Care Guide

Every purchase has in impact on the environment. Quality is always better than quantity. Take care of your clothes to increase their lifetime. Pass them on or recycled the garments when they are worn out. An important part of a garment's total environmental impact is related to how long the product can be used before it is worn out, how it is cared for and finally how it is taken care of when it no longer can be used. Choosing clothes that are durable and that are made from recycled and/or recyclable fibers is a good start and how you take care of your clothes is important to the environment. The large amount of detergent, energy and water that is used for textile washing has a large impact on our natural resources. These guidelines will help prolonging the lifetime of your garments significantly and essentially effect the overall impact on the environment.

Wash less

Frequent washing wastes energy and water and will affect the lifetime of the garments. If possible, try airing your clothes and spot treat stains by hand. Filling the washing machine is an effective way to save energy and water and will help to reduce the climate impact.

Wash colder, shorter and with less rotation speed

The wash symbols on a garment shows the maximum tolerance but it is perfectly fine to wash on a lower temperature. Washing on a lower temperature uses less energy resulting in less impact on the environment. Unless you’re washing bedsheets or underwear, 30°C/86°F is sufficient. The longer you wash, the more fibers break. Using a shorter washing program and avoiding high temperatures will protect the garment fibers and the environment.

A lot of friction happens during the spin cycle. Synthetic textiles dry fast. Skip the spin cycle or at least reduce the rpm (rotation per minute).

Avoid tumble dry

Airdrying the laundry will save both energy and the clothes will last longer. The mechanical forces inside a tumble dryer are one of the major culprits of microplastic pollution. Most sportswear is made from synthetic material for its sweat-wicking and fast drying qualities. This makes sportswear perfect for airdrying. If you must use a dryer, make sure to filter the condensed water.

Use environmentally friendly detergent

Washing powder often contains liquid polymers and mineral abrasives. These tend to increase friction, leading to more fibers breaking. Look for a detergent without such ingredients and don’t use more than necessary.

Avoid fabric softener. They degrade the performance of clothes in general and sportswear in particular. Fabric softer have a negative impact on the environment. The fabric softener puts as a film on the fabric fibers which will lower the moisture transport and breathability. Some of the substances found in fabric softeners are difficult for nature to break down.

Sometimes sportswear can have a lasting smell after several workouts (and washes). Try a little vinegar in the next washing load. Either spray the vinegar directly on the affected area and leave on for ten minutes before washing or simply pour a deciliter of vinegar into the fabric softener container on your washing machine. The vinegar reduces odors and makes the garments soft without the need to use chemicals. Vinegar is also gentler on the environment than detergent.

Separate textiles; hard from soft

Mixing different fabrics in the wash load might cause unnecessary friction and microplastic release. If you stop washing things like jeans and fleece items in the same wash load, you will reduce your contribution to wash-related microplastic pollution.

Recycle or compost your garment

After a garment has been used and reused and you are finished using it, consider passing it on or donating the garment. If the garment is worn out, leave it in the recycling bin. For all garments made in synthetic fibers (polyester, polyamide, elastane), please recycle them so they can be made into new garments. For all garments made in natural fibers (wool, cotton, Tencel) you can put them in the compost. Just make sure to remove any trims such as zippers, care labels and buttons before composting.

Reduce microplastic pollution

Microplastics are small pieces of plastic, less than 5 millimeter in length. Microplastics enter natural ecosystems, both aquatic and land ecosystems, from different sources including cosmetics, garments and accessories, and industrial processes. Most synthetic garments lose plastic particles. Particularly during washing, the plastic fibers that break off end up in the wastewater. Current sewage plants don't eliminate all the microplastics from our water supply and therefore the plastics will enter the aquatic ecosystem. The microplastic particles accumulate toxins and are ingested by fish and other marine life. The plastic from our clothes ends up on our plates and harms not only nature but also humans.