A clean set of sheets is a simple joy that makes the hassle of laundry day that much more rewarding.
However, the production methods of the bedding industry as well as the frequency that we purchase new sheets has a significant impact on our environment.
In the United States alone, bedding is responsible for 10 million tonnes of textile waste every year! And while this statistic offers insight into the state of our landfills, it does not take into account the pollutants that are released during the manufacturing process.
So how exactly are our sheets made, and what are the environmental consequences? Explore the various textiles used to make bedding and their production methods below.
Why is conventional bedding not sustainable?
Cotton
Cotton, one of the top three GMO crops in the world, is the most popular textile used to make bedding.
The global cotton industry spends about $2 billion on agricultural chemicals each year, which leads to soil and water toxicity in nearby ecosystems.
As well, the amount of cotton needed to make a t-shirt and a pair of jeans requires 20,000 liters of water!
Lots of energy is also spent shipping cotton products to their consumers, as the farms are typically in faraway countries.
While organic cotton does not use the same amount of agricultural chemicals in its production, it requires much more water and energy due to smaller yields per acre.
Polyester
Polyester is a common synthetic fabric made from plastic. This fabric releases microplastics into the water system and takes thousands of years to break down, releasing toxic chemicals in the process.
Nylon
Nylon is a polymer made from petroleum and coal. It requires lots of energy to produce and releases the greenhouse gas nitrous oxide in the process.
Rayon
Rayon is a semi-synthetic fabric made from wood pulp.
Although natural in origin, turning wood pulp into a fabric requires lots of harsh chemicals.
Dyes
Most dyes used to color bedding are chemically based.
“Wrinkle-free”
Sheets labeled as “wrinkle-free” are treated with formaldehyde, which is a carcinogenic chemical known to cause cancer and other types of diseases.
So what are the more sustainable alternatives?
Bamboo
Bamboo uses 500x less water than cotton and releases half the amount of CO2. However, chemicals are needed to turn this hardy wood into a soft fabric.
Check to see if your bamboo product has an Oeko-tex certification. These products use mechanical processes to soften the bamboo rather than chemicals.
Eucalyptus
Eucalyptus is fast growing and highly renewable. It requires 10x less water than cotton and less softening chemicals than bamboo.
It is also naturally antibacterial and antimicrobial, making it resistant to irritants like dust and mold.
Hemp
Hemp is also fast growing and is naturally softer than other alternative fibers. However, harsh chemicals are needed to make bright white hemp sheets, so opt for more natural colors.
Linen
Linen is made from soft flax plant fibers that grow quickly and easily without the aid of agricultural chemicals. It requires minimal water, sometimes surviving solely off rainfall.
While it does wrinkle easily, it can easily be ironed, stream treated, or line dried to manage this.
Whichever textile you choose, opt for an organic, fair-trade, vegetable dyed option that is produced as close to your local area as possible.