Vegan textiles - sustainable and plastic-free - is that possible?

Vegan textiles? Plastic-free please! 

Vegan clothing means clothing without materials of animal origin - in about 90% of cases this is the case in German wardrobes. On average, wool, silk and leather only make up a small part of the clothing. What sounds positive at first leads to a well-known problem: plastic. 

Fast fashion and vegan textiles made of plastic 

Most of the fast fashion items that are sold as vegan are made of synthetic fibers. Synthetic fibers such as polyester, polyacrylic, nylon and elastane are not only made from the fossil substance petroleum, but also release microplastics both on the skin and when washed. 

This is bad for people, animals and the environment. If we want to avoid using plastic and petroleum in production, we need to find natural raw materials. 

cotton tried and tested 

The most common natural material is cotton. It makes up three quarters of the natural fibers used. It offers advantages such as skin compatibility, high absorbency and durability. 

It is important to make sure you buy organic cotton. Conventional farming is extremely water-intensive and involves the use of toxic pesticides that harm the soil and people. Organically grown cotton is therefore a good alternative to plastic-based textiles. 

The new star: Lyocell 

But to imitate flowing, silk-like fabrics, other structures are needed. Lyocell is playing an increasing role here. The material, which is made from cellulose, is available in various textures and qualities that can be used in a variety of ways. The biodegradable materials and chemicals used in its production make Lyocell a sustainable alternative to conventional viscose. 

The fiber is biodegradable and has a shorter decomposition time than biodegradable plastics such as PHBV, PBS or PLA. This property can therefore also be used for a cradle-to-cradle* principle and ensures a recyclable product. 

Handbag made of pineapple?

There are leather alternatives that are made from plant-based raw materials. Pineapple leaves or apple residues from the juice industry (pomace) are used as basic materials. To ensure the stability of the plant leather, however, it must be coated or mixed with polyurethane (PU). This plastic is petroleum-based and therefore unfortunately does not correspond to the basic idea of ​​sustainability.

However, there is a patented, completely plastic-free alternative called Mirum®. Only bio-based materials are used here, such as natural rubber or vegetable oils. Due to its purely natural components, it can be recycled or composted.

Cruelty-free and sustainable 

At NINA REIN, we see sustainable fashion as a holistic concept. Producing textiles without animal materials is easy. But producing them sustainably and naturally is not quite so easy. When buying vegan clothing, it is therefore very important to look for natural fibers from organic farming. This not only does something good for animal welfare, but also for nature as a whole and our scarce raw materials.

#worldveganday 

Sources:

Peta:vegan leather

Wikipedia:Lyocell

Ökotest: Vegan Clothing Raw Materials

Utopia Guide Plant Fibers without Animals and Plastic

enormous magazine Cradle to cradle

Naturefund: “from cradle to cradle”, description of a method for material cycle