A Guide to Materials & Their Impact on Sustainability

The choice of material can determine a big part of a garment’s environmental impact. When choosing materials, knowledge of the entire production process must be taken into account.

Traceability from raw material can be difficult but must always be the goal, as well as consideration end-of-life options.

We have created a Sustainable Material Guide where we have divided raw materials into four different categories from “Preferred” to “Banned”.

The Sustainable Material Guide ranking is based on research and considers environmental, social and animal welfare perspectives.

The Sustainable Material Guide Ranking offered here should be taken as a first step. 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. 

Growing leather-like fabric in the lab.
New Innovation
A “leather” derived from pineapples.
New Innovation
A stretch material made from natural rubber.
New Innovation
Softening hemp and flax with enzymes.
New Innovation
A more sustainably produced type of viscose.
New Innovation
Inspired by spider's silk, a man-made silk material.
New Innovation
Synthetic materials made from renewable resources instead of fossil fuels.
New Innovation
A material made from fossil-fules that may be carcinogenic.
Man-made
Elastane / Spandex / Lycra
Man-made
A durable material made from fossil fuels.
Man-made
A durable material made from fossil fuels.
Man-made
A semi-synthetic material.
Man-made
A plastic material made from fossil fuels.
Man-made
A fast-growing renewable resource that can be mechanically processed.
Natural
A post-cotton waste material that is difficult to trace.
Man-made
A type of viscose that can be difficult to trace
Man-made
Can be almost closed-loop processed, made from wood pulp.
Man-made
Made from cellulose derived from trees and other plants.
Man-made
A ubiquitous material known for its durability.
Animal-derived
Very soft wool from the Angora rabbit.
Animal-derived
A wool known for its softness, durability and lustre.
Animal-derived
A traceable wool that is naturally soft and hypoallergenic.
Animal-derived
A luxurious wool that can be readily recycled into high quality garments.
Animal-derived
Down and feathers from birds, most common from duck or goose.
Animal-derived
A controversial material to be avoided.
Animal-derived
Wool from sheep, merino or other sheep breed.
Animal-derived
A luxurious material that can be sourced humanely.
Animal-derived
Derived from the agave plant
Natural
One of the oldest fibres used for textiles.
Natural
The environmental impact of cotton depends on the way of farming it.
Natural
A pesticide-free natural fibre.
Natural
A hardy, natural fibre ideal for light clothing.
Natural
A regenerating fibre that makes several textile materials.
Natural

Bergstrand Consultancy is a full-service sustainability practice specialising in fashion and textile.