Environmental Question #8 [Synthetic Fabric]

Courtesy of Reddit user u/moonflower311

Q: I’m a sewist and have noticed a majority of the more affordable fabrics are synthetic (rayon, polyester, etc.). Is there a “better” synthetic to use in terms of long term effects? Also in your opinion does the affordability of synthetic fabrics make up for any health or environmental drawbacks they may have?

A: Cool! I do leatherworking as a hobby, although I'm not very good at it, so I have a ton of respect for what you do!

So I have kind of mixed feelings about rayon and viscose specifically. Both of those synthetics are made from wood, and can even be made from even more renewable materials like bamboo. They are both also totally biodegradable and break down into nontoxic materials. Overall from an environmental perspective they're pretty good. The problem with them however, is that to make them it requires some forms of sulfur that are extremely toxic to human health. In a properly run factory though, those sulfur materials can be contained in air-tight containers and used in chemical reactions safely without producing any toxic byproducts. The problem with rayon and viscose is really more a problem of economics and labor, because they are mostly produced in poor countries with little to no worker or environmental protection, so rather than producing them in properly run facilities that are safe for their workers and the environment, they are instead humanitarian and environmental disasters. My personal stance on rayon and viscose is that I am in favor of them, but I am also in favor of safe, non-exploitative supply chains, so I think rather than ceasing our use of the materials we should just make sure the factories that make them do a better job.

As far as better synthetics, there is one brand new product that I stumbled across and think is really cool. It's called Amni Soul Eco, it's the first ever fully nontoxic and biodegradable nylon. Lol I stumbled upon the product because I had an idea to invent a biodegradable nylon myself and found that another company already beat me to it. Amni Soul Eco looks and feels like regular nylon and it biodegrades in about 5 years after being placed in a landfill. I don't know how widely it's sold, but it's pretty cool so I suggest you check it out.

Personally I don't think the affordability of synthetics makes up for their drawbacks, because that affordability doesn't consider the total cost. Environmental damage and pollution have economic costs associated with them, so even though non-biodegradable synthetics seem cheaper at first glance, in the long run they are much more expensive for the economy and the planet. That said though, as research continues into new biodegradable synthetic materials there will be more and more options to have your cake and eat it too when it comes to safe, non-toxic synthetics.

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