What is acrylic?
Acrylic is a synthetic chemical fibre made from mineral oil or other hydrocarbons. Like other synthetic fibres, acrylic is derived from petroleum.
One of the best-known uses of acrylic is paint, but it is also used more and more in the textile industry. For example, to make faux fur or jumpers, where it is often blended with other fibres to make clothes softer, more supple and easier to care for.
Despite a few technical advantages, acrylic is a highly polluting and dangerous material. Its impact on the environment and on health is extremely negative.
The solution? Choosing unblended, natural fabrics such as wool or organic cotton seems to be the best alternative offered by ethical fashion so far.
Acrylic, a polluting fibre to avoid
Acrylic is far from ethical, sustainable or eco-friendly. At every stage of an acrylic garment's life cycle, the impact is negative.
Acrylic clothes are harmful to the environment
Made from petroleum, acrylic requires 30% more energy to produce than polyester.
Clothes made from acrylic are generally not good quality. They tend to pill and are not very hard-wearing. What's more, acrylic fabric doesn't breathe and holds on to odours. As a result, clothes containing acrylic have a rather short lifespan, which creates more waste.
What's more, like all synthetic fibres, acrylic clothes are responsible for releasing plastic microparticles into the environment. When they go through the washing machine, fibrous microparticles come off the garment, pass through the filters of wastewater treatment plants and end up, with the wastewater, in nature. Invisible to the naked eye, these microfibres are harmful to aquatic environments and to the balance of ecosystems.
Acrylic clothes are harmful to people
Acrylic clothes start with the acrylonitrile molecule. It is classified as a mutagen, meaning it can act on DNA and may, in particular, cause cancer.
Acrylic contains toxic substances that can prove dangerous to humans. More and more organisations are highlighting risks of allergies and irritation. Some even go as far as claiming that acrylic may be an endocrine disruptor, causing physiological abnormalities, particularly reproductive ones.
In addition, when an acrylic garment is thrown away and ends up in an incinerator, burning it releases carbon dioxide (CO2) but also hydrogen cyanide (HCN), a gas that is extremely toxic to humans.
Why is acrylic still so widely used?
Acrylic fibre is known for its comfort. It is very light and makes clothes soft and silky. It also acts as a thermal insulator, so it can be worn in any season.
It is an easy-care material. It makes clothes much more supple. It is described as thermoplastic, which means acrylic clothes don't crease and don't need ironing. Acrylic clothes also dry very quickly.
Acrylic is used in many different forms in the textile industry. It is used to make jumpers as well as lingerie or faux fur. Most often, it is blended with cotton, wool or other synthetic fibres.
Another undeniable advantage of acrylic is its price. This chemical material is much cheaper than wool, for example, while feeling similar to the touch. In fact, it's not unusual to mistake acrylic for wool in our chunky winter jumpers.
I have acrylic clothes: what should I do?
The history of acrylic
Mostly produced in Asia
Acrylic was discovered in 1942 in Germany. Today, the countries producing synthetic chemical materials are in Asia. The leading exporters are China and India, followed by other countries such as Taiwan and Indonesia. More than 50 million tonnes of chemical fibres are produced worldwide every year. However, among the chemical materials used, acrylic accounts for only 3.5% of production. This is because acrylic is rarely the main component of clothes; on the contrary, it is more advantageous to blend it with other fibres.
Manufacturing: from polymerisation to the finished garment
Acrylic is obtained through the "polymerisation of acrylic nitrile", that is, by successively adding acrylonitrile molecules. This produces a paste that is then spun. These steps require the use of solvents. The resulting fibre is then woven, washed in hot water and dipped in an acid bath to make it antistatic.
What is ethical fashion doing?
Faced with such a negative environmental impact, many ethical and eco-friendly fashion brands are trying to find alternatives, using recycled, natural or organic materials. One of them is Thinking Mu, which offers an ethical, colourful wardrobe ranging from organic cotton t-shirts for women to dresses and skirts. Another is Colorful Standard, which offers everything from recycled wool beanies to sweatshirts and organic t-shirts for men.
At WedressFair, we only select brands that do things right, use sustainable materials and manufacture ethically, to bring you the best of eco-friendly fashion.
