What Kind of Workout Clothes Are Best for the Environment?

Chances are, your favorite exercise attire is synthetic, made from petroleum-based fibers like nylon, spandex and polyester. Materials that don’t exactly scream “climate friendly.” Natural fibers have issues, too: Growing cotton can use huge amounts of water and pesticides, the sheep that give us wool emit methane, and processing bamboo can produce a lot of pollution.

Altogether, the apparel and footwear industries account for more than . So if you want to keep your body fit while also keeping the planet healthy, what should you do? Consider recycled fibers There’s a lot of . Some companies have capitalized on that, melting down plastic waste and extruding it into yarn.



Karen Leonas, a professor of textile sciences at North Carolina State University, said those materials could be a good choice for workout clothes. “Any time you can find something that contains recycled fibers, that’s definitely a plus,” she said. “Whether you’re looking at climate, water, solid waste or even social sustainability issues.

” Lewis Perkins, president of the nonprofit Apparel Impact Institute, also said he liked recycled fibers. But he cautioned that they’re a “transitional solution,” as he believes the ultimate goal should be in the first place. We are having trouble retrieving the article content.

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