if it kills them before we do. When we catch and eat seafood, we are also ingesting microfibers. We’re eating our clothes!

A man goes fishing in a river or lake. Unfortunately most of our seafood contains some level of microplastics. Image Source: Robson Hatsukami Morgan via Unsplash

[Related: Ditch Disposables: 19 Easy Zero Waste On-the-Go Essentials]

For all the vegans and vegetarians out there, this is still a concern because microplastics can end up in the sea salt we use for cooking, the water we drink, and anything made with it — beer, coffee, tea, kombucha, juices, pastries, soups, the vegetables we water and grow, you name it.

This article also suggests that microfibers can be released into the air, and into our lungs, causing respiratory problems at high exposures, especially for those working in the textile industry.

While we’re here, to add to the list of what goes on behind-the-scenes of fashion, there are also:

a) Carcinogenic chemical dyes polluting our water for most of our denim and colored clothing,

b) Violation of human rights still occurring for employees in this industry, and

c) Annual production emissions reaching 1.7 billion tons of carbon dioxide — which surpasses what is produced by international flights and shipping.

A woman poses wearing a red top saying “ Tomato Soup.” The irony of it is that we really are eating our clothes! At least a fraction of our synthetic material goes into our food and water. Image Source: Brooke Cagle via Unsplash

None of it is good news, but these are all things we need to be aware of to move forward with positive change and alternative solutions.

We’re caught in this vicious cycle of overproduction and overconsumption. And quality is lost in the process.

We are dealing with cheap clothes made with cheap labor in our “fast-fashion” culture, and simultaneously battling issues of unethical labor practices, water scarcity, and pollution.

I don’t think that the damaging effects of the fashion industry have been addressed to the point where enough people are proactive in the effort of making a positive change, so I put together this article to help anyone needing direction.

[Get an intro to sustainable living, here.]

SUSTAINABLE CLOTHING GUIDE

Like I mentioned in the start, my first option when buying clothes is to look for secondhand garments. I choose to do this in an effort to be part of the circular economy, where all goods put out in circulation are repaired, recycled, or reused. This way, I have a better peace of mind when shopping, knowing that I am not contributing to the production of raw materials, or supporting more energy use and CO2 emissions in the production process.

However, if you want to buy new, here’s a guide to help you make the most sustainable clothing decision.

A rack of clothes. The following is a guide, to help you make sustainable clothing decisions when shopping. Image Source: Alyssa Strohmann via Unsplash

The key in making more sustainable clothing decisions is to think about the three following points:

1) BEFORE — THINK ABOUT THE LIFE AND PROCESSING OF YOUR POTENTIAL CLOTHING PURCHASE BEFORE YOUR USE.

What chain of events took place before its arrival to be where it is now? Think back to the clothing’s raw material farming and/or extraction.

What is this made of?

Are all materials, dyes, and products involved in the making of this piece of clothing plastic-free, vegan, organic, and/or non-toxic?

Does its processing involve a large carbon footprint?

Is the fabric or material scarce or resource-intensive?

What energy sources were used to manufacture this article of clothing?

Who made this piece of clothing and how are they treated? Are they compensated for fairly? Do they have safe work conditions?

Where was this article shipped from, manufactured, and produced? How far did it travel to get to you?

Fez Tannery in Morocco is one of the gems where natural dyes are used. Image Source: Ben Ostrower via Unsplash

2) DURING — THE LIFE OF YOUR CLOTHING DURING YOUR USE OF THE ARTICLE OF CLOTHING.

Can you see yourself wearing this piece of clothing enough times to make it worth not only the price you pay, but also your financial support toward the use of virgin material and the energy that is involved in the production process?

Is this a durable product that will weather your lifestyle?

Does washing this piece of clothing release harmful contaminants or microplastics into the earth and ocean?

3) AFTER — THIS PIECE OF CLOTHING’S JOURNEY AFTER YOUR USE.

Can this item be recycled either directly through the clothing company or through another recycling program?

When you are through with this article of clothing, what will you do with it? Where will it go?

How long does it take to decompose?

[Related: Purchasing Power: 7 Tips for Sustainable Shopping]

Someone outfitting a pair of jeans man from recycled pieces of denim along with a matching bag and bucket hat. Image Source: Utopia By Cho via Unsplash

THE LOAD ON MATERIAL: WHAT ARE YOU WEARING?

Leading sustainable clothing brand, Toad and Co., put together an ultra useful table outlining some need-to-know facts about the most commonly used materials in the market, as well as some environmentally friendly alternatives.

And when I dug deeper, I divided my research into three categories — plant, animal, and synthetic fibers.

PLANT FIBERS: COTTON | HEMP | FLAX | JUTE

These are the most sustainable options when it comes to choosing which materials we want in our clothing and bedding, whether we’re buying new or secondhand.

When buying these materials brand new, it is key to choose organic and made with natural dyes when we can. This can ensure that there are no harsh chemicals or GMOs involved in growing these fibers, and to support practices that comply with conservation and sustainable production.

Material made from 100% plant fibers are completely biodegradable, they decompose faster, and do not pollute our waterways with micro plastics when thrown in the wash.

I also want to mention that rayon, modal, acetate, and bamboo are materials sourced from natural fibers, however, they are immensely high in energy-use during production, may encourage deforestation, and may involve toxic contaminants, so it is important to do extra research when looking at these options.

A cotton field. Cotton — a natural, but resource-intensive material. Image Source: Trisha Downing via Unsplash

ANIMAL FIBERS: WOOL | CASHMERE | CAMEL HAIR | ANGORA

Animal fibers would not be my first choice in material. All I think about is getting my hair shaved off without my permission, then bought and sold for someone else to wear.

However, it still makes a better option than synthetic fibers because like plant fibers, they are natural and do not pollute waterways with pesky invisible microfibers when washed. Animal fibers are also completely biodegradable, taking an average of one year to decompose.

A better alternative to animal fibers are recycled animal fibers.

A better alternative to animal fibers are recycled animal fibers.Choosing reused animal fibers that are already in circulation could save another alpaca from going bald.

It is worth noting that silk is also one of the more popular fibers derived from animals, but unlike animal hair, silk from worms do not just grow back. I learned that silkworms actually die in the process of extraction which makes silk the least attractive of fibers from this list.

Sheep’s wool is an example of a natural fiber used in clothing. Image Source: Sam Carter via Unsplash

SYNTHETIC FIBERS: POLYESTER | NYLON | ACRYLIC | SPANDEX | FLEECE

Yes, sadly this probably includes your favorite pair of yoga pants.

Although widely known to be comfortable, breathable material, what all of these artificially made fibers have in common is that they are all derived from plastic. Synthetic fibers are the biggest pollutant in this industry and clothing made with them are responsible for the microfibers that end up in most, if not all of our bodies (water and human).

Buying these materials recycled or secondhand makes it a tad bit better than buying them brand new, but it does not remove its plastic quality and still sends millions of microplastic particles into our oceans, streams, and rivers.

And with it being plastic, if these materials are sent to the landfill, they could take between 20 to 200 years to decompose, compared to the one week to five month time frame for plant fibers.

Woman doing yoga. Unfortunately a lot of our athletic wears are made from blends involving synthetic fibers which are the least sustainable clothing fiber type. Image Source: Wesley Tingey via Unsplash

THE BEST FABRIC MATERIAL

So what’s the most sustainable clothing material out there?

Secondhand clothes made with natural fibers would win my vote. There is no contribution to extra processing or use of raw materials. They decompose quickly and don’t involve any pesky microfibers in the wash! These materials check off all the boxes.

Otherwise if I’m buying new, I’d go for some 100% recycled hemp, flax, jute, cotton, or wool. This would keep my carbon footprint at the minimum by reducing the use of virgin materials, and keeping waterways free of plastic.

And if I’m buying new new — as in not recycled, raw material — after all my research, my first choice would be organic hemp. It is a densely grown, fast-growing, low maintenance crop, requiring significantly less water and processing than cotton. According to this article by the Green Market Report, a single hemp plant yields 220% times the fiber yielded from a single cotton plant.

A single hemp plant yields 220% times the fiber yielded from a single cotton plant.

Hemp wins!

The hemp plant (not to be mistaken for its sister marijuana plant) contains natural, fast-growing fibers making it one of the most sustainable clothing materials out there! [Image Source: Jose Luis Sanchez Pereyra via Unsplash]

A SUSTAINABLE AFTERLIFE

No matter how sustainable, long-lasting, and clean our clothing is, the time we have with each piece must come, inevitably, to an end. We get bored and need wardrobe updates, things get too dirty, holey, and worn to wear again. We clean out closets, move, and to be absolutely blunt about it, we all die in the end.

So where does it all go?

WHY KEEP CLOTHES OUT OF THE LANDFILL

The last thing we want to do is send our clothes to the landfill. We need to keep in mind that even clothes made from the most sustainable of materials may contain features that don’t decompose quickly, or may be toxic to our soil and oceans. It is important to look out for these other potentially environmentally degrading features such as:

Chemical dyes used to color our material

Synthetic threads

Buttons

Tags

Labels

Zippers

A woman sorts through second hand clothes. Donating your old clothes is a good way to give them a sustainable afterlife! Image Source: Becca McHaffie via Unsplash

Fortunately, all clothing, fabrics, and materials are recyclable some way, somehow. Here are some alternatives to keep your clothes within the circular economy and out of the landfill:

1) CONTRIBUTE TO A RECYCLING PROGRAM

To ensure the recycling of your unwanted fabric, get in direct contact with the brand or company of your article of clothing. Ask about what kind of recycling programs they have for used items. Some stores will resell lightly used items, or send it back to their production team to recycle and repurpose salvaged material.

Introduce the idea of a recycling program to a company you see potential in.

If they don’t have a recycling program, use this as an opportunity to introduce the idea of potentially implementing one that will in turn, make them a more attractive business within the circular economy.

Your next best bet is to turn to a trustworthy recycling company such as TerraCycle. Some of their recycling programs are free, but unfortunately their clothing recycling box is a bit pricey. If you have the financial means to buy the box to ship it to TerraCycle, go for it! It is a perfect option for your most worn down fabrics that can no longer be used for clothing.

A woman holding stack of sweaters. It feels good to give! Image Source: Dan Gold via Unsplash

2) DONATE, SELL, OR BARTER

Host a garage sale. This is perfect if you have a big move coming up or if you would like to purge a lot of your stuff at once.

OfferUp, LetGo, Facebook Marketplace, and Poshmark — Utilize these large networks and get in front of hundreds of local users to sell or barter what you have.

Make it an occasion and host a clothing exchange party!

Donate to your local thrift shops or to a trusted organization the next time you’re traveling, to give back to the place you’re visiting.

[Read about sustainable travel, here.]

3) UPCYCLE

Give your clothes a new life! A new meaning. The possibilities are endless. Here are a few things you can do with clothes and fabric that you no longer want to wear.

Cut them into smaller pieces to use as reusable napkins, tissues, or rags

Make a tote bag

Sew a quilt

Make a pillow

A blanket

A rug

A placemat

A hair scrunchie

A headband

A COVID-19 facemask

A dog toy

Get artsy and make some cool curtains

Experiment with natural dyes on these fabrics

Cut and tie strips of old cloth together to use as string or yarn

Clothes designer, Cho, specializes in creating things from recycled material like the pants made with fabric tags shown above. Image Source: Utopia By Cho via Unsplash

Or maybe turn your unwanted clothing into something different that you will want to wear, maybe an old oversized t-shirt into a dress, tank top, or crop top. Jeans into shorts or a skirt. Run wild with your imagination! Or simply make the effort to repair that button, hole, rip, or tear to make it desirable again.

[You might also like: Zero Waste: 42 Easy Ways to Save Money and the Planet]

Remember that your initial goal should be to consume less to begin with.

These are all great options, but remember that your initial goal should be to consume less to begin with, so that you contribute less to the use of raw material, have less of an indirect carbon footprint in the production process, have less clothing waste and less to worry about dealing with your unwanted clothes.

CALL TO ACTION

I hope this article could shed some light on the fashion industry and encourage you to reevaluate your clothing purchases from a new perspective.

Comment below with what you end up doing with your old clothes!

And please share anything you would add to this list. I would love to know what you think!

This article first appeared on my website A Happy Hearth which can be found here.