How to Choose Green and Eco-Conscious Athletic Wear?

Guide to Choosing Sustainable Workout Clothing.

The world is moving towards more sustainable options for clothing, be it daily wear or activewear. Why? Most activewear contains virgin nylon and polyester, which are fossil-fuel-derived plastics and highly damaging to our planet. So for the rest of this year, meet your fitness goals without causing harm to the earth with sustainable workout clothing. 

Here are some tips for choosing the right sustain activewear for you. 

1. Say no to virgin synthetics

Virgin synthetics (nylon and polyester) cause damage to our planet. Therefore, look for brands that use alternative materials in their activewear line. Some of these eco-friendly brands use recycled polyester (sourced from bottles) to create workout clothing. 

Some others use natural alternatives like organic cotton and viscose, which have a lower impact on the planet when appropriately sourced. Using workout clothing from such brands can help you reduce your impact on the earth.

2. Look for recycling schemes

You will be surprised to know how many of your old workout clothes (or clothes, generally) end up in a landfill. Landfills are overflowing across the globe and only cause more pollution. You can prevent these by looking for brands that offer recycling options. 

These brands usually recycle clothing, primarily by processing the polyester yarn (turning old into new). The recycled yarn is then used in the production of new activewear. Such a scheme leads to a circular system, where no activewear reaches the overflowing landfill. 

3. Avoid chemically produced items

Your workout clothing often sticks to your skin. In addition, using clothes that use chemicals in the manufacturing process can cause rashes and allergies. Protect yourself from that by choosing brands that use natural dyes, as opposed to synthetic ones. 

When you choose sustainable workout clothing that uses organic dyes, you also protect the environment from the harmful chemical release that normal dyeing processes cause. Make sure that the clothing brand you choose certifies that the clothes are manufactured without any chemicals. 

4. Consider durability

For a sustainable planet, we need to buy better and less. This is only possible when you opt for durable activewear. Durability is a priority because you have to wash the clothing multiple times a week. As such, look for brands offering clothes that undergo rigorous washing and tumbling tests in the post-production stage. This may take you some experiment to figure out.

Sustainable Activewear Guide by My Green Closet