As you probably know, fast fashion is a major polluter. So much so that over 510,000 tonnes of clothing were thrown away in France in 2020. But this phenomenon extends beyond France's borders, with over 4 million tonnes of clothing thrown away by Europeans every year.
All these clothes thrown away pollute because the raw materials used are often inexpensive and therefore synthetic, chemical or even toxic. So what can you do to combat this pollution?
That's where eco-friendly materials come in!
When it comes to eco-friendly materials, there are many to choose from. But today we're going to focus on one category in particular:
Eco-friendly organic textiles.
Organic cotton
Cotton is the most widely produced natural plant fiber in the world, and it's not hard to imagine, it's so soft!
This fiber can be grown in two different ways. The first is the "conventional" method, the second is the "organic" method. The difference between the two is their environmental impact.
Conventional cotton cultivation requires numerous chemical products such as fertilizers, pesticides, insecticides and even dyes. This causes enormous damage to soil fertility and consumes a lot of water. To give you an idea, a conventional cotton T-shirt requires 2,500 liters of water, the equivalent of 70 showers. So even if we don't know the exact figures for water consumption in organic cotton cultivation, we do know that it's well under 70 showers for one t-shirt. And why is that? Well, because organic cotton is grown without pesticides, chemical fertilizers, insecticides or GMOs. The soil is therefore much better able to retain water and moisture, as it is not attacked.
How to recognize organic cotton?
Organic cotton is given this designation once the management controllers of the certification labels have validated the cultivation and manufacture of this fiber. To qualify, the cotton must be grown without chemicals, and the products used in its transformation into textile fiber must be free of carcinogens, chlorine and heavy metals. Organic cotton is certified by Oeko Tex and GOTS.
Organic flax
Grown in temperate zones and by the sea, flax is renowned for the strength of its fiber. Like its predecessor, organic flax is grown without pesticides or insecticides, chemical fertilizers or GMOs.
But unlike cotton, even non-organic linen is considered an ecological material, requiring little water and few insecticides. To guarantee organic linen, look for the GOTS and Oeko Tex labels.
Organic hemp
You may or may not have heard of it. Organic hemp is a natural, eco-responsible plant fiber that's very strong, biodegradable, hypoallergenic, solid and durable. And that's just the beginning!
Organic hemp is grown without pesticides, insecticides, GMOs or chemical fertilizers, and has the same properties as traditional hemp (which causes little pollution).
Did you know?
France is the world's leading hemp producer. Which makes it an eco-responsible and French material. Isn't that nice!
Organic wool
Like cotton, wool can be categorized into two types of fiber. Conventional and organic.
Organic wool is a natural material of animal origin that respects the animal's well-being, with anti-odor and thermoregulating properties. It is antibacterial and biodegradable, making it an excellent textile alternative. Its transformation into garments consumes very little energy, which is a big plus when compared with synthetic materials such as acrylic. In addition to being certified by the GOTS label, organic wool must meet other criteria concerning the animal:
- Livestock and grazing areas must be organic, and land must be managed responsibly.
- It is forbidden to use hormone treatments on sheep
- It is forbidden to perform museling, which consists in removing part of the animal's skin without anesthesia.
Now you know how to recognize eco-friendly organic materials that won't damage your skin.
and respect all living beings. So no more excuses, grab your magnifying glass and take a look at the composition of your clothes!