Which fabrics are truly eco-friendly – and why it matters beyond fashion industry?

Anna anna@beamberlin.com
Aug 7, 2025
3 min read

From Thread to Footprint

When talking about sustainability and fabrics, the conversation often starts (and ends) with fashion. But the impact of textiles goes much deeper. From car interiors to home upholstery, the fabrics we choose play a major role in the planet's health. The latest guide from Good On You, “Better Sustainability for Small Fashion Brands”, offers critical insight into how fabric choices can drive—or derail—our journey to a lower-impact future.

Informed by over 6,000 brand evaluations and more than a decade of sustainability data, this guide doesn’t just highlight problems. It offers clear, practical guidance on what brands (especially small and medium-sized ones) can do to create real, measurable change.

Let’s Talk Fabrics: The Good, the Better, and the Not-So-Sustainable

Not all fabrics are created equal—and some materials come with a hidden environmental cost. For instance, conventional cotton, though natural, consumes high levels of water and pesticides. In contrast:

Tier 1 (Lowest Impact Materials)
- Recycled cotton, recycled wool, organic hemp, and organic linen
- These options reduce pressure on raw resources and significantly cut down on emissions and water use. Hemp and linen are particularly resilient crops requiring less irrigation and fewer chemicals.
- According to various LCA (life cycle assessment) databases, recycled cotton uses 98% less water than conventional cotton, while organic hemp yields 2x more fiber per hectare than cotton.
Tier 2 and 3 (Moderately Lower Impact)
- TENCEL™ Lyocell, recycled nylon, organic cotton, recycled polyester
- These offer improvements in energy use and circularity—especially when backed by strong supplier certifications like GOTS or OEKO-TEX.
Tier 4 (Lower Impact, Yet Mixed)
- BCI cotton or Cotton Made in Africa are better than conventional methods but still lag behind recycled or organic options.

“It’s not enough to just say ‘we use sustainable materials.’ Brands need to be specific, transparent, and data-driven,” the Good On You team emphasizes.

While detailed cross-industry data is limited, estimates from EU Circular Economy Reports suggest:

Over 70% of all textile use in Europe is still non-sustainable (2023).
Furniture and automotive upholstery make up over 15% of the global textile market, with growing interest in recycled leather, biodegradable fibers, and bio-based foams.
In home decor, synthetic blends still dominate due to cost and durability, but a shift is visible—25% of new brands in the EU reported using certified eco-materials in 2024.

Beyond Fashion: Why These Choices Matter Everywhere

While fashion gets the spotlight, industries like automotive, furniture, and home décor are massive textile consumers. Choosing low-impact fabrics for car interiors or sofas can reduce environmental footprints across product lifecycles. And these sectors are taking note: brands like Volvo Cars have committed to using only sustainable materials in their interiors by 2030.

“What’s exciting is the crossover,” says the Good On You editorial team. “Fashion isn’t alone anymore. Upholstery, interiors, industrial design—they’re all reconsidering fabric impact.”

As consumers increasingly ask “what’s this made of?” across all categories, circularity—through recycling, rental, or refurbishment—is fast becoming the standard, not the exception.

Greenwashing? No Thanks. Transparency Is the Trend.

Small brands often fear being accused of greenwashing. But staying silent is no longer acceptable. The Good On You guide urges brands to:

Avoid vague claims like “we use sustainable materials wherever possible”
Instead, say: “40% of our products use GOTS-certified organic cotton and 30% use recycled polyester”
Report on full supply chain practices, including chemical usage, microplastics risk, and living wages

“Sustainability is about showing your work,” the report reminds us.

And that doesn’t only apply to apparel. Whether you're designing a lounge chair, a car seat, or a pair of sneakers—what you say about your sourcing, labor, and impact matters just as much as what you sell.