Organic fashion

This article first appeared in our Earth Day 2025 issue of My Green Pod Magazine, published 22 April. Click here to subscribe to our digital edition and get each issue delivered straight to your inbox

Over half of Britons say it is important that clothing is ‘sustainable’.

In a separate survey by McKinsey, 67% said ‘sustainable materials’ were an important factor when it came to purchasing garments.

What is less clear is what people understand ‘sustainable fashion’ to mean – all the more so because this is an industry that loosely regulates eco-friendly language and is full of greenwash.

Unfortunately, despite consumer demand for more sustainable clothing, the fashion and textiles industry continues to be among the most polluting.

The way materials are made, combined with what consumers do with them after use, means the global fashion sector contributes more carbon emissions than the aviation and maritime industries combined, as well as being the second-largest consumer of water. 

The good news is that if we break down the most polluting parts of the industry, we can find ways to help people make more sustainable fashion purchases that align with their preference for more sustainable materials.

Natural or synthetic?

While cotton is a natural, biodegradable fibre, conventional (non-organic) cotton is one of the world’s most polluting crops.

It uses 6% of the world’s pesticides and 16% of all insecticides, contributing to greenhouse gas emissions as well as having negative impacts on workers’ health. 

Yet the answer isn’t to go synthetic. Textiles made from synthetic fibres like polyester are actually the leading cause of ocean microplastic pollution, representing well over a quarter of all the microplastics in our seas.

There is growing evidence of the negative impacts of microplastics on not just environmental but also human health. 

While opting for recycled polyester may seem a good option, these fibres still contribute to the issue of microplastic pollution.

This is one reason brands like Continental Clothing have stopped using plastic fibres completely, and instead use organically produced natural fibres.

When ‘organic’ is not organic

Organic fibres seem to be the obvious choice; they are biodegradable and are grown without polluting pesticides.

However, just looking for the word ‘organic’ does not necessarily lead you to a more sustainable item of clothing.

In fact, brands can legally use the word ‘organic’ on clothes that contain minimal organic fibres. 

Fortunately, the Global Organic Textiles Standard (GOTS) guarantees a fully traceable supply chain back to the farm.

GOTS-certified garments must be made with at least 70% organic fibre, whether it’s cotton, linen, hemp, wool or anything else.

Another increasingly popular choice is man-made cellulosic fibres (MMCFs), such as viscose, which come from sources like bamboo.

Again, shoppers need to look for third-party certifications like FSC and PEFC to ensure the material is not sourced in a way that leads to deforestation.

Brand names like Tencel also ensure the fibres are created in a closed -loop system, meaning environmentally damaging chemicals used in processing the fibres, such as carbon disulphide and sodium hydroxide, will not leach into water supplies and pollute our environment.