Do you know what is in the clothing you put on when you head out for a run or go to a yoga class? And what happens when it combines with sweat? Most of the workout clothing you are wearing is actually not designed to be in contact with your skin. It can negatively impact your health and the health of the planet.
If you take a look at your wardrobe of activewear, you’ll most likely come across a popular material called polyester. Polyester is a plastic material that is dominating the fashion industry because of its convenience and cheap cost. Unfortunately, this fabric is not sustainable, ethical, or healthy for many reasons. Let’s talk about them!
Odor & Bacteria Growth
Odor is a major issue when working out in polyester fabric. You may see tags that say “moisture wicking” or “quick drying” to appeal to people’s desire to feel dry or stay stain-free when sweating. In reality, the chemicals used to create polyester actually trap sweat and oils and create an environment for bacteria to grow in the fabric itself. So while you might feel like the sweat has disappeared, it's actually breeding harmful bacteria right against your skin. This leads to persistent body odor and is much harder to get rid of in the long term as well. Even through consistent washing, synthetic polyester holds onto odor and bacteria. Have you ever tossed out some old activewear because it began to consistently smell mildewy? The quicker something must be tossed out, the less envirnomentally friendly and cost efficient.
Biodegradability
Polyester is a synthetic, oil-based, plastic material which requires a chemical reaction to create. Instead of being biodegradable, polyester only breaks down eventually into smaller and smaller microplastics. These microplastics will end up sitting in landfills or the ocean. You may have noticed clothing companies now using recycled polyester for activewear. This is a step in the right direction for the environment, but not for your skin and overall health.
The Science Behind It...
In order to understand why polyester is so harmful, it's important to understand how it’s created. Through a chemical reaction, polyethylene terephthalate (PET plastic) is created and woven into threads to make usable fabric for clothing. This process uses ethylene glycol and terephthalic acid which come from petroleum, air, and water. These definitely do not sound like things you want in the clothes you wear.
This process requires more than twice as much energy than the production of cotton materials. It uses harmful chemicals like carcinogens that contribute to environmental and human health problems when exposed to the air. Countries that have fewer environmental regulations commonly produce polyester, and factory workers along with surrounding communities are exposed to the dangers of these chemicals. Polyester production also emits a large number of greenhouse gasses into the environment. Since polyester is impossible to naturally dye, the unnatural dyes cause a host of pollution and environmental damage as well.
If you’re working on minimizing toxins in your daily life, you have probably heard about the dangerous risks of microplastics. Being a non biodegradable product, polyester clothing sheds these toxic microplastics into the environment. Through consistent wearing and washing, polyester deteriorates and releases close to 200,000 metric tons each year.
How Polyester is Dangerous for your skin and health
We’ve already touched on the odor and bacteria issues of polyester but let’s dive a little deeper into why polyester is so dangerous against your skin, especially when present in workout attire. Polyester is an unnatural material and not meant for constant skin contact. As we discussed, polyester harbors nasty odor and bacteria. So when exercising, the increase in sweat content and heat only expands this problem. Chemicals rubbing against your skin combined with sweat and heat can lead to skin irritation, rashes, breakouts, etc. Studies have found that PFAS, a.k.a. "forever chemicals" are found in polyester and can lead to threatening health concerns like the development of cancer, reproductive imbalances, and damaged immune system functions.
Now you know. So What Should You Actually Workout In?
ORGANIC COTTON
Organic cotton has shown to be one of the best options for workout gear. Does it show sweat? Most of the time, yes. If that's something you'd prefer to avoid, choosing black or darker colors is the best solution. Cotton is a natural fiber derived from plants instead of being man-made with chemicals. It’s naturally absorbent, breathable and perfect for odor protection. It is also hypoallergenic and has antibacterial properties which protect you against those skin reactions that occur with synthetic fibers. Cotton can also be easily dyed completely naturally. Choosing organic assures there are no chemical residues on the cotton from pesticides and herbicides, and that's a win for the planet too. You can feel confident that you won’t find any microplastics shedding from your organic cotton activewear!
HEMP FABRIC
Hemp based fabric is another natural alternative. Similar to organic cotton, hemp fabric is breathable and absorbent. Allowing air to circulate through the hemp fabric, you will stay cool during your workouts without trapping bacteria and odor. Hemp is biodegradable and does not contribute to plastic pollution. It is durable, and even protects against harmful UV rays. Still not impressed? Hemp, from plant to fabric, is naturally antibacterial/antimicrobial. This will keep smell away and is great on your skin.
TENCEL™ and ECOVERO™
TENCEL™ and ECOVERO™ are patented natural materials that have become more popular recently due to the similar stretch and feel of nylon. These materials are made up of regenerated cellulose fibers. The cellulose fibers are created by dissolving wood pulp and/or bamboo and then spinning it into usable strands for clothing, bedding, etc. Rayon and bamboo materials are made similarly, but release toxic chemicals into the environment in the manufacturing process. TENCEL™ and ECOVERO™ use a closed-loop process instead to eliminate the toxic waste. They are biodegradable, extremely versatile, breathable and less susceptible to bacteria growth and odor.
EVO by FULGAR®
EVO is a super cool new way that yarn threads are created by using renewable sources. It uses the castor plant as well as aged corn that isn't able to be consumed anymore. It's extremely eco friendly because these renewable sources don't require much water and aren't taking up land or food usage. This sustainable fabric has a lot going for it: it's lightweight, breathable, stretchy, quick drying, heat regulating, and odor controlling.
Here are some trusted, sustainable, and healthy activewear brands to check out!
Pact has been a one-stop-shop for my wardrobe essentials ever since I started my sustainable and ethical shopping journey. They provide affordable yet trustworthy pieces that are organic, sustainable and fair trade. Use code WORLDCHANGER15 for 15% off first purchase
Reprise is passionate about using natural plant materials for their activewear pieces. They prioritize ethical and fair trade practices in their production process and use all non toxic ingredients. Use code WORLDCHANGER for 10% off
Indigo Luna, an Australian company that uses mainly LENZING™️ ECOVERO™️ Viscose fibers as well as linen and organic cotton for their impressive yoga activewear line. They contain no PFAs or toxic chemicals and are safe for sensitive skin. Use code above to get 10% off entire purchase.
A great option for MEN'S and not just yoga wear. Great running shorts and looser fit activewear for the gym, all natural materials.
A Bali made & inspired company that uses eco dyes and OEKO-TEX certifies bamboo materials. Their designs are soft, silky, durable, breathable & timeless. Use code ROSALIE10 for 10% off purchase.
These are just a few of the many brands you can find that aim to lessen the harsh environmental impact most of our go-to fashion brands contribute to. For the full list of activewear brands that use sustainable and organic materials, head to the WorldChanger activewear directory.
References
Amarelo, M. (2022, January 26). New tests find toxic “forever chemicals” in bedding, yoga pants and other textiles. Environmental Working Group. https://www.ewg.org/news-insights/news/2022/01/new-tests-find-toxic-forever-chemicals-bedding-yoga-pants-and-other
Bally, L. (n.d.). Polyester: How it impacts the environment and you. The Momentum Contributing Center. https://www.themomentum.com/articles/polyester-how-it-impacts-the-environment-and-you
Hicks, S. (2020, March 10). Is Polyester Biodegradable?. Treehugger. https://www.treehugger.com/polyester-biodegradable-4859407#:~:text=It%27s%20not%20considered%20biodegradable%20because%20most%20polyester%20takes,break%20down%2C%20depending%20on%20the%20environment%20it%27s%20in.
Rohan. (2024, April 6). Why do I smell bad when I wear polyester?. Knowing Fabric. https://knowingfabric.com/why-do-i-smell-bad-when-i-wear-polyester/#Key_Takeaways
Comments