When it comes to the environment, are natural fabrics better than synthetics? The answer might surprise you.

It’s the latest installment of This, That, Or The Other Thing, a series about the decisions we make to build a more sustainable world, and to make a difference in our communities.

In this episode we compare the carbon footprints of polyester versus cotton, we ask the experts whether our waterproof clothes are killing us, and for those of us who find this all too overwhelming, we talk about the number one thing you can do to make more sustainable clothing choices.

Featuring: Lucy Allosso, Jessian Choy, Joel Svedlund, and Akiera Charles.

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LINKS

Lucky Sweater is an app for trading clothes, and they’ve also got an “approved brand” list of companies that make more high-quality garments and provide livable wages across the supply chain.

There’s lots of other buy/sell/trade sites online like noihsafbazaar.com and Sell Trade Slow Fashion on Instagram. You can also use gem.app to search many resale sites at once, but you’re also likely to find local groups near you by simply searching for clothes swaps, Buy Nothing, or buy/sell/trade on Facebook and Google.

If you’re looking for slow fashion brands, some companies take preorders and only manufacture the amount ordered, reducing waste from unsold clothing. Elizabeth Suzann and Gustin are examples of this model.

Here are other actions you can take for a safer and more sustainable wardrobe:

• Look for third-party certifications, like standard.org/news/gots-annual-pr-2023">GOTS 7.0, tex.com/en/">OEKO-TEX (specifically Made in Green, Standard 100, or Leather Standard), Bluesign, ZDHC, and Cradle to Cradle Certified.
• Consider brands that source from countries with cleaner energy grids. According to the Amplifying Misinformation report, the average factory in Bangladesh, Turkey, Vietnam, and Cambodia will have a Greenhouse Gas impact about 20% lower than brands sourcing from India, Indonesia, and China. And brands sourcing from the average factory in Pakistan, Italy, and Portugal will have an impact that’s 50-60% lower.
• Learn more about The Fashion Act and, if you’re a resident of New York, contact your assembly members and senators about it.
• Check out the best devices (according to recent research) for filtering microplastics from your laundry before they get into the oceans – including the Guppyfriend washing bag, and the XFiltra filter that manufacturers can add to machines.

CREDITS

Host: Nate Hegyi

Produced and mixed by Felix Poon

Edited by Taylor Quimby

Rebecca Lavoie is our Executive Producer.

Special thanks to Natascha van der Velden, and Gustav Sandin Albertsson.

Music for this episode by Blue Dot Sessions.

Our theme music is by Breakmaster Cylinder.

Outside/In is a production of New Hampshire Public Radio.