Last Updated on September 10, 2025
You’ve probably seen TENCEL
on clothing tags before. But what exactly does it mean? And is it good for the environment?
A majority of the clothing online and in malls are made using polyester, aka plastic. While I’m all for using recycled polyester in fabrics that call for it (like athleticwear), I also try to opt for natural fabrics whenever possible.
Some of the links in this post are affiliate links; for more information please see my disclosure policy.
That’s because to create virgin polyester, 70 million barrels of oil are used annually, and transforming this oil into polyester fabric releases numerous toxins into the environment.
Plus, polyester pieces shed microplastics into our waterways when washed. Approximately 500,000 polyester microfibers are released from a 6kg wash.
Lets not forget microfibers of plastic have been found in almost every part of the human body, including our feces, lungs, blood and even placentas. Reducing microplastic exposure can be as simple as utilizing natural fabrics in our clothes.
TENCEL is a brand of Lyocell and Modal fibers, both of which are quite similar, but slightly different. Here’s everything you need to know about TENCEL clothing and which sustainable brands are using it.
is tencel synthetic or natural?
TENCEL is a semi-synthetic fiber made from natural wood pulp (cellulose), transformed into fiber using chemical solvents. The chemical processing is what makes Tencel semi-synthetic.
There are two kinds of TENCEL: Lyocell and Modal which have slightly different processing procedures – but both are made from cellulose.
Here’s a glimpse at them:
TENCEL Lyocell
Made with an innovative closed-loop process that results in little waste (more than 99.8% of solvent is recovered!). Wood pulp is dissolved and the solution is pumped through spinnerets to form a filament that is cut into staple fibers which are washed, dried, opened and pressed into bales.
TENCEL Modal
Similar to viscose rayon, but with less waste. Made with resource-efficient technology with high recovery rates of chemicals. Cellulose in Modal processing needs to be chemically altered before it’s dissolved, filtered, spun and cut into staple fibers.
Both TENCEL lyocell and modal fibers are sourced from controlled or certified forests meeting FSC or PEFC standards.
is tencel a good fabric for clothing?
TENCEL is a good fabric for clothing in place of conventional cotton, silk, or virgin polyester due to its versatility.
TENCEL Lyocell is a great replacement for conventional cotton or silk because its soft to the touch. It’s also more resistant to piling than cotton.
TENCEL Modal is a great alternative to virgin polyester fabrics in activewear due to its breathable and absorbent nature.
Both TENCEL Lyocell and Modal are also a good fabric for the environment. As long as they’re not combined with synthetic fabrics (like polyester), they are certified biodegradable and compostable.
Just be mindful that modal and lyocell made outside of Lenzing AG may not be as eco-conscious, because they don’t have to meet rigorous standards. Modal or Lyocell without the TENCEL certification is likely made in factories not being transparent with their practices both socially and environmentally.
what are the disadvantages of tencel fabric?
There aren’t many disadvantages of TENCEL fabric, but there are a few that stand out. Here are some to consider:
- Compared to cotton, TENCEL can be expensive
- Unless certified from TENCEL, it’s impossible to know if the wood needed for lyocell or modal is sustainably harvested or crafted
- It is a chemical-heavy process, but if getting from a TENCEL certified brand, it has a significantly lower environmental impact than generic modal
does tencel shrink in the dryer?
Yes, TENCEL lyocell can shrink in the dryer but you can reduce this by simply caring for it properly. Modal is less likely to shrink, but to minimize the chance, wash both lyocell and modal in cold water on a gentle cycle and air dry whenever possible.
If you must tumble dry, do it on a low heat setting and remove the items while still slightly damp to avoid over-drying.
where can I buy tencel clothing?
There are several sustainable brands that sell TENCEL clothing. I’ve gone ahead and highlighted some of my favorite features of each brand, but it isn’t an exhaustive list. Be sure to check out their websites for more information.
1. toad & co
- Men and women’s clothing for everyday and outdoor use
- Sustainable materials, including TENCEL Lyocell and Modal
- Takeback program for old clothes (from any brand)
- Member of The Renewal Workshop, repairs and resells old Toad clothes
- LimeLoop partner, reusable shipping—made from recycled billboards
2. reformation
- Women’s clothing
- Sustainable materials, including TENCEL Lyocell
- Packaging is made from recycled or compostable materials
- RefRecycling take back program
3. armed angels
- Women and men’s clothing
- Sustainable materials, including TENCEL Lyocell
- Carbon offsets
- Fair trade company
- Supports biomass projects in India to reduce emissions
4. tentree
- Women and men’s clothing
- Sustainable materials, including TENCEL Lyocell
- 10 trees planted with every order
- Ethical manufacturing
- Responsible packaging
- B Corporation
- Carbon neutral certified
5. organic basics
- Women + men’s clothing
- Sustainable materials, including TENCEL Lyocell
- All workers treated with respect, earn living wages, + have a safe working environment
- 1% for the Planet member
6. whimsy and row
- Women’s clothing
- Sustainable materials, including TENCEL Lyocell and Modal
- Limited quantities, produced locally
- Recycle every scrap of material in their production process
- Carbon neutral
What are your favorite TENCEL clothing brands? List them in the comments below!
The post Is Tencel Clothing Sustainable? appeared first on Going Zero Waste.
Thoreau wrote in Walden that “Time is but the stream I go a-fishing in,” which reminds us that life is short and nature fills it beautifully. What are you looking for that can’t be found during an afternoon in nature?
Earth911 inspirations. Post them, share your desire to help people think of the planet first, every day. Click the poster to get a larger image.
The post Earth911 Inspiration: Time Is but the Stream appeared first on Earth911.
https://earth911.com/inspire/earth911-inspiration-time-is-but-the-stream/
Green Living
Classic Sustainability In Your Ear: The Ocean River Institute’s Natural Lawn Challenge for Climate Action
Turn back the clock with this classic interview that will get you ready for Spring yard care planning. A lawn may be beautiful but it can take a heavy toll on the environment, accounting for between 30% and 60% of residential water use in the United States. Rob Moir, Ph.D., is president and executive director of the Ocean River Institute in Cambridge, Massachusetts. ORI works with residential lawn owners to heal damaged ecosystems by restoring coastal areas to lessen the destructive impacts of climate change. The benefits of a natural lawn reach far beyond reduced local water pollution, eliminating chemicals that can contribute to cancers, diabetes, Alzheimer’s disease, and other cellular diseases. Natural lawns are also better for local pollinators and store much more carbon than heavily fertilized lawns. If you considered removing your lawn to play a part in the battle against climate change, this interview may change your mind — a healthy lawn is a powerful carbon sink.
The Ocean River Institute is recruiting Massachusetts communities, town by town, to take a pledge to follow natural lawn practices in the Healthy Soils for Climate Restoration Challenge. You don’t need to live in Massachusetts to participate and learn about the alternatives to the traditional, chemical-intensive lawn practices that use Roundup, a source of glyphosates that kills soil-dwelling fungi and local pollinators, and fast-acting nitrogen fertilizers. You can learn more about the Ocean River Institute at www.oceanriver.org.
Rob has contributed many articles about climate change and the history of environmental change since this interview, including:
- Finding a Northwest Passage to the Sea
- Turning the Tide—How Land and Water Shape Our Climate Future
- Learning from Captain Scoresby’s Ten-gallon Fir-Cask
- Earth Savvy?
- Let the Ground Keep Falling Rainwater
- The Sultans of Swag Versus Looking at Clouds from Both Sides Now
- Subscribe to Sustainability in Your Ear on iTunes and Apple Podcasts.
- Follow Sustainability in Your Ear on Spreaker, iHeartRadio, or YouTube
Editor’s Note: This episode originally aired on May 30, 2022.
The post Classic Sustainability In Your Ear: The Ocean River Institute’s Natural Lawn Challenge for Climate Action appeared first on Earth911.
https://earth911.com/podcast/earth911-podcast-the-ocean-river-institutes-natural-lawn-challenge-for-climate-action/
Choosing your perfect gown can be one of the most exciting decisions for your special day, but for the eco fashionista, it can be a challenge to find a dress that fits your values and style — but these brands have exceptional sustainable wedding dresses you’ll swoon over!
Using earth-minded materials like hemp, cruelty-free peace silk, deadstock recycled fabrics and vintage lace, and producing consciously, either in small batches or handcrafting each individual piece made-to-order, the brands below meet high standards for transparency, ecological sustainability, and fair labor.
[For more sustainable wedding dresses, check out this guide to secondhand wedding dress sites!]
Note that the guide contains affiliate links. As always, we only feature brands that meet strict criteria for sustainability we love, that we think you’ll love too!
1. Christy Dawn
Dreamy dress brand Christy Dawn does not disappoint with their romantic bridal collection! Each piece is more swoon-worthy than the next.
Their three sustainable bridal gowns are made from regenerative silk charmeuse —sourced through BOMBYX, an innovative silk producer using best practices — and colored in a beautiful pearl silk with non-toxic dyes. Each dress is ethically cut and sewn by makers in Los Angeles earning living wages, as with the rest of Christy Dawn’s collections.
The Britta Dress and Fitzgerald Dress are 1920s inspired while the Athena Dress is a more modern (but equally romantic) option. All of these dresses are made-to-order with an estimated timeline of 4 weeks.
Conscious Qualities: Regenerative silk and organic non-toxic dyes, ethically made-to-order in Los Angeles
Price Range: $2,500 – $3,000
Size Range: XS – XL
2. Pure Magnolia
Blending the traditional with the modern, Pure Magnolia designs classic-inspired sustainable wedding dresses with contemporary touches. And each dress is made in their Canadian studio by seamstresses earning fair wages from eco-fabrics, such as organic cotton and hemp silk.
The brand sources recycled fabrics whenever possible as well, and recycles their scrap fabric through FABCYCLE.
Conscious Qualities: Eco-friendly fabrics, locally and fairly made, recycles scrap fabrics
Price Range: $845 – $3,300 CAD
Size Range: 0 – 28
3. Lost in Paris
Lost in Paris crafts each of their creatively designed bohemian-inspired gowns ethically in their Sydney, Australia studio. Unconventional yet undeniably striking, Lost in Paris’ dresses are made from vintage lace and cotton.
Investing in a dress from Lost in Paris is seamless — the brand offers at-home sample try-ons, offers train and sleeve adjustments on several styles, ships their dresses worldwide for free, and even accepts returns. Oh, and, if one of their ready-made sizes doesn’t work for you, you can get a dress designed to your measurements.
Conscious Qualities: Made-to-order model, uses vintage lace, locally made
Price Range: $950 – $3900 AUD
Size Range: XXS – XXL + custom sizing options
For More Slow Fashion Content:
4. Wear Your Love
Wear Your Love creates feminine, effortless dresses in their Northern California studio that are — in contrast to the majority of wedding dresses on the market — actually comfortable! The brand’s free-spirited designs are made with soft, earth-minded fabrics like organic cotton and each dress is made to order for each bride to their exact measurements.
There are also customizations available for each eco-friendly wedding dress such as train or no train, skirt or sleeve linings, back coverage, skirt style, and more.
Conscious Qualities: Eco-friendly fabrics, made-to-order model, locally and transparently made
Price Range: $680 – $1,700
Size Range: N/A; dresses are made to your measurements
5. Larimeloom
Based in Reggio Emilia, Italy, Larimeloom crafts exceptional custom-made dresses by hand in their atelier. The brand creates comfortable minimalist dresses from durable natural fabrics and colors them with natural or non-toxic dyes.
Larimeloom has also implemented zero waste design techniques, cutting their patterns strategically in order to minimize fabric waste.
Conscious Qualities: Made-to-order model, zero-waste designs, natural fabrics and dyes
Price Range: 650€ – 2,650€
Size Range: XS – XL
6. Sister Organics
Sourcing quality earth-friendly natural fabrics like organic hemp and cotton, Sister Organics creates classic, eco-friendly wedding dresses for UK-based brides.
Each dress is made to order in England, so you can select a pre-defined size, customize the length of a size, or get an entirely different dress made for your measurements.
Conscious Qualities: Eco-friendly fabrics, made-to-order model
Price Range: £125 – £390
Size Range: XXS – XXL + custom sizing
7. Indiebride London
Indiebride’s vintage-inspired sustainable wedding dresses are delicate and romantic yet free-spirited, offering a unique collection for the bride that wants to skip the conventional wedding gown and choose a piece that fits their individual style.
The brand’s conscious wedding dresses are handmade in London using majority natural fibers and can be altered or customized to your specifications.
Conscious Qualities: Made-to-order model, uses many natural fabrics, locally made
Price Range: £1,200 – £1,700
Size Range: 8 – 16 (UK sizes)
More Resources For Your Eco Wedding:
10 Secondhand Wedding Dress Sites for the Eco Bride
7 Ethical Lab-Grown Diamond Engagement and Wedding Rings
17 Brands with Conscious Dresses (great options for bridesmaid dresses in here!)
The post 7 Best Sustainable Wedding Dresses for Your Special Day appeared first on Conscious Life & Style.
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