Laundry & uniforms

Uniforms

The textile industry’s impacts start with large amount of resources, including water, land, oil, and pesticides, which go into producing the raw materials for the clothing we wear. Certain fabrics, such as organic cotton, bamboo, or hemp, require less resource inputs and can reduce overall greenhouse gas emissions. The dyes that color our clothes can contain harmful chemicals that damage our water sources and are often made from petroleum, a nonrenewable resource. Most clothing travels across the globe to its destination, resulting in a large carbon footprint for each garment, and the removed nature of this supply chain also enables the existence of sweatshops with unsafe and unethical working environments. Furthermore, a very high percent of discarded clothing ends up in landfills, which have become overwhelmed with non-biodegradable synthetic textiles.

Laundry

Washing uniforms creates another burden on the environment through the use of water and potentially toxic chemicals in laundry detergents and dry cleaning solvents.

Quick Tips for Uniforms

Choose

recycled content
sweatshop-free clothing: vendors who pay a living wage, comply with general labor standards, and maintain a transparent supply chain
organic fabrics
hemp or bamboo fabric
machine washable
dry cleaners using wet cleaning and CO2 cleaningmachine washable
plant-based dyes
made in the U.S.
gentle cleaners

Avoid

synthetic fabric where possible
nondurable clothing
surplus buying

End of Life

sell
donate
recycle

Quick Tips for Laundry

Choose

dry cleaners using wet cleaning and CO2 cleaning
concentrated and biodegradable laundry soap
wash in cold water
washing items less often
vendors which: use energy- and water-efficient washing machines and dryers

Avoid

dry cleaners using perchloroethylenes (PERC)
washing in hot water

An EPA checkmark indicates a certification or standard is recommended by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

Sweatfree Purchasing Consortium: A membership organization for public entities that seek to purchase apparel and related products made in decent working conditions

The City of Madison's Uniform Management Program Cooperative Contract

City of Portland: Sweatshop-Free Procurement Policy

Sustainable Apparel Coalition

GoodWeave: Works to end child labor

Dutch Ministry of Infrastructure and the Environment: Criteria for the sustainable procurement of Workwear

EU’s Green Public Procurement: Sustainable Uniforms for the French Navy (p. 17–18)

Local Hazardous Waste Management Program aims to remove PERC by 2025 from dry cleaners

Clean Clothes Campaign