Fabrics and fibers table: propertis, uses and environmental impact

Vegan2Wear

Material name	Cruelty free /vegan	Produced from	Composition	Common uses	Properties	Environmentally friendly?	Recyclability and biodegradability	Relative price	Fiber market share (annual)
plant based
abaca	V	Abaca plant, a species of banana	100% abaca fiber	paper, tea bags, clothing, furnishings and industrial maritime products – ropes, ship lines, fishing nets	very high strength	V	Can be recycled, very rarely implemented. Biodegradable	relatively cheap	very small
agave	V	agave plant	frequently blended	apparel, alternative to silk, carpets, napkins.	strong, durable, elastic	V	biodegradable, recycling aren't implemented	expensive	very small
bamboo	V	bamboo plant	mostly used for man-made fabrics	apparel and household textiles	breathable, stretchable, water wicking	V mostly	biodegradable, can be recycled	relatively cheap	very small
coir	V	coconut fruit shell fiber	100% coir fiber	brushes, floor mats, ropes, industrial geo-textiles, fishing nets	durable, tough, very strong and rot resistant	V	recyclable and biodegradable	cheap	~ 1% of global fiber production
cotton	V use of pesticides	cotton plant	100% cotton fiber, can be blended	apparel, bed and bath fabrics, canvas and paper currency, home furnishing and industrial products	durable, comfortable, moisture absorbent, quit strong	Mostly not (heavy use of pesticides and water)	recyclable and biodegradable	relatively cheap	Almost 25% of global fiber production
hemp	V	hemp plant (non psychedelic strain of a cannabis species)	100% hemp fiber. Frequently blended	apparel, canvas, paper	strong and comfortable	V	biodegradable, recycling aren't implemented		very small
henequen	V	henequen (kind of agave plant)	101% henequen fiber.	ropes, bags, shoes and industrial applications	strong, stretchable and durable	V	biodegradable, recycling aren't implemented	relatively cheap	very small
jute	V	jute plant	100% jute fiber. Can be blended as well	Geo-textiles for landscaping and erosion prevention, sackcloth, ropes, coarser types of clothing (jackets, shoes)	durable, breathable, rough, strong, water absorption and heat insulation	V	recyclable and biodegradable	cheap	~ 3% of global fiber production
kapok	V	kapok tree fruit	100% kapok fiber	pillows, mattresses and toys filling, life jackets	Light, water resistant, good buoyancy	V	recyclable and biodegradable	relatively expensive	very small
kenaf	V	kenaf plant	100% kenaf fiber	ropes, coarse cloths (jackets, shoes) and paper	rough, strong, durable	V	biodegradable recycling not practiced	cheap	very small
linen	V use of pesticides	flax plant	100% linen fiber. Can be blended too	apparel, bed and bath fabrics, canvas and paper currency	durable, comfortable, moisture absorbance and thermal insulation	V	recyclable and biodegradable	relatively expensive	~ 0.73% of global fiber production
lotus	V	Stems and leaves of lotus flowers	100% lotus fiber.	apparel production	soft, light, breathable, wrinkle resistant	V	biodegradable recycling not practiced	expensive	very small
nettle	V	nettle plant	100% nettle fiber.	apparel	flexible and soft, thermal insulation	V	biodegradable recycling not practiced		very small
ramie	V	ramie plant	100% ramie fiber, frequently blended	apparel and furnishing	breathable, light and comfortable	V Chemicals used for fiber extraction	biodegradable recycling not practiced	expensive	very small
sisal	V	sisal plant (kind of agave plant)	100% sisal fiber	carpets, sackcloth, ropes, geo-textiles and paper	strong, stretchable and durable	V	biodegradable, longer fibers are recyclable
animal based
angora	X	hair of Angora rabbits	100% angora, can be blended	apparel and warm clothing	soft, light, warm and comfortable	X	recyclable and biodegradable	expensive	very small
cashmere	X	hair of Cashmere goat	100% cashmere wool	apparel and warm clothing	soft, light, warm and relatively strong	X	recyclable and biodegradable	relatively expensive	very small
feather and down	X	waterfowl birds (ducks and geese)	100% down and feathers	filling of pillows, winter clothing, comforter covers and upholstery	soft, light and durable	X	recyclable and biodegradable	relatively cheap	equivalent to 0.15% of global fiber production
fur	X	animal fur: foxes, rabbits, wolves, raccoon, minks, chinchillas and more	100% animal fur	winter clothing, decorative carpets and other decorations	worm and soft, thermal insulation	X	recyclable and biodegradable	expensive	relatively small
leather	X	animal skin, most commonly cows	100% leather	clothing, footwear, purses and bags, sport accessories, furniture and car interiors	strong and durable, heavy	X	recyclable and biodegradable	relatively expensive	weight equivalent to 6.5% of global fiber production
mohair	X	hair of angora goat	100% mohair wool, often blended	warm clothing, carpets and blankets, furnishing, toys	durable, elastic, shiny, comfortable and soft.	X	recyclable and biodegradable	relatively expensive	very small
silk	X except alt. production like ahimsa silk	cocoon' fibers of silk worms	100% silk, can be blended	clothing,furnishing and industrial applications	comfortable, breathable, durable, strong and absorbent	X	recyclable and biodegradable	relatively expensive	~0.1% of global fiber production
suede	X	type of leather- made from animal skin	100% suede	belts, shoes and clothing	softer and less durable then regular leather	X	recyclable and biodegradable	relatively expensive	fairly small
wool	X	hair of sheep and goats	100% wool, commonly blended	clothing - sweaters, hats and scarfs; upholstery, carpets and blankets	worn, durable, breathable and comfortable	X	recyclable and biodegradable	relatively cheap	almost 1% (most used animal based fiber)
other wool types: alpaca, camelhair, guanaco, llama, vicuna, yakhair	X	hair of respective animals	100% respected wool types, can be blended	warm clothing, carpets and blankets	worm, durable, breathable and comfortable	X	biodegradable, recycling rarely practiced	relatively expensive	very small
man made regenerated
acetate	V	mostly from cotton or wood pulp cellulose	100% acetate, can be blended	Apparel, alternative to silk, eyeglass frames, cigarette filters, playing cards	Shiny, breathable, pron to melt in high temperatures	X	recyclable and biodegradable	cheap	~0.9% of global fiber production
cupro		cotton cellulose	100% cupro fiber, can be blended	Apparel, alternative to silk	durable, breathable and soft	X	recyclable and biodegradable	relatively cheap	small
lyocell	V	wood pulp cellulose	100% lyocell, can be blended	apparel, covers, paper, conveyor belts	soft, durable, absorbent and strong	X	recyclable and biodegradable	relatively expensive	~0.25% of global fiber production
modal	V	wood pulp cellulose	100% modal, can be blended	apparel, bed sheets, underwear	Strong, breathable and absorbent	X	recyclable and biodegradable	relatively expensive	almost 0.2% of global fiber production
rayon	V	wood pulp cellulose	100% rayon, can be blended	apparel, upholstery, linings and industrial applications	Strong, absorbent and relatively heat resistant	X	recyclable and biodegradable	cheap	~6.5% inc. subcategories of acetate, viscose, lyocell and modal
triacetate	V	wood pulp cellulose	100% triacetate, commonly blended	apparel and clothing	Relatively heat resistant, shrinkage and wrinkle resistant,	X	recyclable and biodegradable	relatively cheap	small
viscose	V	wood pulp cellulose	100% viscose, commonly blended	apparel, upholstery, linings and industrial applications	Fairly strong, absorbent and heat resistant but highly inflammable	X	recyclable and biodegradable	cheap	~5% of global fiber production
man made synthetic
polyester	V	petrol industry byproduct	100% polyester, can be blended	apparel,home furnishings, ropes, safety belts, pillow and cushion fill, industrial plastic reinforcement	strong, fairly heat resistant, elastic	X	recyclable, not biodegradable	cheap	~52% of global fiber production
nylon	V	petrol industry byproduct	100% nylon, can be blended	apparel,home furnishings, ropes, carpets, tents, sleeping bags, industrial reinforcement	very strong, elastic and fairly soft	X	recyclable, not biodegradable	relatively cheap	~2-3% of global fiber production
acrylic	V	petrol industry byproduct	100% acrylic, commonly blended	warm clothing, carpets and blankets, furniture	light, soft, warm, flammable	X	recyclable, not biodegradable	cheap	~2% of global fiber production
polyamide	V	petrol industry byproduct	100% polyamide, commonly blended	apparel, underwear, carpets, sportswear and automobile industry	durable, elastic and strong	X	recyclable, not biodegradable	relatively cheap	~5% of global fiber production
polyethylene (PE)	V	petrol industry byproduct	Mostly 100% polyethylene	protective clothing, ropes, automobile interiors and industrial applications like pipes	strong, resistant, elastic	X	recyclable, not biodegradable	cheap	small
olefin	V	petrol industry byproduct	Mostly blended	ropes, vehicle interior, carpets and rugs, wallpaper	strong, mildew and sunlight resistance	X	recyclable, not biodegradable	cheap	very small
PET (PETE) polyethylene terephthalate	V	petrol industry byproduct	Mostly blended	clothing, towels, plastic containers.	light weight, water absorbant	X	recyclable, not biodegradable	relatively cheap	small
polypropylene (PP)	V	petrol industry byproduct	Mostly 100% polypropylene	protective clothing, and industrial applications like pipes	strong, relatively heat resistant, elastic	X	recyclable, not biodegradable	cheap	small
microfiber	V	petrol industry byproduct	blend of really thin fibers of polyesters and polyamides	clothing, athletic wear, towels, cleaning mobs and cloths	elasticity, water repellent, soft and durable	X	recyclable, not biodegradable	cheap	relatively small
silicon rubber	V	synthetic rubber reinforced with silica	Mostly 100% silicon rubber	belts	heat and cold, chemical and weather resistance; elasticity, strength	X	recyclable, not biodegradable	relatively expensive	small
vinyl or PVC	V	petrol industry byproduct	Mostly 100% vinyl	raincoats, outdoor cloths and covers, shower curtains	waterproof, sun and weather resistant, durable	X	recyclable, not biodegradable	relatively cheap	small
Spandex (also called Lycra or elastane)	V	petrol industry byproduct	frequently blended	Athletic and sportswear, leggings, skinny jeans, belts.	very elastic, resistant	X	very hard to recycle, not biodegradable	relatively cheap	small
Polyurethane (PU)	V	Mostly petrol industry byproduct	Mostly 100% PU	footwear	waterproof, weather resistant, durable	X	recyclable, not biodegradable	relatively cheap	relatively small

For composition of different fibers mentioned on the label please refer to the description of the individual components above.
velvet fabrics
Can be made of various types of fibers which will determine the fabric's features. Most commonly made of cotton, microfiber polyester, nylon-rayon blend, viscose, polyester spandex or silk (the only popular non-vegan option). Please refer above for relevant velvet composing fibers info.
satin
Can be made of various types of fibers which will determine the fabric's features. Most commonly made of cotton, silk, polyester or nylon. Please refer above for the relevant composing fibers info.