It’s 2022, and every single one of us should be thinking about ways to be more sustainable. The fashion industry is one of the biggest polluters globally, and its carbon footprint is massive due to overconsumption and endless landfills with clothing and textile waste.
A simple way to contribute positively to changing the dire situation? How about choosing sustainable t-shirts! Tees are one of the wardrobe staples for almost every person on the plant, so imagine the difference it would make if we all decided to choose a sustainable alternative!
So, what does a sustainable t-shirt mean? We investigate.
Sustainable business
Sustainability in fashion covers a few things. The ethical side of the business starts at the factories and how the brands treat their employees.
T-shirts are very easy to mass-produce, and unfortunately, people who work in that industry suffer from poor treatment and below minimum wages.
Being an ethical business means ensuring fair wages, suitable working conditions, and fair treatment of workers, from giving them reasonable schedules to providing access to water and bathrooms.
Safe and non-toxic
And then, there’s the textile and production side of things.
Fabric production usually uses many resources, such as water and land, and it also produces a lot of waste and releases toxic chemicals into the environment.
When it comes to sustainable t-shirts, there should be significant changes made in all of these areas.
No harmful chemicals and dyes
Sustainable t-shirt brands use only textiles made without the use of toxic chemicals and hazardous dyes. Today there are eco-friendly alternatives that protect the environment.
And yes, these tees may cost a little extra, but if you’re paying only $5-7 for a garment, the hidden costs harm everyone.
Keep in mind that these chemicals affect all of us. Research has shown that they can impact the nervous system, breast milk, may delay puberty, cause blood abnormalities, and cause symptoms such as nausea, respiratory problems, dizziness, and allergies.
Organic materials
Besides the use of chemicals and dyes, the costs of making such materials as cotton or bamboo are even higher as a whole unless we choose organic alternatives.
The production of non-organic fabrics uses a lot of water. It also drains the land and affects all the microorganisms in nature.
So if you’re looking for a sustainable t-shirt option, consider fabrics that can be recycled and are biodegradable, meaning they disintegrate over time instead of piling in landfills.
- Organic Cotton
- TENCEL™ Lyocell
- TENCEL™ Modal
- Organic Hemp
- Organic linen
- Organic bamboo
Certifications
One of the easiest ways to find organic and sustainable products, including tees, is to look for third-party certifications.
Here are a few common ones to keep in mind.
- Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS)
- Oeko-Tex 100
- Organic Content Standard (OCS)
- Better Cotton Standard
- Bluesign
- Fairtrade
- Forest Stewardship Council
- SCS Recycled Content Certification
- USDA-Certified Organic
- Recycled Claim Standard
Ethical sourcing and corporate responsibility
How fabrics and other materials for the t-shirts are sourced also impacts sustainability.
We recommend reading up on the brand you’re interested in. If they have all the information available and are transparent about who produces their garments, the conditions, etc., you could feel safer that your values are honored.
You can check Fresh Clean Tees’ eco line for example and see how they are transparent about the way their t-shirts are produced: freshcleantees.com/collections/sustainable-eco-friendly-t-shirts
Remember to check the public company corporate responsibility practices, including programs for workers, charity to important causes, sustainability that extends to packaging, etc.
Durability
Lastly, one of the crucial parts of a sustainable t-shirt is its durability. The longer we can wear it and the longer it stays in good shape, the fewer new items we purchase, reducing the wastage.
Choose brands like that, which make high-quality, durable, and stylish t-shirts you’ll wear many times and that won’t lose their shape after multiple washes!
