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When you hear the words ‘Environmentally Friendly’, the first thing that probably comes to your mind is reducing plastic use, but did you know that even clothes can be made to be environmentally friendly?
Eco-friendliness or environmental friendliness means the quality of conferring a positive impact on the Earth’s environment. If more people contributed positively to this cause, the series of generations to come would have you to thank.
One major step you can take to sustainable living as a fashionista is to buy clothes whose materials are made from Earth-friendly, easily degradable fabric gotten from natural sources. Most fabric manufacturing companies negatively impact the ecosystem. This is due to the various processes involved in making these materials such as bleaching, dying and storage.
These waste products are unsustainable forms of energy and can cause environmental problems. On reviewsbird.co.uk, you will find various fabric companies that utilise sustainable energy to produce the best products which you can choose from.
As a general rule, features of eco-friendly materials include:
- It should be free from pesticides or fertilizer.
- It should have little to no traces of additive and heavy metals.
- The material or fabric should not be harmful, toxic or carcinogenic.
- They should be biodegradable and produce little carbon footprint.
- They should be renewable or replenishable.
For people who are interested in sustainable fabrics, some of the examples of these environmentally friendly fabrics are:
1. Hemp
Hemp is a sustainable fibre that is easy to plant and process. It doesn’t need the use of fertilizer to grow as it even provides nutrients for the soil. As a fashion statement, hemp can be worn with other clothing materials, is insulating and comfortable, durable and longer-lasting. The method of producing hemp is a simple and safe one. It also doesn’t require vigorous chemicals during production. No matter how much help is washed, it still retains its integrity, making it last longer.
2. Bamboo
Bamboo is a fast-growing sustainable plant that is made from the pulp of the plant. It requires no pesticides, fertilizer or chemicals during cultivation and growth. When it is grown, it is converted into yarn which is then processed naturally without chemicals. Bamboo fabric is easy to maintain, durable, absorbent, soft, comfortable and hygienic. Shoes and bags made from bamboo are highly classy and fashionable.
3. Organic Cotton
Conventional cotton is polluting, commonly used and contains large amounts of pesticides. This is why organic cotton is a much safer kind of fabric. Organic cotton is sustainable, highly biodegradable and quickly replenished. When it is grown, it doesn’t require pesticides and doesn’t contain pollutants such as formaldehyde, ammonium compounds, and heavy metals. Its seeds are cheap and easy to plant. When it is grown, it is converted into fibres and then into the fabric. The fabric made from organic cotton doesn’t cause skin allergies; it is soft and very comfortable to wear.
4. Linen
Organic linen is obtained from flax. During cultivation, it doesn’t require a lot of chemicals for growth. It is renewable, biodegradable and stylish. It is resistant to pests and microorganisms, durable, Strom and long-lasting. However, flax cannot be called ‘100% eco-friendly’ because some chemicals are needed to convert the fibres from the flax plant into the fabric.
In essence, sustainable or eco-friendly fabrics will make you look chic and stylish and play a role in maintaining the integrity of the Earth’s ecosystem.