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The Ultimate Guide to Buying a More Sustainable Suit

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11 Mar, 2025

This post was originally published on Good on You

Buying the right suit can be challenging even if you have a good understanding of fit and fabric—and then there’s sustainability to think about, too. Here, we explain the most important aspects of suit shopping and the key ethical questions to ask when you’re doing so.

Why choose a more sustainable suit?

A good suit can stay in your wardrobe for decades—when altered as needed, cared for correctly, and stored well, that is. And in fact, this was the case before fast fashion changed the industry as we know it. Suiting was an investment, but now, like so many other categories of clothing, it has become so cheap to mass produce that many consumers no longer approach it as the considered, lifetime purchase it once was.

But it’s hard to miss the signs of a poorly made fast fashion suit—the way the fabric falls; minimal details to lower production costs; rigid shoulder pads; poorly aligned seams and patterns; the sheen of cheap synthetic materials; we could go on. Not to mention that the quality of manufacturing is likely to be so low that the suit won’t last past a few seasons.

And then there are the hidden issues with a fast fashion suit—the oft-exploited garment workers who made it, the fossil fuels used to create the materials it’s cut from, and the animals that might’ve suffered to make those horn buttons, to name a few.

So, how do you buy a suit that fits and feels great—and doesn’t come at the cost of the environment and the people who made it? Read on to find out.

 

Which suit should you buy?

The first thing you’ll need to decide on is the style of suit that makes the best investment. The situations and places you’ll be wearing a suit will dictate this because if it’s for occasional wear to, say, job interviews, a single-breasted one (with a single column of buttons) will do fine. But if you’ve got a summer of weddings to attend, an unlined double-breasted (two sets of buttons) iteration is just the ticket for keeping cool and making a style statement, while black tie events require the more formal tuxedo.

If you’re only going to have one suit, make it a two-buttoned single-breasted one since it’s the most adaptable to a variety of events, is less susceptible to changing trends, and you’ll be able to wear it long into the future.

 

What are the best, more sustainable fabrics for suits?

Two of the most important factors for a suit that’ll last a lifetime are fit and fabric, says Nathalie Neuilly, founder of Dressarte, a “Good”-rated custom suitmaker based in Paris. “Fabric quality is key. It’s vital for fabrics to be breathable, durable, and drape well.”

Traditional tailoring has long relied on wool and cotton, but both have complex sustainability challenges. The wool industry can be cruel. Cotton is notoriously water and energy-intensive to produce. So look for suits made from certified organic or GOTS certified cotton. And if you’re keen to go for wool, opt for recycled materials that are certified by the likes of the Global Recycled Standard or wool produced by Responsible Wool Standard-accredited suppliers.

Organic linen is a brilliant option for suits, since it is one of the lowest-impact materials and can easily biodegrade (as long as it hasn’t been treated with chemicals). The fabric is most commonly used for summer suits thanks to its breathability, but a fully lined one can be warm enough for winter, too. Granted, linen does wrinkle easily, and the best thing to do is embrace the look, which Neuilly describes as a “stylish, lived-in texture.”

Elsewhere, TENCEL Lyocell is a growing choice for suits—particularly in the ready-to-wear and womenswear categories. TENCEL Lyocell is naturally quite crinkle-resistant, avoiding the harmful chemical treatments applied to some fabrics to prevent creasing.

 

Which suit materials are best avoided?

Many fast fashion suits are made from synthetic materials like polyester, acrylic, and nylon. And while these materials might boast durability as a key benefit, they’re also derived from fossil fuels—a key driver of climate change—and emit more greenhouse gases in their production than natural fibres. These materials won’t easily decompose once you’re finished with them, either. A polyester suit might still be hanging around in a landfill hundreds of years after the person discarded it. And it’s not just the sustainability impact of these fabrics that makes them undesirable: “At Dressarte, we avoid polyester and blended synthetics as they are less breathable and can feel hot and uncomfortable,” says Neuilly.

Blended fabrics are also popular for suiting these days—that’s when fibres are mixed to combine the characteristics of both. Polyester is often blended with wool—and sometimes cashmere—for suit fabrics, and while retailers might tout better drape and durability in such a mix, blended fabrics are notoriously difficult to recycle. And since they’re still made using petroleum-based synthetics they won’t break down, not to mention the animal welfare implications of wool and cashmere.

Polyester and blended synthetics are less breathable and can feel hot and uncomfortable.

Nathalie Neuilly – founder, Dressarte

Keep an eye out for fabrics with wrinkle-resistant coatings, too, since the most common ones contain the chemical ​​dimethylol dihydroxy ethylene urea (DMDHEU), which has been found to release formaldehyde and could harm the environment.

 

How to buy a suit that fits

“A well-fitting suit enhances your silhouette, comfort, and confidence,” Neuilly says. A good fit is also key to keeping it in your wardrobe for the long haul. Here are a few things to look out for when you’re shopping:

  • Unless you’re after an oversized look, make sure the shoulders of your jacket don’t extend past the top of your arm. The armhole seam should sit at the edge of your shoulder.
  • When the jacket is buttoned up, it shouldn’t pull or gape across your chest.
  • “The jacket collar should sit flat against the back of your neck, with no gaps or folds,” Neuilly adds.
  • Jacket sleeves should finish just below your wrist bone.
  • Trouser fit is more subjective since it depends on the silhouette, but the key is ensuring that the waistband fits comfortably and is not tight when you’re standing.

 

Pay attention to the details

Attention to detail is a marker of quality in suiting, especially because fast fashion designs tend to cut corners and minimise details to reduce production costs. But there are a few sustainability issues to consider.

First, find out what the buttons are made from—in traditional tailoring they’re created from animal horn or mother-of-pearl, which both raise animal welfare and ethical concerns. Plastic, too, is a popular yet unsustainable choice. Corozo buttons, which are derived from nuts, are increasingly common in tailoring and considered a lower impact choice than animal or plastic ones.

Garment linings are another place you’ll find synthetic materials, particularly acetate, since it’s cheaper to buy than the likes of cotton or silk which were traditionally used as linings. Opt for ethical silk, organic cotton, or cupro-lined garments if possible.

Finally, you’ll want to have a close look at the stitching quality to ensure the suit will stay well-constructed for its lifetime. Nueilly advises to “look for neatly finished seams, hand-stitched lapels, and reinforced buttonholes as markers of quality tailoring.”

 

Altering your suit

Unless you’ve bought a made-to-measure or bespoke suit, making a few fit adjustments is often needed to ensure it fits to your exact size—and many tweaks are easy to do.

Most seamsters and tailors will be able to easily adjust the cuffs of a jacket, for instance, and trousers on some suits come with unfinished hems to allow you to take them up to your height. Some manufacturers will also leave a touch of extra fabric in the side seams should you ever need to size up slightly.

 

More sustainable brands making suits and tailoring

The post The Ultimate Guide to Buying a More Sustainable Suit appeared first on Good On You.

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In June, I had the privilege of attending the 2025 E-Waste World, Battery Recycling, Metal Recycling, and ITAD & Circular Electronics Conference & Expo events in Frankfurt, Germany.

Speaking in the ITAD & Circular Electronics track on a panel with global Circular Economy leaders from Foxway Group, ERI and HP, we explored the evolving role of IT asset disposition (ITAD) and opportunities in the circular electronics economy.

The event’s focus on advancing circular economy goals and reducing environmental impact delivered a series of insights and learnings. From this assembly of international expertise across 75+ countries, here are some points from the presentations that stood out for me:

1. Environmental impact of the digital economy

Digitalisation has a heavy material footprint in the production phase, and lifecycle thinking needs to guide every product decision. Consider that 81% of the energy a laptop uses in its lifetime is consumed during manufacture (1 tonne in manufacture is equal to 10,000 tonnes of CO2) and laptops are typically refreshed or replaced by companies every 3–4 years.

From 2018 to 2023, the average number of devices and connections per capita in the world increased by 50% (2.4 to 3.6). In North America (8.2 to 13.4) and Western Europe (5.6 to 9.4), this almost doubled. In 1960, only 10 periodic table elements were used to make phones. In 1990, 27 elements were used and now over 60 elements are used to build the smartphones that we have become so reliant on.

A key challenge is that low-carbon and digital technologies largely compete for the same minerals. Material resource extraction could increase 60% between 2020 and 2060, while demand for lithium, cobalt and graphite is expected to rise by 500% until 2050.

High growth in ICT demand and Internet requires more attention to the environmental footprint of the digital economy. Energy consumption of data centres is expected to more than double by 2026. The electronics industry accounts for over 4% of global GHG — and digitalisation-related waste is growing, with skewed impacts on developing countries.

E-waste is rising five times faster than recycling — 1 tonne of e-waste has a carbon footprint of 2 tonnes. Today’s solution? ‘Bury it or burn it.’ In terms of spent emissions, waste and the costs associated with end-of-life liabilities, PCBAs (printed circuit board assembly) cost us enormously — they generally achieve 3–5% recyclability (75% of CO2 in PCBAs is from components).

2. Regulating circularity in electronics

There is good momentum across jurisdictions in right-to-repair, design and labelling regulations; recycling targets; and voluntary frameworks on circularity and eco-design.

The EU is at the forefront. EU legislation is lifting the ICT aftermarket, providing new opportunities for IT asset disposition (ITAD) businesses. To get a sense, the global market for electronics recycling is estimated to grow from $37 billion to $108 billion (2022–2030). The value of refurbished electronics is estimated to increase from $85.9 billion to $262.2 billion (2022–2032). Strikingly, 40% of companies do not have a formal ITAD strategy in place.

Significantly, the EU is rethinking its Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) management targets, aligned with upcoming circularity and WEEE legislation, as part of efforts to foster the circular economy. A more robust and realistic circularity-driven approach to setting collection targets would better reflect various factors including long lifespans of electronic products and market fluctuations.

Australia and New Zealand lag the EU’s comprehensive e-waste mandated frameworks. The lack of a systematic approach results in environmental degradation and missed positioning opportunities for businesses in the circular economy. While Australia’s Senate inquiry into waste reduction and recycling recommended legislating a full circular economy framework — including for imported and local product design, financial incentives and regulatory enforcement, New Zealand remains the only OECD country without a national scheme to manage e-waste.

3. Extending product lifecycles

Along with data security and digital tools, reuse was a key theme in the ITAD & Circular Electronics track of the conference. The sustainable tech company that I lead, Greenbox, recognises that reuse is the simplest circular strategy. Devices that are still functional undergo refurbishment and are reintroduced into the market, reducing new production need and conserving valuable resources.

Conference presenters highlighted how repair over replacement is being legislated as a right in jurisdictions around the world. Resources are saved, costs are lowered, product life is extended, and people and organisations are empowered to support a greener future. It was pointed out that just 43% of countries have recycling policies, 17% of global waste is formally recycled, and less than 1% of global e-waste is formally repaired and reused.

Right to repair is a rising wave in the circular economy, and legislation is one way that civil society is pushing back on programmed obsolescence. Its global momentum continues at different speeds for different product categories — from the recent EU mandates to multiple US state bills (and some laws) through to repair and reuse steps in India, Canada, Australia and New Zealand.

The European Commission’s Joint Research Commission has done a scoping study to identify product groups under the Ecodesign framework that would be most relevant for implementing an EU-wide product reparability scoring system.

Attending this event with the entire electronic waste recycling supply chain — from peers and partners to suppliers and customers — underscored the importance of sharing best practices to address the environmental challenges that increased hardware proliferation and complex related issues are having on the world.

Ross Thompson is Group CEO of sustainability, data management and technology asset lifecycle management market leader Greenbox. With facilities in Brisbane, Sydney, Melbourne, Canberra, Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch, Greenbox Group provides customers all over the world a carbon-neutral supply chain for IT equipment to reduce their carbon footprint by actively managing their environmental, social and governance obligations.

Image credit: iStock.com/Mustafa Ovec

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