The Rise of Biodegradable, Plant-Based Textiles

It’s no surprise that the fashion industry produces 92 million tons of textile waste every single year. The unsustainable model keeps spinning in a never-ending loop, with poorly made garments ending up in landfills. Non biodegradable materials like synthetic fabric are harsh on the planet, as they don't decompose and pollute waterways when washed. Did you know toxic chemicals in materials can make you sick? The Guardian even ran an article titled, Are your clothes making you sick? on how dangerous certain substances in clothes can be harmful to health.

On the bright side, some brands and designers are coming up with biodegradable, plant-based materials in sustainable fashion. There is a rise, sure, but is it common and widespread? We doubt that. While we do want this eco-switch to happen, we need more awareness and pressure for real sustainable measures and a large-scale change.

Take cotton, for example; it’s often seen as one of the most eco-friendly fabric choices. But here’s the catch - producing new cotton is extremely water-intensive. A single cotton shirt can take 2,700 liters of water to make. This is where alternatives like bamboo fabric, which requires less water, come in. Even better would be recycled cotton or deadstock cotton as the norm – upcycled fabrics made entirely from existing materials, requiring zero additional raw resources.

So, here’s a roundup of some of the most interesting biodegradable, plant-based fabric finds, the ones that don’t hurt the planet and don’t stick around forever in landfills.

Manipur Lotus Silk 

Yes, it’s the amazing vegan-friendly, cruelty-free silk alternative to traditional silk made from silkworms. Meet Bijiyashanti Tongbram from Manipur, India, the founder of Sanajing Sanathambal and the first person in India to produce lotus silk. She produces eco-friendly fabric from lotus stems, creating a premium, handcrafted yarn through an intensive process. Lotus silk is rare and more expensive than traditional silk, but it’s worth it for being eco-friendly and animal-friendly and also because it repurposes waste stems. The effort behind it is invaluable due to its intensive hand-making yarn process. This proud silk maker from India has earned several recognitions. Euronews covered her story, and you can watch it here on NDTV and History TV18 too.

Apple Waste Leather 

The Tokyo based research and design institute Studio Sozai Centre has developed Adam Sheet, a durable biomaterial known as apple leather. This is an animal-free, vegan alternative to the unsustainable traditional leather. This special apple fabric is made from recycled apple waste, reusing all elements, including the core, peel, stem, and seeds. The fabric is washable and ideally suited for producing accessories like wallets and bags, as well as garments. They claim that it retains the fruit’s natural shade without artificial colouring. That means no toxic dyes, and more importantly, less waste in an industry that’s drowning in pollution.

Coir Fabric/Coconut Waste

Coir material is made from coconut husks, a natural fiber that breaks down eventually over time. It’s an environmentally friendly option, unlike synthetic fabrics. Given the rough, coarse texture, coir fabric hasn’t been widely used in clothing in general but you'll usually find it being used to make sacks, floor mats and bags. But hold on, we do have some news. Nanollose in Australia has made the world’s first-ever sweater from coconut waste. They say it’s tree-free, vegan, and could be an incredible cruelty-free alternative to wool and woolen sweaters. We say 'could' because it has not yet been made available for consumers.

Orange Fibre 

Italy’s Orange Fibre has found a way to turn citrus waste into fabric. It is an innovative sustainable fiber company that creates fibers from orange waste. The bright, vitamin-C-rich citrus fruit has many positive uses, great as a fruit and even after it's been used, like in this fabric. The leftover orange peels go through cellulose extraction, from which fibers are made. The fibers are then spun into yarn fabric, making a fantastic biodegradable textile. Co-founded by Adriana Santanocito and Enrica Arena, Orange Fibre is recognized as the world’s first brand to create citrus-based fabrics for sustainable fashion. Luxury brands like Ferragamo and E. Marinella Napoli have worked with Orange Fibre to create apparel, ties, and scarves, diverting landfill-bound citrus waste and repurposing it into high-quality, circular luxury fashion.

The Rice Straw Yarn 

Well rice is a grain and a plant, apart from being a staple food for many, it's now a sustainable fashion material too. Rice straw is the long, dry stems of rice plants left over after the rice grains are harvested. Thai lifestyle and streetwear brand Greyhound Original partnered with Siam Kubota, a company known for agricultural equipment, to launch an upcycled collection called 'Turn Waste to Agri-Wear.' This collection features yarn made from rice straw waste, using agricultural leftovers into apparel and tote bags. Rice straw waste is usually burned, releasing harmful smoke and pollution into the air. To reduce this destructive practice, this campaign was launched to create fashion out of farm waste.

Why This Matters

These are just some of the sustainable fabrics that are far better for the planet than toxic synthetic materials like polyester and nylon, which don’t just sit in landfills forever but also release microplastics into waterways when washed, harming marine life.

While we’ve listed some incredible biodegradable fabrics, there’s also upcycled apparel, the slow, eco-friendly alternative that doesn’t require new resources. It’s made from repurposed materials, using what already exists.

But at the end of the day, the most sustainable clothing is the one already in your wardrobe. Rewear, repurpose, and extend the life of your clothes, because what you already own is the most eco-friendly choice you can make.