How eco-friendly is your yarn?: ranking the most-used fibres

Many years ago, in an effort to lessen my environmental impact, I made the decision to only buy and use natural fibres for my crochet work. This was a great start, but as the years have gone by I have learned that being more conscious with my choices is not as black & white as it first seemed. There are many things to consider when looking at which yarns to buy, from an ethical/sustainable point of view. It’s not just about how well the fibres return to the Earth once their lifespan is over, but also what went into making the fibres in the first place; where they were sourced, what production methods were used, whether anything or anyone was harmed in the extraction of the materials, how many chemicals are needed and how durable the final product is.

I’ve been trying out different yarns for years and have slowly gained more knowledge on which yarns have the lowest impact on the environment (and am still learning). I’ve made a short list of the top 6 yarn-types in order of sustainability based on a few different factors. Here they are…

Feel free to refer back to this when you’re wondering whether your next yarn purchase is the best choice for you. This list takes a broad perspective considering environmental, ethical and long-term sustainability aspects. Choices like organic, recycled and responsibly sourced fibres tend to rank higher, whilst the use of chemicals, synthetic dyes and unsustainable practices rank lower due to their environmental impact and and lack of biodegradability.

More choices are making their way on to the market and I am excited to see where the ethical and sustainable fibre industry is heading. In the meantime, here are a few budget-friendly yarns I’ve found on LoveCrafts.com (affiliate links).