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King County Washington home

Laundry and uniforms

Uniforms

The textile industry uses large amounts of resources—water, land, oil, and pesticides—to make clothing. Some fabrics, like organic cotton, bamboo, or hemp, need fewer resources and create fewer greenhouse gas emissions.

Fabric dyes can contain harmful chemicals that pollute water and are often made from petroleum, a nonrenewable resource. Clothing also travels long distances before it’s sold, adding to its carbon footprint. Global supply chains can also involve sweatshops with unsafe and unfair working conditions.

Most discarded clothing ends up in landfills, where synthetic fabrics don’t break down.

Laundry

Washing uniforms use water and can release toxic chemicals from detergents and dry-cleaning solvents.

Best Practices

  • Choose uniforms made from sustainable fabrics such as organic cotton, bamboo, or hemp.
  • Avoid textiles dyed with harmful chemicals; look for certified safer alternatives.
  • Buy from ethical suppliers to avoid supporting unsafe labor practices.
  • Reuse or recycle uniforms instead of sending them to landfills.
  • Wash in cold water with non-toxic detergents to save energy and reduce pollution.
 

 

Quick Tips for Uniforms

Choose

  • Uniforms made with recycled content fabrics
  • Sweatshop-free clothing from vendors who pay a living wage, comply with labor standards, and maintain a transparent supply chain
  • Organic fabrics
  • Hemp or bamboo fabric
  • Machine-washable uniforms for longevity
  • Dry cleaners using wet cleaning and CO2 cleaning machine washable
  • Plant-based or low-impact dyes
  • Made in the U.S.
  • Uniforms made in the U.S. to reduce transportation emissions
  • Use gentle, environmentally friendly cleaning methods

Avoid

  • Synthetic fabrics where natural alternatives are available
  • Nondurable or low-quality clothing
  • Surplus buying beyond actual needs

End of Life

  • Sell uniforms that are still in good condition
  • Donate gently used uniforms to charities or community programs
  • Recycle worn-out uniforms through textile recycling programs

Quick Tips for Laundry

Choose

  • Dry cleaners using wet cleaning and CO2 cleaning
  • Concentrated, biodegradable laundry detergents
  • Wash clothes in cold water whenever possible
  • Wash items only as needed to reduce water and energy use
  • Vendors using energy- and water-efficient washing machines and dryers

Avoid

  • Dry cleaners that use perchloroethylene (PERC)
  • Washing in hot water when cold water is effective

 

 

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

City of Madison. Wisconsin: Uniform Management Program Cooperative Contract

City of Portland, Oregon: Sweatshop-Free Procurement Policy

Sustainable Apparel Coalition

GoodWeave: Works to end child labor

European Clothing Action Plan (ECAP)

EU's Green Public Procurement: Tailored for Change: Procuring Sustainable Workwear at Ghent University Hospital

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

Clean Clothes Campaign