A Healthy Home | Sustainable Fabrics
What fabrics are sustainable?
I will be 100% honest with you. I have struggled to write this post. I don’t feel that I have the right knowledge of what suppliers in the design industry are offering when it comes to sustainable fabics.
“ I will start by sharing the different types of fabrics and their pros and cons of sustainability.”
So while I continue to do my research I will start by sharing the different types of fabrics and their pros and cons of sustainability. It certainly seems like the apparel and fashion world is much more on top of this. There are loads of companies now that offer products that are earth-friendly like Rothy’s Shoes (made entirely of recycled wool), ABLE clothing, & Patagonia to name a few.
So here’s the GOOD, the JUST OK & the UGLY of fabrics when it comes to sustainability.
GOOD
Organic Cotton
Why we love it:
Made from natural fibers
No pesticides or chemicals used
Biodegradable
Wicks away sweat
Breathable
Soft
Drawbacks:
Requires a lot of water to grow
Can be pricey
Lenzing Tencel
courtesy of Pinterest
Why we love it:
It’s a natural fiber
Made from sustainably harvested wood raw materials
Requires less water than cotton
Sustainable
Biodegradable
Anti-bacterial
Soft
Machine washable
Drawbacks:
Chemical processing is required to turn fiber into fabric, which is toxic. However, harm is mitigated by the use of closed loop processing with Lenzing Tencel, which recycles the chemicals rather than releasing them into the environment.
Hemp
courtesy of Pinterest
Why we love it:
It’s a natural fiber
No chemical processing required
Requires less water than cotton (medium amount)
Requires little to no pesticides
Biodegradable
Machine washable
Drawbacks:
Must be imported since it's not legal to grow in the U.S.
Can be more expensive
Linen
courtesy of Pinterest
Why we love it:
It’s a natural fiber
No pesticides or chemicals required
Biodegradable
Lightweight
Breathable
Drawbacks:
Uses a lot of water
Wrinkles easily
May need to hand wash
Silk
courtesy of Pinterest
Why we love it:
Natural fibres
Requires less water than cotton
Biodegradable
Luxurious and smooth feel
Drawbacks:
Can be expensive
Requires dry cleaning
Silk worms are killed, unless it's vegan silk
Where to shop it:
Everlane
Cuyana
JUST OK
Rayon/Viscose
Why we love it:
Natural origins
Biodegradable
Affordable
Uses much less water than cotton
Drawbacks:
It is processed with chemicals, so if toxic chemicals are released into the environment, we rate this a 5/10. If the fabric mill processes and disposes of the chemicals properly, we rate this a 7/10.
Since this fabric comes from wood pulp, is best if the wood is sourced sustainably (such as Lenzing Viscose, which ensures certain sustainable requirements are met). If it's Lenzing Viscose, and the fabric mill disposes of the chemicals properly, we rate this an 8/10.
If brands are careful about the source and processing of the viscose, it can be a good eco-friendly fabric to use.
It can shrink easily in the wash, so often must be dry cleaned.
(Non-Organic) Cotton
Why we love it:
Natural fibers
No chemical processing
Biodegradable
Machine washable
Wicks away sweat
Breathable
Soft
Drawbacks:
Requires a lot of water
Requires a lot of pesticides, which contain chemicals that can be harmful to people and the planet
UGLY
Polyester
Pros:
Requires less water
Easy to care for
Affordable
Cons:
Produced from toxic chemicals that are extremely harmful to humans and the environment
Sourced from non-renewable resources (oil)
High energy consumption during production
Produces carbon dioxide
Non-biodegradable
Note: recycled polyester would have a higher score
Nylon
courtesy of Pinterest
Pros:
Requires less water
Affordable
Cons:
Sourced from non-renewable resources (oil)
Processed with chemicals that are harmful to the environment and humans
Non-biodegradable
Typically requires acid dying
Creates nitrous oxide (a potent greenhouse gas)
So there you have it. I’m now starting to look into which suppliers have recycled fabrics and which come from further afar. Please send over any information you may that that can help me in this journey to better understand fabrics in the interior design world.