concerned about the welfare of those
workers, think about:PRICE: Cheap clothing is often the
result of failing to provide adequate
pay or conditions for the people
who produce it. And even with more
expensive kit, it’s often hard to know
whether the price we pay is ref lected
fairly in the cost to the brands.ORIGIN: Garments made in Europe
and North America tend to be more
expensive, generally ref lecting
higher wages and better conditions
for workers, who are protected by
tight regulations on pay and working
environment. However, according to
a recent report by the International
Trade Union Confederation, austerity
measures have been responsible for
a recent deterioration of standards.
The report names Belarus, China,
Colombia, Egypt, Guatemala,- According to research by the
Ellen Macarthur Foundation, the
textile industry also uses over
98 million tonnes of non-renewable
resources (such as oil), a figure
predicted to rise to 300 million
tonnes by 2050.
While growth is inevitable and
essential for economies to thrive, we
can make a difference to the planet
- and to people – through the buying
decisions we make. To help making
those choices easier, we’ve broken
down the essential questions into the
following checklist to help you stay
on the green path.
WHO MADE IT?
CLOTHING MANUFACTURE is a labour-
intensive global industry, providing
employment for millions, but if you’re- Sundried Olperer T-Shirt
Part of the brand’s Eco Charge
range. The fabric is made from
recycled coffee grounds but is
surprisingly high performance
- soft, wicking, light, dries
200 times faster than cotton
and provides UV protection.
£40, sundried.com
- Patagonia Houdini Jacket
Super-lightweight, water-
repellent, packs down to
nothing and made from 100
per cent recycled nylon.
£90, patagonia.com - Picture Earthen First Layer
This Oeko-Tex-certified top
combines an innovative, fully
biodegradable synthetic
polyamide with responsibly
sourced merino wool. Nice
details include handwarmer
pockets and a buttoned collar
for variable venting.
£129, picture-organic-
clothing.com
SHOES FIT FOR
YOUR FEET
We love our running shoes, but there
is an environmental price to payRunning shoes
are the most
difficult item
to produce
sustainably, but
they’re the
piece of kit we
get through
fastest. A
study by the
Massachusetts
Institute of
Technology,
US, found a pair
of shoes has,
on average,
65 parts,
requires more
than 360
processing
steps to make
and produces
14kg of carbon
dioxide – andtwo-thirds
of this carbon
impact comes
from the
manufacturing
processes.
Look for shoes
with single-
piece uppers,
such as Nike’s
Flyknit and
Adidas’ Parley
ranges, and
recycled
content such
as Asics’
DynaFlyte 3
Sound and
Vivobarefoot’s
Primus Trail to
help reduce
the carbon
from your own
footprints.564062 RUNNERSWORLD.COM/UK MAY 2019