What to Look For in Ethical Clothing
As the demand for sustainable clothing grows, more and more brands are rising to the challenge of transforming the fashion industry for the better. Finally, it feels like sustainability isn’t as much of an afterthought but a fundamental component of a successful business. Finally, both brands and consumers are waking up to the damaging impact of fast fashion on our planet and the people working in the industry.
In this cultural climate, you might assume that most of the clothing you buy is ethically sourced and eco-friendly. Right?
Not exactly.
While there are plenty of dedicated brands whose practices align with their values, many companies simply employ greenwashing tactics to cover themselves for what is realistically an environmentally destructive business.
So, what makes an ethical brand, and what should you be looking for when shopping for ethical clothing?
Recycled materials
It’s undeniable: brands that recycle materials instead of using raw materials to make their products make better use of resources. PET (Recycled Polyethylene Terephthalate), for example, is one of the most common plastics in the world.
Unfortunately, a lot of it ends up in landfills and oceans - which is a shame, because it can so easily be melted down and recycled into entirely new products.
Brands who use recycled materials to create ethical clothing tend to have what’s called a “circular” manufacturing process that relies on the reuse of products instead of the current “take-make-waste” model.
Natural fibers
Look at the labels or the product information for the garments you’re thinking of buying, and pay attention to the fabric used. Synthetic fabrics made from raw plastic like polyester and nylon are incredibly energy-intensive to produce, so it’s worth avoiding these unless the garments use recycled materials.
Otherwise, look for natural fibers such as bamboo, hemp and linen, which can be grown without putting strain on the planet’s resources. It’s worth noting that cotton, although organic, requires a massive amount of water and harmful pesticides to grow. According to UNEP, it takes 2,000 gallons of water to make one pair of jeans.
Recycled cotton garments get around this problem, using far less water and energy to produce and helping to keep perfectly good clothes out of landfills.
Eco-conscious practices
The fashion industry is the fourth largest polluting industry on the planet. Fortunately, ethical clothing is becoming a fast-growing trend, and more brands are actively committed to limiting their impact on the environment and lowering their carbon footprint.
But it isn’t always easy to tell who is eco-minded and sustainable and who is using tags like #ecofriendly and #ecoconscious while still contributing to pollution and doing nothing to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions. See through the marketing. Look at labels. Scrutinize websites. If you can, look for evidence of their environmental impact and processes. Do your research and beware of those who are simply using sustainability as a buzzword.
Eco-friendly packaging
Sustainability may be gaining momentum, but the fashion industry is still heavily reliant on plastic and paper throughout the supply chain. Despite the damaging effects to our environment from plastic waste, many companies still use single-use plastic – whether it’s polybags in factories, plastic bags in store, plastic packaging in online orders or plastic hangtags. These may seem like small things, but they build up to make a significant problem.
We know it’s not always easy to know which companies use eco-friendly materials when shopping online. Some companies talk a good game but don’t back up their words with actions. Others say nothing, leaving their ethics a mystery to their customers. At Ecofera, we’re transparent about everything we do – and that’s because we have nothing to hide. From our products to our packaging, we never rely on single-use plastic and proudly use recyclable materials throughout.
