Since 2006, polyester fibers have surpassed cotton fibers in the ready-to-wear industry*. Given their abundance, many people now prefer buying clothes made from synthetic fibers, because of their low prices, to avoid animal suffering (for example, with synthetic wool), or because they are easy to care for. But behind these advantages lie numerous problems with devastating impacts on the environment and human health. So, should we stop buying clothes made from synthetic fibers? Here are some explanations and solutions.
Synthetic textiles: a list to help you understand what these materials are
To understand which textile materials are synthetic, here is a list of the main ones:
- Polyester (accounts for 70% of synthetic textile fibers)*
- Elastane (e.g., Lycra, Spandex)
- Acrylic
- Polyamide (e.g., Nylon)
- Vinyl
Polyester is certainly the best-known synthetic fiber. It is also the most widely produced in the world: almost 50% of all textile fibers produced worldwide are polyester*. Huge, right?
What is the difference between a synthetic fiber and an artificial fiber?
Definition of a synthetic fiber
Textiles, in general, are made up of multiple fibers woven or knitted together. A fiber is a filamentous material that can be processed in various ways.
In the case of textile fibers, they are woven or knitted and can be of animal, mineral, plant, or artificial origin.
A synthetic fiber is a fiber made from the synthesis of several chemical compounds, mainly derived from hydrocarbons, such as oil, or from starch (corn, potatoes...).
What about artificial fibers then?
Definition of an artificial fiber
The difference between a synthetic fiber and an artificial fiber is the origin of the base compound. For synthetic fibers, it is oil, while for artificial fibers, it is plant-based.
To make artificial textile fibers, cellulose naturally found in certain plants is extracted.
The cellulose is then transformed in several steps, using chemicals and specialized equipment, until it becomes a thread.
This thread is then woven or knitted to create a synthetic fabric.
The best-known artificial textile materials are as follows:
- Viscose (made from wood pulp, for example)
- Tencel©️ and Lyocell (made from bamboo, algae, oak, or eucalyptus)
- Modal©️ (made from wood pulp such as beechwood)
- Piñatex©️ (pineapple leaves)
Innovation also makes it possible to create textiles from soy, milk, crab, or corn.
The advantages of synthetic materials
As you might have guessed, if synthetic textile fibers are so widely used worldwide, it is also because they offer certain advantages: they account for 63% of global production.
- an affordable price
Polyester is one of the oldest synthetic materials. It has been produced since the 1940s. As the use of plastic has become more widespread, polyester is increasingly used in furniture, and also with the rise of fast fashion.
Today, the quantity of polyester produced is so great—42 million tonnes per year*—that the material is very affordable.
Oil, which forms the basis of this synthetic textile fiber, is a relatively inexpensive and still abundant resource (even though it is a fossil and non-renewable resource).
- interesting properties
Polyester is a synthetic textile fiber that can be used for multiple purposes: bedding, coats, seat belts...
A soft and elastic textile material, it is the star of sportswear.
It is also a synthetic textile that absorbs color very well.
- durability and care
It is a robust material that resists stretching and retains heat well. This is why fleeces are made of polyester.
It is often blended with other materials, such as cotton, for example, to create a softer material and to prevent the buildup of static electricity.
Finally, polyester's popularity also lies in the fact that it washes easily without color bleeding and dries quickly.
The disadvantages of synthetic materials
Despite all these advantages, synthetic textile fibers also have numerous disadvantages in terms of CO2 emissions and health.
Synthetic fiber production comes from oil
Today, 70% of synthetic fibers come from oil*. As you know, oil is a non-renewable resource whose extraction is highly damaging to the environment.
The textile industry is one of the most polluting in the world, and this is partly due to its production model, which is far from sustainable:
- the manufacturing and transport of materials are based on the use of oil
- large quantities of chemicals are used to dye our clothes
- one t-shirt is equivalent to 70 showers in terms of water use*
It is crucial to recognize the environmental and health impacts of synthetic fibers. These considerations should be taken into account in textile industry job offers as well as in industrial policies.
Synthetic fabric releases microplastic particles
Throughout its lifespan, wash after wash, a synthetic t-shirt releases microplastic particles.
These travel all the way into rivers and oceans, ending up in the stomachs of marine animals and then... in our bodies.
According to Ademe, 500,000 tonnes of microplastic particles are released into the oceans every year, the equivalent of 50 billion plastic bottles.*
It is invisible and constant pollution against which there is no solution for cleaning the ocean.
Mixing synthetic materials with other materials prevents recycling
When a synthetic fiber is mixed with another fiber, it prevents the recycling of fabrics.
Indeed, the untwisting of materials, which separates the fibers from one another, is far too complex when they are different.
Clothing cannot therefore be recycled and ends up being incinerated if it can no longer be worn.
This is partly why less than 1% of the fabrics that make up our clothes are recycled.*
How to combat pollution caused by synthetic textile fibers?
Of course, there are ways to reduce pollution caused by the use of synthetic materials.
Use a bag that collects microplastic particles
Have you heard of the GuppyFriend Bag? It is a laundry bag designed to limit the production of microplastic particles.
How? By preventing synthetic textiles from rubbing against the drum, it prevents pilling and the creation of microplastic particles.
If you already own many clothes made from synthetic fibers, it is a good way to help reduce their release into rivers.
To use it, simply put your synthetic clothes in it before washing and throw away the particles found inside after washing.
Prioritize recycled polyester and nylon
If you want to continue buying polyester, you can turn to recycled polyester, especially for fleeces.
More and more brands are now using plastic waste or bottles so as not to directly produce polyester.
This is the case with the brand Le temps des Grenouilles, whose each cape is made from 30 plastic bottles.
There are also many alternatives, such as:
- swimwear made from recycled plastic fibers derived from marine waste
- children's swimwear made from Eco-Nyl©️, recycled nylon.
- underwear made from recycled synthetic fibers
On the left: black lace bodysuit made from recycled fibers
On the right: children's swimwear made from recycled materials
Turn to plant-based or artificial materials
One of the best ways to reduce pollution caused by the production of synthetic materials is to turn to other materials.
Many plant-based textile materials exist and also offer numerous advantages: lightness, durability, moisture-wicking properties...
You can also prioritize artificial materials such as Lyocell, made from wood cellulose, bamboo... and biodegradable.
There are also Lenzing Ecovero©️ fibers, produced from wood cellulose by the company Lenzing, used as alternatives to viscose.
Prioritize single-material garments
Finally, whether your fabric is synthetic or plant-based, it is best to opt for a single material.
As explained above, it is more difficult to separate fibers from two different materials, which means that blended garments are very rarely recycled.
To make recycling easier and encourage companies to include it in clothing design, you can turn to single-material garments only.
For example, you can opt for clothes made from 100% organic cotton in our Ready-to-Wear and ethical clothing collection for women and men.
As you can see: it is better to limit the purchase of clothes made from synthetic fibers.
Today, many less polluting artificial materials and plant-based materials are emerging to replace synthetic fabrics.
In general, keeping your clothes for as long as possible and buying less in materials other than synthetics are already good solutions.
At Meanwhile Boutique, we select brands that share these same values and produce in an eco-friendly way.
Discover our collection of ready-to-wear made from recycled materials, upcycled and plant-based materials, for high-quality, unique pieces you can keep for a long time:
Sources*:
Le Monde - fashion is one of the most polluting industries in the world Ademe - The Hidden Side of Fashion
L'Info Durable - Which textile fibers to choose
Edeni - Our synthetic clothes are polluting the oceans
