IN THIS POST
– Linen
– Organic Cotton
– Bamboo
– Organic Wool
– Recycled Polyester
Did you know that the fabrics you choose for your upholstery, curtains and even bedding can have an adverse effect on the indoor air quality, which can directly impact your health? Perfluorinated and volatile organic compounds present in some fabrics not only pose a threat to your personal well-being but are also hazardous for the environment. This is one of the main reasons why a large number of homeowners now look for eco-friendly fabrics while buying new couches and cushions for their home.
Eco-friendly fabrics are also widely referred to as green fabrics or sustainable fabrics. Compared to other options available in the market, these materials are much safer for your health as well as the environment. The most important quality of these environment-friendly fabrics is that they can be recycled. Also, most of these materials are biodegradable, which means they won’t take up any space in landfills and contribute to environmental pollution.
Buying eco-friendly fabrics for your home is highly recommended because A) you need to ensure your family isn’t breathing in toxic chemicals found in most synthetic fabrics and B) you must play your part in saving the earth and reducing pollution.
Best Eco-Friendly Fabrics for Your Home
If you are looking to buy relatively best fabrics for the environment, here is a list that might help you.
- Linen
- Organic Cotton
- Bamboo
- Organic Wool
- Recycled Polyester
It is common to question which fabrics are eco-friendly while browsing through patches of sample materials for upholstery, curtains and even floor coverings for your home. Before we begin discussing these sustainable fabrics and their ideal uses, please note that you can find a wide range of variety for each of these materials in the market. While some of the available options will most certainly be eco-friendly, the alternatives might be dyed using non-environmental friendly methods or have been blended with synthetic fibre.
Linen
Linen is one of the most eco-friendly fabrics for your home.
Made from flax plant fibres, this material is completely biodegradable and hypoallergenic in its pure form. That means linen is resistant to dust mites and moths, making it an ideal choice for those with sensitive skins and allergies.
Linen has been used to make upholstery, drapes, bedspreads and tablecloths for centuries. It is a cool fabric that is easy to breathe through along with being completely absorbent. This versatile material is also soft, lightweight, strong, durable, and can withstand high temperatures.
Moreover, flax is an earth-friendly plan that does not require a lot of water, chemical fertilizers and pesticides to grow. In addition to that, very little energy is required to turn flax into linen and the whole plant is used during the process, leaving a little to no waste.
How to use this sustainable fabric in your home?
You can incorporate linen in your home in the following ways:
- Upholstery
- Table cloth
- Curtains or drapes
- Table cloth
- Tea towels
Organic Cotton
Organic cotton is yet another eco-friendly fabric that can be used around the house for various purposes.
Being a natural fibre, organic cotton has a considerably low impact on the environment as it is grown without the use of chemical fertilizers and toxic pesticides. It is important to mention that this is the main difference between conventional and organic cotton. The chemical herbicides and pesticides sprayed on conventional cotton can cause a plethora of diseases and health conditions, as per the World Health Organisation. However, since organic cotton is not exposed to such chemicals, incorporating it in your daily life is an easy way to protect your health along with the environment.
Organic cotton is completely biodegradable, lasts for a long time, sturdy, moisture absorbent and breathable. It is also soft to touch and easy to wash.
The two biggest drawbacks of using organic are that it can be a little expensive and its crops require a huge amount of water to grow.
How to use this sustainable fabric in your home?
These are some of the things that one can make from organic cotton:
- Upholstery
- Table cloth
- Drapes or curtains
- Carpets
- Tapestry
- Bedspreads
Bamboo
You may have heard about bamboo being one of the most eco-friendly flooring materials for homes, but did you know that this plant is also used to manufacture cloth?
Bamboo fabric is made from a bamboo plant, which makes it both biodegradable as well as a renewable fabric. Since bamboo grows rather quickly without much water and chemical fertilizers, the fibre obtained from this plant to make cloth does not contain any hazardous compounds either.
Bamboo fabric has a silky texture along with moisture-wicking properties. This material is also durable, sturdy, hypoallergenic, and breathable. It may have been around a very long time, but it is quickly gaining prominence as one of the best fabrics for the environment. Being a renewable fabric, bamboo fibre is a top choice for those looking to reduce their carbon footprint and adopt a sustainable lifestyle.
On the flip side, the process most manufacturers use to turn bamboo into a usable fabric requires a lot of toxic chemicals, which produces a large amount of waste. Due to government regulations, companies using this method to produce bamboo fabric usually label it as ‘rayon’ or ‘bamboo-based rayon.’
How to use this sustainable fabric in your home?
Here is how you can use bamboo fabric in your home:
- Towels
- Drapes and curtains (owing to its insulating properties)
- Wallpapers
- Upholstery
Organic Wool
Wool sheared from the sheep is one of the most eco-friendly fabrics used to make biodegradable clothing and sustainable textiles. It comes from a renewable source and resistant to fire. The material produced from raw wool is durable, soft, non-toxic and warm.
Whereas conventional wool production relies heavily on unsustainable farming practices that are both inhumane and pose a threat to the environment. The heavy breeding of sheep can result in loss of vegetation, while their manure can pollute both the water and the air by releasing methane and other greenhouse gases. That makes conventional one of the worst fabrics for the environment.
Organic wool farming, on the other hands, includes eco-friendly farming practices. These farms rear sheep in the absence of any chemical dyes and dips. They are also kept away from pesticides. Therefore, you should always purchase chlorine-free wool as it comes from animals that were treated humanely.
How to use this sustainable fabric in your home?
There are several ways organic wool can be used around your home. Here are a few examples:
- Upholstery
- Blankets
- Rugs
- Carpets
Recycled Polyester
Polyester, which is a by-product of petroleum, is considered a rather heavy-duty synthetic material that is widely used for home and auto upholstery. It is a durable material that is resistant to wrinkles and can last for several years. However, it is not biodegradable and environment-friendly.
Since our landfills and water bodies are polluted with plastic water bottles, take out boxes and other similar materials, a number of environment-friendly companies have been using these cast-off plastic products as well as discarded polyester to make recycled polyester fabric. Although it may not be as sustainable as other materials mentioned in this list, it is important to use that this fabric is created using products that would have otherwise polluted our waterways as well as land.
Recycled polyester is resistant to stains, dries very quickly, soft to touch and easy to clean.
How to use this sustainable fabric in your home?
These are some of the best uses of this recyclable fabric in your home:
- Upholstery
- Rugs
- Carpets
To conclude, the cultivation, production and consumption of most fabrics, both synthetic and natural, can be bad for our environment. However, owing to the growing threat of climate change and global warming, companies around the world are focusing on making eco-friendly fabrics that can be used in both the fashion and textile industries. By incorporating these materials in your daily life, you can become a part of a greater movement aiming to replenish earth’s resources by reducing pollution.
For more information on the topic, you can take a look at our guides on eco-friendly alternatives for everyday items as well as environment-friendly building materials.
Meanwhile, here are some of the most popular upholstery fabrics you can choose for your home.
To learn more sustainable living and eco-friendly products, stay connected to Zameen Blog – the top lifestyle and real estate blog in Pakistan. You can also share your questions and suggestions with us on blog@zameen.com.
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