When the days get shorter and the weather gets colder, there’s nothing better than a cosy sweater to keep you nice and warm. But if, like me, you’ve run out of old sweaters — seriously, mine are slowly falling apart — and you’re forced to go shopping again, we’ve picked out four comfortable and sustainable fabrics for you. You’re guaranteed to stay warm and cosy during the cold season with these. ©Alena Ozerova | Stock.Adobe.com

Sustainable fabrics for winter

1. Organic cotton/Recycled cotton

Cotton is the world’s most widely used natural fiber, feeling soft against the skin. However, growing it has a significant environmental impact. On average, around 2,700 liters of water are needed to produce an organic cotton T-shirt. Using pesticides places an additional burden on the environment. Even organic cotton can only solve these problems to a limited extent. Although it improves in all areas, the original problem of water intensity unfortunately remains. Additionally, organic cotton is often imported from distant parts of the world, resulting in increased CO₂ emissions.

Recycled cotton can be a better alternative because it saves water and pesticides. However, the effectiveness of this alternative depends greatly on the recycling method and the other fibers with which the cotton is ultimately combined. Recycled cotton alone is not strong enough to make clothing. Still, both options are significantly more environmentally friendly than conventional cotton!

2. Organic hemp

Hemp is a significantly more water-efficient alternative that doesn’t require pesticides and promotes biodiversity. Of course, this only applies to organic hemp. However, there are a few drawbacks: long delivery routes (most hemp is produced in China), strict European regulations due to the cannabis ban, and inefficient processing methods. On the other hand, hemp is well-suited for winter because it regulates temperature, is robust, and is soft after processing.

3. Lyoncell

Lyocell, also known as Tencel, is a fiber extracted from wood pulp, typically from eucalyptus or spruce trees, that is very environmentally friendly. Compared to cotton production, significantly less water is required, and no pesticides are used. Additionally, nearly all of the chemicals used are recycled. One disadvantage, however, is that some of the trees used in production must be imported from Asia because European forests are no longer sufficient, which results in long transport routes. Lyocell definitely scores points in terms of comfort, though.

4. Organic linen

Linen is breathable, temperature-regulating, and it softens with each wash, making it cozy, but unfortunately, it does not retain heat well. Linen is obtained from flax, which can be cultivated in much of the EU, including Germany. Compared to cotton, flax is a superior crop because it requires significantly less water and pesticides. However, fertilizers that can pollute the groundwater are used even when it is grown domestically. Nevertheless, that is the only criticism I could find in my research.

That may sound negative and seem as if there are no truly sustainable materials—which is partly true. Nevertheless, all of the materials mentioned here are the most environmentally friendly that can currently be achieved, and my complaints are really just complaining on a high level. 🙂