As the fast fashion industry is the world’s second-biggest consumer of water and is responsible for 8-10% of global carbon emissions, it’s more important than ever to support ethical fashion brands for your next retail purchase. With the sustainability bandwagon getting more and more crowded, it can be difficult to spot companies that actually put in effort to be sustainable from greenwashing corporations. Sustainable businesses can take form in many approaches. Read on to see how these six sustainable activewear brands are leading in the sustainable activewear sector.
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When you’re shopping for workout attire, keep in mind what kind of company you are supporting with your wallet. These six activewear companies are doing important work to make sure our planet remains healthy while keeping your wardrobe fashionable.
Girlfriend Collective
“Don’t make waste, wear it,” is the motto of Girlfriend Collective. This sustainable activewear company uses trash to produce clothing that you won’t want to throw away. So far in 2021, Girlfriend Collective has recycled over 7.5 million water bottles, prevented over 7.5 million pounds of carbon dioxide emission, and saved over 13.5 million gallons of water. Not only are the activewear all sustainably and ethically made, all packaging is made with 100% recycled materials and recyclable as well. The company’s textiles are made from recycled materials in a facility that specialises in eco-friendly and high-quality fibres and materials, and the core factory guarantees fair wages, safe and healthy conditions and zero forced or child labour.
Pact
Pact’s mission is to build “Earth’s favourite clothing company. Everything at Pact is made with organic cotton, which saves vast amounts of water and uses no toxic chemicals. The sustainable company also solely partners with Fair Trade Certified factories in their commitment to ensuring safe working conditions, and that it can empower and uplift local communities and protect both people and the planet. Additionally, shoppers can offset the carbon footprint of their shipments thanks to Pact’s partnership with an eco-tech company that calculates the shipments’ distance, the carbon footprint created and the cost to offset that carbon locally (for example, buying wind energy credits).
tentree
By putting Earth first, tentree uses the most sustainable materials in the world to create super comfortable daily essentials. Its dedication to putting the planet and its people first is evident in its mission and sustainability efforts. For every item purchased, the company will plant ten trees. To date, tentree has planted over 63 million trees. Aside from its reforestation initiatives, tentree is constantly looking for ways to innovatively make apparel with the smallest possible footprint and create more circular supply chains. For example, a tentree sweatshirt uses on average 75% less water to make than a typical sweatshirt from a fashion retailer. Start shopping from tentree and help them fulfil their mission to plant one billion trees by 2030.
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PANGAIA
PANGAIA brands itself as an Earth Positive business that aims to give back more than it takes. With each product purchased, one tree is either planted, protected or restored. Committed to protecting the natural biodiversity, this environmentally-conscious company considers the delicate balance between sustainability, functionality and purpose to create their activewear. For example, PANGAIA utilises seaweed fibre fabrics, which harnesses renewable properties that trees provide. Part of the fabric is made through a closed loop production system, so it recycles water and reuses up to 99% of the solvent used. This ends up creating minimal waste and a fibre that is biodegradable in water, landfills and composting environments. Additionally, there is also a “Shop to Support” section on the website, where customers can donate to support life on land, ocean conservation, and offset their carbon footprint. These are just a few things that PANGAIA does to show love to our Mother Earth.
Allbirds
With multiple initiatives centred around sustainability, Allbirds produces comfortable shoes in an eco-friendly fashion. The company is extremely transparent about their operations, outlining all the carbon footprint emitted in an easy-to-follow chart as well as how much is produced from one shoe in a graph. By shifting farming practices to create healthy soil, replacing non-sustainable materials with natural ones and using cleaner fuel and electricity, Allbirds is working to achieve carbon neutrality, with ambitions to eventually become climate positive.
Threads 4 Thought
Threads 4 Thought (T4T) understands that each purchase you make casts a vote on each brand’s ethical and moral standards. T4T sources the world’s most sustainable materials, including organic cotton, recycled polyester and lenzing modal, which is sustainably-produced inherently flame-resistant cellulosic fibre. Its factories around the world also hold the highest certifications in the industry, ensuring the best working conditions and the highest level of sustainable production processes. Lastly, T4T’s long partnership with the International Rescue Committee has given countless refugee communities the opportunity for a quality of life every human being deserves.
Featured image by: Girlfriend Collective
