SUSTAINABLE SPORTSWEAR
SUSTAIN & GAIN
Looking to reduce your carbon footprint while upping your one-rep max? Charlie Allenby investigates how environmentally-focused clothing manufacturers and a new ethical rating system are making it easier than ever to make sustainable choices
When you’re shopping for new training kit, your priorities are likely to be fit, comfort, looks, and ability to handle the task at hand – whether that’s lifting shoes with a stable platform, or a running top that’s breathable and effective at wicking sweat away. In recent years, though, another important factor has emerged: environmental impact. According to research by The Roundup, 87% of the materials and fibres used to make all clothing will end up in incinerators or landfill, while clothing and textiles currently make up at least 7% of the total amount of waste in global landfill space.
Commonly made out of manmade materials like polyester, nylon and Lycra, workout wear is particularly bad during its lifecycle too. Friends of the Earth claims that every time you wash clothing made out of these materials, they shed millions of plastic microfibres into the wastewater, which ultimately end up in rivers and the sea. A 2020 study also found that simply wearing the garments is enough to release the non-biodegrading microplastics, which is why they have been found near the top of Everest, as well as on sea and river beds.
It's easy to see why the industry is waking up to the need for change after decades of fast fashion. Brands big and small are actively championing more ethical methods of manufacturing, setting ambitious targets on the use of natural or recycled materials that help to minimise a garment’s environmental footprint during its lifecycle.
The results are in
Not all brands are equal when it comes to their green credentials, though, as the first ever The Good Shopping Guide report into activewear shows. An independent research organisation that compares companies’ ethical commitments across a range of industries – from the energy sector to toilet paper – it provides an easy way for customers to make planet-friendly choices.
For its activewear report, 22 fitness-focused clothing companies were assessed. “We looked at a brand's treatment towards the environment, animals, and people, and that’s broken down into smaller subcategories,” explains Bella Woodward, lead researcher at The Good Shopping Guide. “For instance, we look at a company’s environmental report, which is basically whether they’re setting targets, showing an awareness of their impact, or what they’re doing to improve that.”
Animal welfare might be based on whether they’re using animal products – “a couple use K-leather, which is kangaroo leather, in their shoes, so we mark them down for that” – while for people
