Post Plastic Clothing
How to make your ride even more fossil fuel free
There are plenty of good reasons to ride a bike, but for many of us, one of the main reasons is to reduce our dependence on fossil fuels. It is ironic, then, that we tend to clothe ourselves in products (such as Gore-Tex™ or PVC) derived from petroleum.
The Problems with Plastics
Although wearing Gore-Tex™ is not harmful, its manufacturing process may be. Gore-Tex™ is made from Teflon which, as Washington Post writer Julie Elperin points out, contains PFOA, a likely carcinogen and persistent pollutant that contaminates water, air, and bloodstreams. PVC, which most rain jackets are made of, is a known carcinogen, emits dioxins during manufacturing, and may contain hormone-disrupting phthalates, according to Adria Vasil in her book Ecoholic.
Natural Alternatives
Wool seems to be the first choice for cyclists looking for a natural fabric for their clothing. It wicks moisture (about 75 times better than polyester), is breathable, offers superior body temperature regulation and insulates (even when wet). Wool is very durable and also does not hold body odours to the same extent as synthetics. The preferred wool for athletic wear is merino. Merino is finer, softer and more insulating as it comes from sheep who live at high altitudes.
Organic cotton and hemp are usually considered options for more casual endeavours, but these fabrics are also starting to be used for technical sportswear as well. And for those allergic to wool, silk is another natural choice for an athletic base layer.
Jackets
Wool cycling jerseys are pretty common. Using wool as an outer layer on a rainy day might not be as common, but is it practical?
Two companies that offer merino wool garments designed as an outer layer for outdoor use are Icebreaker and Ibex. Both are available in stores across North America. A Swedish company, Klättermusen, produces technical outdoor wear free of PVC and PTFE (Teflon). They also have water-resistant organic cotton jackets and pants in their clothing line. Unfortunately their clothing is not yet available in North America. And if you want to give hemp a try, check out the “all-element” jacket made by Hoodlamb.
Pants
Pure wool pants for outdoor use are a little more difficult to find. Even the companies that specialize in technical wool clothing think they need to add a layer of petroleum gunk over their wool when it comes to pants. However, pure wool tights are available.
I decided to experiment with pants and picked up a pair of 100 per cent wool dress pants at my local thrift store for five dollars. On short rides in light rain they did surprisingly well. Rain beaded on the pants and did not soak through. During longer rides on heavy rain days the pants did tend to soak through but they stayed warm and dried out quickly once indoors.
If you are looking for wool pants intended for outdoor use, army surplus stores and hunting outfitters are the best bet.
Waterproofing
Natural fabrics may require waterproofing treatments, and there are several natural or partly natural products out there.
Nikwax offers a product for waterproofing wool garments. Their products are labelled “non-toxic” and do not contain nasty fluorocarbons or solvents, although they may contain some petrochemicals. Beeswax is another option for waterproofing, and articles on how to do it yourself can be found on the web. A commercial product, Sno-Seal, mainly designed for footwear, is made mostly of beeswax but also contains acetone.
Lanolin is what sheep use to keep their wool waterproof. It can be harvested without harming the sheep and is available in our local pharmacy at a very reasonable price.
Cleaning
Some of the clothing described here is labelled “dry-clean only.” But that doesn’t mean you have to subject them to that nasty chemical bath. A quick web search will yield instructions on how to clean these garments yourself.
For sources see:
Ecoholic: your guide to the most environmentaly friendly information products and services in Canada (adria vasil, 2007)
"Harmful Teflon Chemical to be Eliminated by 2015"
Washington Post (Juliet Elperin, January 26, 2006).
