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Athletes of the World
  • Home
  • About us
  • Campaigns
    • COP26 Athlete Video
    • Letter to World Rugby
    • Hockey for Climate
  • Resources
    • Athlete Climate Education
    • Sustainable Activewear
  • Contact us

Every time you spend money, you're casting a vote for the kind of world you want.


Anna Lappe

THE POWER OF WHAT WE WEAR

This page was created in partnership with Renoon

FASHION HAS AN IMPACT ON...

WATER CONSUMPTION

WATER CONSUMPTION

WATER CONSUMPTION

The fashion industry is a major consumer of water. Textile dyeing alone uses enough water to fill 2 million Olympic-sized swimming pools each year.

POLLUTION

WATER CONSUMPTION

WATER CONSUMPTION

A typical pair of running shoes generates about 13.6kg of CO2 emissions, equivalent to keeping a 100-watt lightbulb on for a week.

WASTE

WATER CONSUMPTION

WASTE

Globally, around 87% of discarded textiles end up in landfill, more than 90% of which are reusable and recyclable.

SUSTAINABLE ACTIVEWEAR AND FOOTWEAR: WHERE TO START?

STEP 1

STEP 1

STEP 1

Use what you already own

STEP 2

STEP 1

STEP 1

Care for your clothing properly

STEP 3

STEP 1

STEP 3

Buy consciously and only when necessary

1. Putting your activewear and footwear to good use

The most sustainable step you can take today is to wear the activewear and footwear you already own. This is the best way to extend the life cycle of your clothes and keep them out of landfills. 


Since the majority of activewear is made from polyester, a synthetic fabric made from plastic, throwing away activewear can be very harmful for the environment. If your clothes are worn out, look into repair options through companies like Presca and Patagonia or follow Re-Run for lots of top tips on repairing!  

2. Caring for your clothes

There will be times when you can’t buy or wear sustainable clothes, like when you have to wear your squad kit. That’s why it is crucial to know how to care for your items properly. Every time you wash something made of polyester, microfibers are released into local waterways. 


So, what can you do to reduce microfiber pollution?

  • Do laundry less often - but make sure to let your clothing dry in between training! Drying alone can reduce up to 90% of the bacteria in your clothes. 
  • Use a Guppyfriend laundry bag. Not only does the bag catch microfibers, but the clothing inside the bag tends to shed up to 85% less than in a normal wash. 
  • Use a Cora Ball for big loads of laundry. Research suggests that the Cora Ball can remove up to 35% of microfibers from a washing load.

3. Choosing what you buy

No matter how well we look after our clothes, buying new items is sometimes unavoidable. Here’s how to consciously buy sportswear.


First, look out for sustainable fabrics to avoid buying clothing made from polyester. 


Next, choose a brand that works for you. Sifting through brands can be overwhelming, but Renoon has made things easy for you.

On the Renoon app, you can take a quiz which guides you through 5 Areas of Impact:


  1. Environmental Protection - avoiding clothes that have a negative environmental impact
  2. Human Wellbeing - avoiding brands with bad human rights practices
  3. Animal Ethics - avoiding brands which harm animals
  4. Innovation & Technology - investing in new clothing innovation
  5. Modern Consumption - options to buy second hand or rent clothes


Through the quiz you can find out what your main values are and get matched with hundreds of brands that believe and act upon those values. Renoon also lets you review brands and their products, helping spread the word about sustainable kit that you love. 

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES

Learn More

What happens to your clothes when you throw them away - Renoon

Please do not throw away your clothes - Renoon

How to find sustainable sweatpants - Renoon

Saving the world from microplastics: starting with how you wash your clothes - Renoon

Take Action

Green Runners is a great Instagram community of athletes taking steps to cut their footprints - including around clothing.

Or check out the #Clothes4Good campaign, which provides resources athletes can share on their own social media.

Copyright © 2021 Athletes OF THE WORLD - CLG 14022019 (Not for profit) - All Rights Reserved.

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