Manufacturer · Fashion & Home Accessories
Sustainable haberdashery means choosing elastics, ribbons, cords, lace and other textile trims that reduce a garment's environmental impact – through recycled or natural raw materials, compatibility with the main fabric for recycling and, above all, a longer product life. However "green" the fabric is, the garment is thrown away sooner if the elastic slackens or the ribbon frays. That is why quality is the first condition of sustainability.
What sustainable haberdashery means in practice
Brands often start with the fabric and forget that haberdashery is part of the same product. A sustainable approach to it rests on several principles:
- durability – the material lasts as long as the fabric;
- lower-carbon raw materials – recycled or natural fibres where they suit the function;
- mono-material design – the trims are the same fibre type as the fabric, to make recycling easier;
- less waste – accurate quantity planning and standardised widths;
- transparency – you know what every article is made of and can prove it.
Materials for more sustainable haberdashery
Recycled polyester
Recycled polyester is most often made from used PET bottles or textile waste. Its properties are close to those of virgin polyester – strong, resistant to light and washing – which makes it suitable for ribbons, cords and woven elastics. The origin of recycled content is proven with certificates under schemes such as the Global Recycled Standard (GRS) or the Recycled Claim Standard (RCS), which are issued for specific products and supply chains. If the brand communicates "recycled", ask for a document for the specific article.
Organic and conventional cotton
Cotton ribbons, piping, cords and lace are a natural choice for cotton and linen collections. They are biodegradable and pleasant against the skin, but shrink more than synthetics and must be tested. Organic cotton is certified under schemes such as GOTS or OCS. Again, the claim must be supported by a document for the specific material, not just a description.
Natural fibres in decorative haberdashery
Linen, hemp, viscose from certified wood and blends of these are used in decorative ribbons and cords. They give a natural look but have lower tensile strength and are not suitable for functional details under high load.
Elastics – the most difficult group
Stretch comes from elastane or latex, which are currently hard to recycle and make recycling the whole garment more difficult. A good approach is to use elastic only where it is functionally needed, to choose a quality elastic with a long life and to make it easy to remove – for example in a casing rather than sewn along its whole length with the fabric.
Mono-material design
A mono-material product is made of a single fibre type – for example entirely of polyester, including the ribbons, cords, threads and labels. This makes it easier for the garment to enter a "fibre-to-fibre" recycling process. For a 100% polyester collection, choose polyester ribbons and cords, and for cotton collections cotton ribbons and cotton threads where the function allows.
| Main fabric | Suitable haberdashery | Caution |
|---|---|---|
| 100% polyester / rPET | polyester ribbons, cords, threads, labels | elastics contain elastane |
| 100% cotton | cotton ribbons, piping, lace, threads | shrinkage test |
| Linen | cotton or linen ribbons and cords | lower strength under load |
| Blended fabric | follow the predominant fibre | recycling is harder |
How to avoid empty green claims
European legislation is becoming increasingly strict about generic environmental claims without evidence. Words such as "eco", "green" and "sustainable" without specifics can mislead the buyer. The safer approach is:
- to be specific – "ribbon made of recycled polyester", not "eco-friendly ribbon";
- to keep the certificates and origin documents for every material;
- to state which part of the product has recycled content;
- to describe the composition correctly on the care and composition label in accordance with Regulation (EU) No 1007/2011.
Sustainability through planning
Much of the waste in haberdashery comes from poor planning: dozens of widths and shades left in the warehouse after the collection ends. Standardise the widths of elastics and ribbons, choose a core palette that repeats between seasons and order the more specific colours per project. This reduces both costs and the amount of material that will never be used.
Questions to ask your haberdashery supplier
When preparing a sustainable collection, include a few specific questions in your inquiry:
- what is the exact composition of the article, including the elastic threads;
- is there a recycled or organic fibre version with the same width and function;
- what documents can be provided on the origin of the material;
- can the article be dyed to the collection colour without additional treatment;
- what are the colour fastness and shrinkage in washing.
The answers will help you compare the options objectively and choose a material that meets both the function and the brand's goals.
Quality as the most sustainable choice
A garment worn for five years instead of one has a much smaller footprint than any recycled but short-lived alternative. That is why you should test haberdashery for recovery, colour fastness, shrinkage and wear. The elastic in the waistband and the hanging loop tape determine how long the garment will keep looking good.
Polkom – haberdashery for responsible collections
Polkom is a Sofia-based manufacturer and wholesaler of clothing accessories with over 30 years of experience and more than 10,000 articles. In the haberdashery category you will find elastics, ribbons, cords, lace and hook and loop in various materials. If you are looking for a specific composition or material documentation, state it in your inquiry and we will check the available options. We make samples quickly and deliver across the EU – write to us via our contact page.
