Sustainable Socks For A Clean Planet
Socks have a bleak future in my house. My kid’s socks tend to wear out quickly, and many lose their mate prematurely. What happens to them? I suspect my washing machine gobbles up at least 100 socks a year, while others are left behind outside or at friends’ houses—but ultimately, the mystery of the missing socks remains unsolved.
Nowadays, I am wiser and buy all our socks in the same color. This way, if a sock loses its mate, it can easily be paired up with another widowed sock.
When my family purchases clothes we typically opt for second-hand items, except for underwear and socks. When we do buy new socks, we search for socks made from eco-friendly materials like organic cotton, Tencel, bamboo, or hemp. We also seek high-quality brands that are transparent about their manufacturing process and who prioritize sustainability in the production and shipping of their products.
Let’s talk about sustainable sock materials for a moment:
Organic Cotton: Although cotton is one of the most common and popular textiles, conventional cotton is one of the dirtiest crops due to the heavy use of pesticides. Conventional cotton producers are accountable for using nearly 2.6 billion dollars of pesticides and insecticides, which accounts for more than 35% of the world’s pesticides and insecticide use. Although organic cotton is more expensive, it is the sustainable way to go.
Hemp: Hemp clothes are becoming ever more popular and widely available. Hemp plants are naturally resistant to most pests, removing the need for most pesticides, herbicides, and fungicides. They thrive on less water than most crops and are extremely durable.
Bamboo: Our family loves bamboo socks because they are long-lasting and have hypoallergenic qualities, making them suitable for those with sensitive skin. Bamboo grows quickly and needs fewer pesticides or fertilizers to grow.
Here are some sustainable sock brands we recommend:
Do you have a sustainable sock brand you love? Let us know in the comments!
What to get inspiration what to do with your old socks and underwear? read more here
