5 materials you should avoid if you want to dress sustainably

Do you want to dress more sustainably, but don't know exactly which materials are sustainable and which are not? We've listed five of the most environmentally harmful materials that you should avoid when shopping in order to dress in an environmentally friendly way.

 

• Genuine leather
• Polyester
• Acrylic
• Nylon
• Conventional cotton

 

 

Genuine leather

Real leather is often seen by society as a luxurious and durable natural product. But in reality, genuine leather is the most environmentally damaging material in the fashion industry.

 

Why is real leather harmful to the environment?

Among other things, an enormous amount of water, space and energy is used to produce leather and toxic and harmful substances are used during production. In addition, animals have to suffer for the production of this material, as most of the leather comes from countries where there are no effective animal welfare laws.

Here you can find out more reasons why real leather harms the environment and people.

 

 

Polyester, acrylic, nylon - Synthetic materials

Polyester, acrylic and nylon are synthetic materials that are man-made and cannot be found in nature. Thanks to the development of these inexpensive materials in the 20th century, the average consumer was able to afford a wide range of clothing. However, we are now realizing that these materials are damaging our planet and our health.

 

Why are polyester, acrylic and nylon harmful to the environment?

The biggest problem with clothing made from synthetic fibers is that the tiny fibers are released during washing and end up in the wastewater. However, these tiny particles cannot be filtered out and thus end up in the water and the environment. Synthetic material is not biodegradable and persists for a long time. Over time, it even ends up in the food chain and in people's food.

Another problem is that synthetic fibers are based on crude oil, which is a non-renewable raw material. The processing of the oil consumes a lot of energy and water and large quantities of toxic liquids are produced, which are then released into rivers and waterways. In addition, the extraction of oil destroys forests, oceans and landscapes and oil spills, which occur time and again, destroy the environment.

 

 

Conventional cotton

Cotton is a natural fiber that comes from the seed hairs of the cotton plant. Many people believe that cotton is sustainable because it is a natural product and a renewable resource, but in reality cotton and cotton production has extremely harmful effects on people and the environment.

 

Why is conventional cotton harmful to the environment? 

Firstly, an enormous amount of water is used to make the cotton soft and fluffy. Between 10,000 and 30,000 liters of water are used to produce one kilogram of cotton. In addition, most cotton is grown in developing countries, where there is often a shortage of water.

Secondly, an enormous amount of chemical pesticides are used to grow cotton. Cotton cultivation is responsible for 10 to 20% of the world's pesticide use, although it only accounts for around 2.5% of the agricultural land used worldwide. Some of these pesticides end up in the environment and harm people, animals and the environment.

 

Sustainable types of cotton

But there are more sustainable types of cotton - recycled and organic cotton. No artificial fertilizers or pesticides are used with these types of cotton and less water is used, as the soil in organic farming can store more water.

 

What to do with the clothes you already own?

As you can see, you should avoid these 5 materials when shopping in order to dress more sustainably. But what to do with the clothes you already own?

Just because a large proportion of your clothes are made from these materials doesn't mean you have to throw them away, because buying them would be even more harmful to the environment. Wear an item of clothing as long as you enjoy it. If you no longer want it, the most sustainable way is to sell it on, give it away or donate it to a clothing collection. That way it will continue to be worn and loved.

And fortunately, there is a wide range of sustainable materials that you can buy with a clear conscience.

Here you will find information about 5 of the most sustainable materials.

Click here for products made from sustainable ApplePeel.