Why Should You Choose Biodegradable Clothing

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Recently, there has been a growing trend of people making a shift towards biodegradable clothing. This change in attitude is a sign of good things to come, demonstrating increasing public awareness of the fast fashion industry’s environmental impacts.

Ninety-two million tons of textile waste are dumped into landfills annually, equivalent to a rubbish truck full of clothes dumping its contents on a landfill site every second. The fashion industry even contributes 10% of total global carbon emissions, according to Business Insider.

Adding to the problem is that many clothing made by fast fashion companies use synthetic fibers that do not degrade naturally and can persist in landfills for decades on end.

Fortunately, as the public becomes more aware of this problem, they are making a move towards adopting biodegradable clothing and other sustainable fashion practices and trends.

What is textile waste?

Before we start talking about biodegradable clothing, we must first understand the problems with textile waste.

Textile waste refers to any material that is leftover or discarded during the textile production process or at the end of its usable life. The term encompasses anything from pieces of scrap fabric or leftover yarn to worn-down clothes and towels.

Generally, textile waste can be divided into three categories:

Pre-consumer: Also called production waste, this is the waste generated during the production process. It includes fabric scraps, damaged or defective material, and leftover fabric or threads.
Post-consumer: These are household articles or garments that have reached the end of usable life and are thus discarded. Out-of-fashion or damaged clothing falls under this category, and the fast fashion industry is especially guilty of contributing to this waste.
Industrial: These are generated from industrial applications and include conveyor belts, filters, geo-textiles, and wiping rags. Once a particular component falls apart due to wear and tear, it is thrown away.

Sadly, with our throw-away culture, textile waste is a problem that will only get worse if we let things continue the way they are.

How is textile waste harmful?

It may not look like it, but textile waste is extremely harmful to the environment in more ways than one:

Recycling problems: While it is theoretically possible for textile waste to be recycled, ultimately, only 15% of used textiles are considered “recyclable.” This is due to the composition of many clothes, using a blended mixture of polyester and cotton, which makes it difficult to recycle one fabric without degrading the other.
Landfill overload: Used garments take up a lot of space in our landfills and are difficult to decompose. Many synthetic fabrics can, in fact, take over 200 years to decompose totally.
Greenhouse gas emissions: As textile waste decomposes in landfills, it releases methane, a more potent greenhouse gas compared to carbon dioxide. And with how much textile waste we throw away, its contributions to climate change will only build up.
Water consumption: The textile industry is one of the biggest water consumers globally, using up significant amounts of water during the production process. In fact, the World Resources Institute states that just one cotton shirt uses up 2,700 liters of water in its production.
Water pollution: Many textiles are dyed or treated with synthetic chemicals. These chemicals often end up in our lakes, rivers, and oceans, creating detrimental health effects on people, plants, and wildlife.

Sustainable fashion trends

Fortunately, the general public is becoming more aware of the problems with fast fashion and textile waste. And this awareness is only growing, thanks to various sustainable fashion trends in recent years. Here are a few to consider:

Shifting to sustainable brands: As more consumers are made aware of the problems with the fashion industry, many are making the shift towards luxury brands focusing on sustainability. These brands focus on making durable, long-lasting garments made out of high-quality, sustainably sourced materials.
Circular economies: A circular economy aims to extend the life span of products as much as possible while also ensuring nothing goes to waste.
Upcycling: A method of extending a product’s usage before its end of life by turning it into something new. Upcycling takes old or discarded garments and transforms them into a new product serving a different practical purpose.
Slow fashion and minimalism: A deliberate contrast to fast fashion, slow fashion, and minimalism encourages consumers to embrace a more eco-conscious approach to clothing. These movements advocate for quality over quantity, investing in garments that are made to last, thus reducing waste and the need for frequent purchases.

And, of course, the development of biodegradable clothing is another part of this wave of sustainable fashion trends.

What is biodegradable clothing?

Simply put, these are clothes made from biodegradable materials. While most of us immediately go to plants when we think of “biodegradable,” the term actually encompasses anything that can be degraded through microbial action in nature.

As such, it can include materials like biodegradable plastics or even mushrooms!

Which fabrics are 100% biodegradable?

Many different types of biodegradable material can be woven into fabrics and textiles for weaving clothes and other products. Here are some examples:

Bamboo cloth

We think of bamboo as panda food. But as it turns out, this plant is far more versatile than most of us believe.

Recently, bamboo has been gaining traction as a biodegradable alternative to plastics, styrofoam, and other petroleum-derived products.

After all, bamboo grows more quickly than trees (only taking five years to mature compared to most hardwoods that take as much as 20 years to grow fully), is able to regrow itself from its roots without the need to replant them, and can produce 35% more oxygen in comparison to trees of an equivalent mass.

Bamboo can even be woven into fabrics. Read here to learn more about the various types of bamboo fabrics – ranging from bamboo viscose to mechanically produced fine bamboo fiber, Lyocell bamboo fabric, etc.

But how do you turn bamboo into cloth?

It all starts with the bamboo pulp, of course. The bamboo stalks are crushed, and after that, the cellulose is separated from the fiber. They are then turned into thread to be woven into fabric.

Read more on the uses of bamboo cloth here.

Hemp

Hemp has a bit of a bad reputation due to its association with marijuana. But long before it was used as a drug, hemp was a popular material for making fabrics.

Indeed, hemp is one of the strongest and most durable organic fibers available today. According to ScienceDirect, hemp clothing even has triple the tensile strength of cotton.

Hemp can be grown nearly everywhere, though it prefers tropical or temperate climates. The plant possesses natural defenses against insects (removing the need for chemical pesticides), can survive on less water than other crops, grows quickly, and can be harvested thrice per year. These traits make hemp cheap, fast to cultivate, and easy to care for.

To make hemp fabric, the plant undergoes the “retting” process, where long strands of fiber are removed from the plant’s stalk. The fibers are then spun into continuous before being woven into a fabric.

Cotton

As demonized as it is, cotton is actually considered healthy and good for the environment (barring its huge water requirements). So long as it’s not treated with any harsh chemicals, cotton clothing decomposes quickly when it eventually wears out.

More than 220,000 cotton farms around the world are totally organic, completely bereft of pesticides, GMOs, and synthetic fertilizers.

Algae

Algae are aquatic plant-like organisms ranging in size from microscopic pondlife to giant kelp. Recently, these organisms have been gaining traction as a new source of sustainable, biodegradable fabric.

New York-based startup KeelLabs has devised a method of extracting alginic acid, a natural biopolymer produced by algae, and converting it into a biodegradable yarn. This yarn can then be woven into a fabric either by machine or by hand.

Although currently in the experimental stage, algal clothing has a huge potential to change the face of the fashion industry.

Which fibers are non-biodegradable?

Now that you know what fibers are biodegradable, here are some non-biodegradable fibers you should be made aware of:

Polyester

Polyester is a plastic fiber derived from petroleum. Like all plastics, polyester can take decades or even centuries to break down. And by the time it does, it will persist in the environment as microplastics.

These microscopic plastic sheds are unwittingly eaten by animals, building up in the food chain until humans like us consume the contaminated meat.

Nylon

Nylon is the name given to a family of synthetic, petroleum-derived polymers that are commonly used to make a variety of different types of apparel and consumer goods.

While its invention in the 20th Century took the fashion world by storm, nylon’s detrimental impacts on the environment soon became clear.

As nylon is synthetic, it is also totally non-biodegradable. Thus, those old nylon socks you threw away will continue to sit in a landfill somewhere for years, decades, or even centuries.

Fleece

Fleece is a synthetic, wool-like material made from a type of polyester fiber. Fleece is made by heating petroleum derivatives, forming a thick syrup, which then hardens and is spun into threads. These fine polyester fibers are then woven into a light fabric and brushed out, creating a dense, breathable fabric that still retains heat.

Fleece is often blended with natural fibers like wool or hemp to add texture or vibrancy and may also be made from recycled plastics.

While this sounds eco-friendly, it must be remembered that fleece is still a plastic product like polyester. Washing fleece clothing will release microfibers into our lakes, rivers, and oceans. And just like microplastics, these fiber shreds will pose problems for the health of our ecosystems.

How long does it take for biodegradable clothing to decompose?

Not all biodegradable materials are made equal. Some may last longer than others. Here are some examples:

Cotton: 100% organic cotton will decompose within 1-5 months.
Linen: Pure, organic linen can take a mere two weeks to decompose.
Bamboo: Pure organic bamboo fabrics and fibers take about 4-6 months to biodegrade naturally.
Hemp: As long as it is not processed excessively, hemp can take three months to decompose.
Wool: Depending on the blend, wool can take a full year or even five years to decompose fully.

Advantages and disadvantages of biodegradable clothing

Biodegradable clothing affords many benefits over its non-biodegradable counterparts. But there are also some drawbacks that buyers need to be aware of:

Advantages of biodegradable clothing

Here are some of the best advantages that biodegradable clothing can offer:

Low environmental impact: Biodegradable clothes are made of natural materials with few synthetic additives. As such, it will decompose quickly and safely in the environment.
Sustainable: The production of biodegradable clothing utilizes ethical and sustainable manufacturing practices. This helps reduce the fashion industry’s contribution to waste, pollution, and environmental degradation.
Non-toxic: Biodegradable clothes are free from the harmful or toxic chemicals that are present in conventional clothing. This makes them safer for people to wear, especially those allergic to certain synthetic chemicals.
Durable and flexible: Clothes made from durable materials like hemp can withstand wear and tear as much as clothing made from synthetic substances. This grants them longevity and reduces the need for frequent replacement.
Comfortable: Clothes made from materials like linen are valued for their softness and breathability. This grants them an extra layer of comfort.
Skin-friendly: As mentioned earlier, biodegradable clothing does not contain harmful chemicals, making them suitable for those with sensitive skin. They are also breathable and moisture-wicking (can move moisture away from the body). This helps them regulate their wearer’s body temperature, preventing bacteria and fungi from growing on your skin.

Disadvantages of biodegradable clothing

At the same time, however, you need to be aware of some of the disadvantages:

Higher costs: Biodegradable clothes tend to be more expensive than conventional clothing due to the higher cost of raw materials and manufacturing practices.
Limited availability: Due to being relatively new, biodegradable clothes tend to have less availability than conventional clothing. Additionally, there may also be fewer options for consumers to choose from.
Durability: While some plant-based materials like hemp and organic cotton can be very durable, others like linen may be less so. As such, consumers may find themselves replacing these clothes more often.
Care requirements: While some natural fabrics like cotton or wool are simple to clean, others may require extra attention to maintain their quality and capacity to be biodegradable. For example, they may be cold-wash or air-dry only, less the natural fibers get damaged.
Decomposition time: Some biodegradable plant-based materials have widely varying decomposition times. Depending on the temperature, moisture, and exposure to sunlight, it can take as little as two weeks or as long as six months for the fibers to decompose.

Biodegradable clothing brands

Looking for some brands that offer sustainable, biodegradable clothes?

Here’s a list of some of the most popular or notable clothing brands that provide sustainable options for shoppers and fashionistas:

The Slow Label: A slow fashion brand that offers garments and accessories made from recycled cotton, wool, and other sustainable materials.
Patagonia: Offers outdoor clothing and apparel, and activewear made from recycled materials and organic cotton.
Boody: Its product range includes loungewear, activewear, underwear, and even babywear, all made from organically grown bamboo.
Happy Earth: Offers apparel, accessories, activewear, and headwear for both men and women, all made from organic material and packaged in recycled or recyclable packaging.
People Tree: Specializing in producing affordable fair-trade apparel and accessories for women made using organic cotton and biodegradable materials.
Unplug: Unplug’s selection includes clothing, accessories, and lifestyle items, all made from sustainably sourced materials.
Organic Basics: With a slogan that says “Designed in Copenhagen — made ethically for all on Earth,” Organic Basics offers a range of apparel made from organic cotton and recycled materials.
TWOTHIRDS: This brand uses a pre-order system to make bespoke clothing, using a variety of biodegradable fibers such as TENCEL™ lyocell, hemp, linen, and organic cotton and cutting out as much textile waste as possible.
Pact: Based in Colorado, USA, Pact uses 100% organic, fair trade, non-GMO cotton to produce a range of products, from basics for men, women, and children to activewear.
tentree: Based in Vancouver, Canada, tentree produces clothes for everyone, ranging from kids’ apparel to adult tops, bottoms, outerwear, and accessories, using sustainable fabrics such as Tencel, hemp, and organic cotton.

Click here for more sustainable clothing brands to buy from!!

Is biodegradability the future of fashion?

Biodegradability is seeing great promise as a cornerstone of sustainable fashion. This is thanks to growing awareness of the environmental problems within the fashion industry, leading to consumers and brands alike seeking eco-friendly alternatives.

Biodegradable materials like bamboo, hemp, and organic cotton offer a compelling solution to the textile waste problem, especially since they are easily broken down by natural action. This, combined with their sustainable farming practices, ensures that these materials will reduce the burden on both landfills and the environment.

While challenges such as scalability and cost remain, innovations in the production of biodegradable textiles will help overcome these limitations. Already, new developments have ushered in the usage of novel materials such as citrus fruit rinds, soybeans, and even bioengineered spider silk.

Additionally, the integration of novel technologies will further improve the production of biodegradable fabrics and, thus, improve their availability. For example, several clothing brands are investing in 3D printing technology as a novel means of manufacturing custom-fit biodegradable clothes.

Why Should You Choose Biodegradable Clothing?