Buy clothing made from natural materials
Certified organic cotton, hemp and bamboo are all great choices for greener garments.
If you plan to treat yourself to some new clothes, take care to make sure the products you buy are made only from natural, chemical-free materials.
Materials such as polyester and conventional cotton may have required the use of as much as a third of their own weight in chemicals during production. These chemicals risk damage to the environment and, for those with sensitive skin, can potentially cause irritation, reactions and allergies when the clothing is worn.
Clothing items made from natural and organic materials are produced with few or no chemicals, greatly reducing the environmental impact of their production.
Certified organic cotton is grown without the use of chemical fertilisers or harmful pesticides and continues to avoid chemical treatments throughout its production into clothing.
Bamboo is also an increasingly-popular choice of material for clothing. Bamboo is highly renewable, growing quickly without the need for fertilisers, pesticides and other chemicals, and can be turned into a beautiful soft material which is comfortable, breathable and hard-wearing.
Hemp has similar benefits, also allowing the production of quality clothing from a highly-renewable crop.
