Can you really toss your old jeans into your compost pile or is compostable clothing a myth?

Technically, yes you can. However, there is a lot to understand about the constitution of different fibers, how fast they can break down and possible complications when it comes to compostable clothing. Many companies and designers, such as PUMA, Freitag and Linda Loudermilk, have been working on creating fully biodegradable textiles, and some are making headway with increasing the speed at which fibers can break down and add beneficial elements to a compost pile.

First, though, it’s important to understand that only materials made from natural fibers or cellulose are biodegradable. Any oil-based textiles are not compostable, as they will simply not break down like organic matter. Although natural fibers are biodegradable, they often undergo chemically intensive processes to turn them into the clothes we wear. Try to only add textiles that have been naturally dyed and minimally processed to your compost pile to avoid leaching toxic chemicals into your soil.

The following fibers are compostable because they are made from plants:

Cotton is the most widely used natural fiber that takes around 5 months to fully decompose, due to the density of the fiber.

Linen is a rapidly decomposing fiber that will usually break down within a matter of weeks in a hot compost.

Wool is compostable, but often takes even up to year to fully break down.

Hemp is another rapidly decomposing material as it is not highly processed, unlike wool and cotton.

Silk, especially raw silk, is biodegradable, although often too precious to send to the compost pile.

There are several other compostable fibers such as jute, cork, materials made from leaves as well as buttons and embellishments made from seeds, shells, nuts and wood. Shredding your clothes prior to composting them helps speed up the decomposition time rapidly. Also make sure to remove any non-biodegradable embellishments, buttons and hooks (e.g. plastic buttons or metal closures) from the clothing you want to compost. For best results when composting clothing use a hot composting method, and add earthworms to your compost to increase the efficiency of the fiber break down process.

Related on EcoSalon

 Pulling the Wool Off Our Eyes

Strange Things You Can and Can’t Put in the Compost

Why Hemp Fabric Makes Sustainable, Durable and Fabulous Fashion: Fiber Watch

Image: Andrea_R

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