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Material Sustainability Guide

A guide to selecting the least impactful materials for your brand.

the importance of material selection

Proportionally, materials have the greatest impact on any brand’s emissions

From extraction to fibre to fabric, the materials account for the highest source of emissions, biodiversity impact and more.

Furthermore, materials define what can be done with an item at end-of-life.

To minimise impact, a brand must understand where their materials come from, its properties, and what can be done with them.

38
%

Estimated proportion of fashion industry emissions produced at raw material stage.

Source: business of fashion, 2022

Selected Preferred Materials

Cotton
A soft staple with important impacts
Jute
A regenerating fibre that makes several textile materials
Down and Feathers
Lightweight, insulating fibres from bird plumage
Linen
A hardy, natural fibre ideal for light clothing
Silk
A strong, smooth fibre from silkworms
Hemp
A fast-growing fibre with low-input needs

This guide is a first step to understanding the fibres in your textile value chain.

When looking at materials, one must consider environmental, social and animal welfare perspectives

To measure your actual impact of the actual materials used, suppliers and supply chain must be taken into account. We underscore the importance of understanding the complexity of comparing fibres and the need to look at products from a life-cycle perspective, including the user phase as well as end-of-life. 

Browse all materials

Piñatex
Plant-based “leather” made from pineapple leaf fibres
New Innovation
Natural Stretch
Fibres with inherent elasticity from natural or regenerated sources
New Innovation
CRAiLAR
An enzymatic process turning flax and hemp fibre into a viable cotton alternative
New Innovation
Eastman Naia
A cleaner version of acetate with strong transparency
New Innovation
Biosynthetics
Fibres derived from bio-based, renewable sources like plants
New Innovation
Acrylic
A cheap synthetic fibre often used in knitwear
Man-made
Elastane
A highly elastic synthetic fibre known for stretch
Man-made
Nylon
A tough, resilient synthetic fibre for durable fabrics
Man-made
Polyamide
A durable, quick-drying synthetic fibre used in activewear and lingerie
Man-made
Acetate
A smooth, glossy fibre made from wood pulp
Man-made
Polypropylene
A durable, non-breathable synthetic fibre often used in sportswear
Man-made
Polyester
A versatile synthetic fibre known for durability and moisture resistance
Man-made
Bamboo
A soft, plant-based fibre derived from bamboo pulp
Natural
Cupro
A soft, breathable fibre with a silk-like feel derived from cotton by-products
Man-made
Modal
Better than viscose, but still a chemical fibre
Man-made
Lyocell / Tencel
A strong, silky-soft fibre from certified wood
Man-made
Viscose
A versatile, silk-like fibre made from wood pulp
Man-made
Leather
Tough, natural material from animal skins
Animal-derived
Angora Wool
An ultra-soft, fluffy fibre from Angora rabbits
Animal-derived
Mohair
A smooth, shiny fibre from Angora goats
Animal-derived
Alpaca
A soft, warm, fibre from gentle animals
Animal-derived
Cashmere
A fine, soft wool from cashmere goats
Animal-derived
Down and Feathers
Lightweight, insulating fibres from bird plumage
Animal-derived
Fur
A natural insulating coat from animal pelts
Animal-derived
Silk
A strong, smooth fibre from silkworms
Animal-derived
Wool
A natural, insulating fibre from sheep
Animal-derived
Sisal
Derived from the agave plant
Natural
Ramie
One of the oldest fibres used for textiles
Natural
Cotton
A soft staple with important impacts
Natural
Hemp
A fast-growing fibre with low-input needs
Natural
Linen
A hardy, natural fibre ideal for light clothing
Natural
Jute
A regenerating fibre that makes several textile materials
Natural
a tailor made material guide for your organisation

Do you need a bespoke material guide for your teams?

The material advice contained in this guide is generic.

We recommend most growing brands to create a bespoke material guide that considers your brand’s sustainability strategy, goals, and customer needs, with tailored recommendations based on those.

Bergstrand has assisted fashion, performance and textile brands in creating material guides that have streamlined the design and development process for their teams.

Contact us to find out more.

Book a call

Sources

Mistra Future Fashion report The Fiber Bible, Part 1 and 2

Textile Exchange Materials and Market Report 2024

UN Environmental Programme report Sustainability and Circularity in the Textile Value Chain

Canopy 2020 Hot Button report

The Leather Working Group 

Changing Markets Report: Fossil Fashion

Build a sustainability strategy that works

You need practical solutions for compliance, traceability, and materials from experts that specialise in fashion and textiles.

Tell us where your brand stands today and we will map out the next steps.

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