What should I wear to work out while keeping the planet healthy? (2025)

NEW YORK – Chances are, your favourite exercise attire is synthetic, made from petroleum-based fibres like nylon, spandex and polyester. Materials that do not exactly scream “climate friendly”.

Natural fibres have issues too. Growing cotton can use huge amounts of water and pesticides, the sheep that give wool emit methane, and processing bamboo can produce a lot of pollution. Altogether, the apparel and footwear industries account for more than 8 per cent of global greenhouse gas emissions.

So, if you want to keep your body fit while also keeping the planet healthy, what should you do?

Consider recycled fibres

There is a lot of plastic polluting the land and water. Some companies have capitalised on that, melting down plastic waste and extruding it into yarn.

Textile sciences professor Karen Leonas 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 fibres, that’s definitely a plus,” she added. “Whether you’re looking at climate, water, solid waste or even social sustainability issues.”

Look for certifications

If you are hoping for a blanket answer about which materials are good or bad, Dr Leonas said, it is not that simple. “ I can be the devil’s advocate on any fibre,” she added. “There are trade-offs with all of it.”

As an example, she compared polyester and cotton. While polyester is made from petroleum, its production uses little water and no pesticides or fertilisers. It also holds up better than cotton when recycled.

You might be thinking: But what about wool and bamboo?

Dr Leonas noted that raising sheep produces methane and nitrous oxide. And there are concerns about animal welfare. The processing of bamboo can release toxic chemicals into the environment. And some recycled fabrics can still shed microplastics.

So, rather than searching for a unicorn fabric, Mr Perkins suggested seeking out the “most ethical” version of the fabric that meets your performance needs. To do so, he looks for third-party certifications like Oeko-Tex, bluesign or Global Recycled Standard.

“That’s a way to know that this fabric – whether it’s polyester, which has its problems, or cotton, which has its problems – has been verified as the best available version of that material,” he said.

If you are worried about so-called forever chemicals, some of these certifications check for that too. But you should also note that California and New York recently banned the sale of apparel containing intentionally added per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS, a large and complex group of synthetic chemicals).

Find brands you trust

Another strategy is sticking to brands that have strong sustainability commitments.

To reduce the likelihood of greenwashing, Mr Perkins said you can check if a company has been certified as a B Corp. That means it must meet certain social and environmental standards. You can also go to a company’s sustainability page online to see if it is involved in any collaborations, such as the Textile Exchange or the United Nations’ Fashion Charter.

Such efforts “usually don’t last very long if they’re not credible”, Mr Perkins said. “Because the companies don’t want to invest money in something that’s going to be a liability to them when somebody finds out they’re not doing real work.”

Another good sign, he added, is if a company offers a repair or recycling programme for its clothing.

Of course, buying your workout gear second-hand is a solid plan too. Just try not to think about the sweat factor.

Make it last

If all that sounds like too much work, do not fret. There is one simple step that may make the biggest difference of all: Choose items you will wear for years.

Chemistry professor Karen Pearson at the Fashion Institute of Technology in New York City, and leader of the school’s sustainability efforts, works out in yoga pants nearly every day. She is loyal to one brand that she knows will perform well and look good for years.

A garment’s “functionality and performance over a long period of time”, she said, “turns out to be the thing that really helps change its impact on the environment”. She cited a British report that suggests that extending the life of a garment for just nine months can reduce its carbon emissions.

To find items that will last, choose classic colours and styles that will not soon go out of fashion. Check the seams too. Dr Pearson said products that are seamless, or have reinforced seams or larger seam allowances, are more durable.

And once you buy a product, take care of it. Dr Pearson hang-dries her yoga pants, which helps them last longer and avoids greenhouse gas emissions from the dryer.

“ I want a few really good quality pieces that are made in a responsible way, that will stay in my closet for a long time and not get replaced,” she said. NYTIMES