Hemp fibre composites and textiles
Hemp bast fibre and hurd used to reinforce composites or as textile fibre; a partial plastic reduction, since most hemp plastic is still mostly…
Textiles and clothing
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Cork
Bark of the cork oak, harvested without felling; replaces plastic stoppers, EVA foam and underlay, with a vendor life-cycle assessment (LCA) showing a negative…
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Wool, cotton and linen textiles
Natural fibres that shed during washing like synthetics but biodegrade in months to years instead of persisting; the alternative to polyester, nylon and acrylic.
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Microfibre bag or washing machine filter
Every wash of synthetic clothes sheds up to 1,240 mg of microfibre per kilogram of fabric; a Guppyfriend bag or inline filter catches most…
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Natural fibres instead of polyester and acrylic
Cotton, wool and linen shed too, but their fibres biodegrade in months to years while polyester and acrylic persist for centuries.
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PHA (polyhydroxyalkanoates)
Bacteria-made polyesters that biodegrade in soil, fresh water and seawater; the only mainstream bioplastic family that does not depend on industrial composting.
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PLA (polylactic acid) and its limits
The most common compostable bioplastic, made from fermented corn or cane sugar; suits clear cups and clamshells but only breaks down in industrial composting.