Natural, Organic or Recycled?

From “WEARABLESbusinessSTYLE,” Volume 14, April 2009, Advertising Specialty Institute, Copyright 2009

Natural, Organic or Recycled - What's Your Pleasure?

With Earth Day occurring this week, distributors have more than likely had their fair share of inquiries for an eco-friendly garment to tout the occasion. It’s a broad request, actually. To really satisfy a customer with the right apparel, made from the desired “green” material, it’s essential to clarify what eco-friendly means to the buyer. Is the request for something natural, recycled, organic or some combination? Here are a few fabric options that to consider.

Bamboo fibers are certainly natural, typically organic and absolutely sustainable in that the plant grows prolifically. An added benefit is that bamboo has antibacterial properties, so that the fabric is a naturally odor- and bacteria-resistant option.

Like bamboo, cotton is a natural option, though it traditionally has required a significant amount of chemicals to grow in abundance. In fact, conventional cotton is one of the world’s most agro-chemically intensive crops per unit. Organic cotton crops – tended with fertilizers and “pesticides” of plant or animal origin – have made the difference for cotton in eco-friendly markets. Numerous promotional apparel suppliers now offer organic cotton lines. Visually, however, buyers must accept that organic cotton isn’t a pristine white the way that traditional cotton is.

Another natural fabric to consider for the environmentally concerned is hemp. This fiber is valued for its durability and softness. It is naturally resistant to UV rays. An increasing number of hemp-fabric garments are now available from promotional apparel sources.

Fabrics made from recycled materials are an alternative option. A desire to move away from petroleum-based textiles such as polyesters has driven fabricators to offer versions that offset content concerns by using recycled versions. For example, garments made from recycled PET filaments (extruded from broken down plastic water and soda bottles) are sustainable and useful. The benefit is that they deter the build up of plastics in landfills, which do not biodegrade. Yet, the value of a polyester garment – its durability and colorfastness – is preserved.