What Is the Most Sustainable Clothing Material?
Why Choosing Sustainable Fabrics Matters
Take a quick look at your closet. Whether you wear cotton tees, wool sweaters, or synthetic leggings, every piece of clothing has a footprint. From how it’s grown or manufactured to how it's dyed, transported, and eventually discarded, the materials we wear matter—a lot.
Fashion accounts for up to 10% of global carbon emissions and nearly 20% of wastewater worldwide (UNEP). The textile industry is one of the most resource-intensive and polluting on the planet. But if you're trying to build a more sustainable wardrobe, where should you start?
Let’s begin with the fibers.
Natural Fibers vs Synthetic Fibers: What’s the Difference?
Natural Fibers
Natural fibers come from plants or animals: cotton, linen (from flax), hemp, wool, silk, and alpaca, to name a few. They're biodegradable under the right conditions and usually less energy-intensive to produce than synthetics.
However, natural doesn’t always mean sustainable. Cotton, for example, is notoriously water-intensive unless grown organically or using regenerative methods. Wool can be climate-friendly when managed well, but overgrazing can damage ecosystems.
Synthetic Fibers
Synthetic fabrics like polyester, nylon, spandex, and acrylic are derived from petroleum. These materials are energy-intensive to produce, non-biodegradable, and shed microplastics every time they’re washed.
That said, synthetics can have a longer usable life, especially in activewear, and can be recycled into new garments, though that rarely happens in practice.
Evaluating Fabric Sustainability: It Depends on the Metric
There’s no single “best” material for the planet. It depends on what aspect of sustainability you prioritize: carbon emissions, water use, land use, toxicity, circularity, or biodegradability. Here’s how common materials compare:
1. Organic Cotton
Pros: Uses non-GMO seeds, no synthetic pesticides, and less water than conventional cotton. Better for soil health.
Cons: Still relatively water-intensive. Requires land. Not always rain-fed.
Good For: Basics like T-shirts, underwear, and kids’ clothing.
2. Linen (Flax)
Pros: Grows in poor soil, needs little water or fertilizer. Biodegradable.
Cons: Wrinkles easily. Can be energy-intensive if heavily processed.
Good For: Lightweight summer clothes, button-ups, casual wear.
3. Hemp
Pros: Fast-growing, requires little water or chemicals. Durable. Improves soil health.
Cons: Limited supply chain. Can feel coarse without blending.
Good For: Streetwear, denim, outerwear, utilitarian basics.
4. TENCEL™ (Lyocell)
Pros: Made from sustainably harvested wood pulp. Closed-loop production process recycles water and solvents. Soft and strong.
Cons: Still requires energy. Brand-dependent sustainability claims.
Good For: Sleepwear, dresses, soft tops, and athleisure.
5. Recycled Polyester (rPET)
Pros: Diverts plastic bottles from landfill. Less energy-intensive than virgin polyester.
Cons: Still sheds microplastics. Not biodegradable. Recycling is limited.
Good For: Activewear, outerwear, and items requiring stretch.
6. Wool (Ethically Sourced)
Pros: Renewable, insulating, long-lasting. Can biodegrade.
Cons: Animal welfare concerns. Methane emissions. Resource-intensive.
Good For: Cold-weather clothing, outerwear, knitwear.
The Gold Standard: Recycled, Thrifted, and Upcycled
If you take away one principle from this article, let it be this: reusing what's already been made is almost always more sustainable than producing something new—no matter how eco-friendly the material.
Secondhand clothing, thrifted garments, upcycled textiles, and recycled materials help reduce demand for virgin resources, keep products out of landfills, and extend the life of what already exists.
Whether you're shopping vintage, swapping with friends, repairing old favorites, or buying from brands that use recycled fabrics, reusing is one of the most impactful sustainability moves you can make.
So, What’s the Most Sustainable Fabric?
The honest answer: it depends.
If you’re prioritizing water conservation, linen or hemp are top contenders. If you want to reduce microplastics, avoid synthetics. If carbon emissions are your concern, opt for organically grown or regenerative natural fibers. If you’re reusing what already exists, recycled or secondhand fabrics may be your best bet.
What matters most is how the material is sourced, processed, worn, and disposed of. Even the most eco-friendly fabric loses its value if it's worn once and thrown away.
Tips for Choosing Sustainable Clothing Materials
1. Read Labels Carefully
Look for third-party certifications: GOTS (Global Organic Textile Standard), OEKO-TEX®, bluesign®, and FSC-certified rayon or lyocell.
2. Buy for Longevity
Choose materials and garments you’ll wear often and care for well.
3. Think End-of-Life
Can the fabric biodegrade? Can you donate, recycle, or repurpose it?
4. Blend with Intention
Blended fabrics (e.g. cotton/polyester) can be harder to recycle. Choose blends only when they significantly improve durability or function.
5. Support Brands That Disclose
Transparency matters. Choose brands that publish their material sourcing, labor practices, and environmental impact.
6. Prioritize Secondhand and Recycled
Look for clothing that is thrifted, swapped, upcycled, or made from recycled fibers. It’s almost always the lower-impact choice.
Final Thoughts: Better, Not Perfect
There’s no one-size-fits-all answer to the most sustainable fabric. But with knowledge and intentionality, we can make better choices. Sustainability is a journey—and every fiber counts.
Want to learn more about building a sustainable wardrobe? We’ll soon be publishing deep dives into thrift shopping, fabric care, and how to responsibly discard old clothes.
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