Sustainable Fabrics: 5 Reasons You Must Choose Recycled Fabrics

time2022/11/14

Renewable fabrics are widely used in fashion, furniture, and other industries. The following guide will answer some basic questions about renewable fabrics for you to understand it.

recycled fabric
The desire to lead a sustainable lifestyle is at an all-time high, and the pursuit of green living extends to every aspect of life, from clean driving to reducing food waste. However, switching to sustainable eco-friendly fabrics is one of the most important improvements anyone can make. If it matters to the public, businesses must also learn to embrace it.

Whether in fashion, furniture design, or any other industry where fabrics and textiles are regularly used, the transition to sustainable fabrics should be a priority. Given the wide range of applications in the industrial, household, and automotive sectors, most companies should take note.

The following guide will answer all your questions, from what sustainable fabrics are to why sustainable fabrics are the future of your company.

1. What is Recycled Fabric?

Simply put, sustainable recycled fabrics are textiles and materials designed to reduce their negative impact on the planet. The definition of sustainability should be extended to three areas:

Environmental Sustainability: This involves using materials and resources that help protect the planet and reduce carbon footprint.

Social Sustainability: This means using fabrics processed and manufactured from spruce without exploitative practices. 

Economic Sustainability: This includes practices that can be followed without creating products that people in a geographic area cannot afford.

The harsh reality is that destructive processes have been used since the Industrial Revolution. When it comes to fabrics, the direct use of synthetic materials is largely responsible for the problems the planet is currently facing. Especially since most fabrics (regardless of their application) have relatively short lifespans.

Recycled fabrics cause little (or no) damage to the environment or society throughout their life cycle of design, manufacture, and subsequent disposal. They are usually made from natural or recycled materials. While no material is 100% sustainable, the benefits of adopting better fabric choices will be immediate and lasting.
 
2. What Are the Benefits of Recycled Fabrics?

Thousands of companies are transitioning to eco-friendly fabrics, which may prompt you to take action. However, the benefits go far beyond keeping up with Jones. Some of the most important bonuses are listed below:

Environmental Benefits

The obvious benefit is that choosing natural and recyclable materials will reduce your carbon footprint. With 1.3 billion tons of waste going to landfills globally each year, brands have a huge responsibility because they use far more materials than individual consumers. If greener energy and related concepts are already being used, sustainable fabrics should be the next step.

Long Lasting Product

While some synthetic fibers are also durable, they generate more energy waste and pollution. Using sustainable fabrics not only provides durability but also provides better value for the materials used within the company and for consumers. This also further reduces the negative impact on the environment.

Enhance Brand Image

Research on consumer expectations is very clear. 73% of U.S. consumers would stop using a company that does not invest in environmental matters. Using sustainable fabrics is one of the most effective ways to show a genuine commitment to doing better in your business. It can be an important feature of a brand.

Improve Team Morale

Customers aren't the only ones looking to align with socially responsible brands. More than 70% of employees would prefer to work for a company that cares about the environment, and 10% would be willing to take a significant pay cut to make it happen. Happy workers are more productive workers, so this can only have a positive effect on the brand.

Personal Satisfaction

As a business owner, getting work done that you are proud of is an ongoing priority. If you care about your carbon footprint in your home, then you have to care about your company's impact. Using sustainable fabrics will bring self-satisfaction while encouraging you to take further steps towards eco-friendly solutions.
 
3. Types of Recycled Fabrics

In 2020, the global ecological fiber industry is worth 40.38 billion US dollars and is growing rapidly. There are several sustainable fabric options for B2B applications and B2C purposes. Some of the most popular and effective options are listed below:

Bamboo: Natural shoots grow rapidly and regenerate without fertilization. Known for its absorbency, comfort, and relative durability, it can be used in a variety of industries. However, harvesting can cause problems.

Hemp: This variant of the hemp plant is very durable and can be used as a substitute for cotton and other fabrics. Although expensive, it has many properties that make it a popular choice for eco-friendly fashion.

Linen: Made from flax, which enables zero material waste as all elements are available. While it can be expensive, the material is also 100% biodegradable. Therefore, it is a very safe option when processing without the use of chemicals.

Lyocell: Many companies know that this is Tencel, which is a brand name. The material is made from tree pulp, which is a rayon,

Wool: Compostable, natural, and free of plastic fibers, wool is a good choice. However, as with many potentially sustainable fabrics, the way it is produced and handled will speak volumes. This fabric has good insulating properties.

In addition to materials designed to promote sustainability, businesses can also consider slow-moving items. This is recycled fabric, basically leftover material from other manufacturers. Saving it from landfill may be one of the best ways to strengthen environmental practices. 
 
4.  Application of Recycled Fabrics

Sustainable fabrics have become more common in recent years as businesses try to change the fact that about one-third of materials go to waste. However, brands have been able to start this shift thanks to increased accessibility, knowledge, and affordability.

Sustainable fabrics are often considered fashion materials. Adidas' sustainable shoe sparks heightened consumer expectations. Footwear, clothing, and accessories are all moving towards more sustainable outcomes, and several of the above materials are being used to facilitate change.

The application of sustainable fabrics can be extended to the following areas:

Automotive: seat covers, window weatherstrips, seat belts, and some interior elements.

Industry: Hydroponics, gaskets, landfill linings.

Household: Insulation of hoses, remote controls, and sockets.

Leisure: Shock cover, racket cover, backpack panel,

Music: Speaker cones, drum pads, and sound enclosures.


Sustainable fabrics are environmentally friendly and can be used to manufacture a variety of goods in many industries, and the list of potential applications grows every year. In addition to their use in the manufacture of goods, their use in the workplace (gasket covers for machinery, office applications, etc.) is rapidly increasing.

Brands that embrace it right away will find the ongoing evolution easier to handle.

The above briefly introduces the application and advantages of environmental protection fabrics. If you want to customize environmental protection fabric sportswear, please contact us.

Yoyoung is a professional custom recycled fabric sportswear manufacturer, we specialize in the manufacture of women's/men's sportswear, we have cooperated with hundreds of brands over the years. We work with quality fabric suppliers. From the yarn to the final roll of fabric, there is a series of strict quality control procedures to maintain production standards. The fabric is manufactured according to OEKO-TEX standard 100.