Why Natural Fibres Matter More Than You Think
Most children's clothing including school uniforms is made from polyester: a plastic derived from fossil fuels, often finished with chemical coatings. We make everything from certified organic cotton and Lenzing™ TENCEL™ instead. Here's the evidence behind why that matters.
The problem: most kids' clothing is plastic
Polyester and nylon are the two fibres behind most school uniforms, sportswear and everyday basics in Australia. Both are synthetic made from fossil-fuel-derived plastic, essentially the same base material as a PET drink bottle.
Children wear their uniform for over 40 hours a week during the school year, on top of everyday basics, sportswear and sleepwear making synthetic fabric one of the most consistent, prolonged exposures in a child's day.
To make synthetic fabric perform, manufacturers often add chemical finishes: formaldehyde-based wrinkle-resistant treatments, fluorinated chemicals such as PFAS (“forever chemicals”), and azo dyes. Clothing labels in Australia aren't required to
disclose all of this.
Synthetic fabric also sheds microplastics during manufacturing, wear and washing now detected in human blood, lungs and even placentas. The Minderoo Foundation and The Lancet have both flagged plastics and their chemical additives as an emerging health concern
The research overwhelmingly shows that there is good reason to take steps to reduce the plastics in our daily lives whether that be in our kitchen utensils, food containers, skin care or clothing
The natural fibre difference
Certified organic cotton
Grown without synthetic pesticides, soft from the first wash, and naturally breathable it lets air circulate and absorbs perspiration instead of trapping it.
TENCEL™ Lyocell &Modal
Made from sustainably sourced wood pulp, with the production solvent recovered and reused at over 99%. Hypoallergenic, moisture-wicking and odour-resistant.
Polyester & nylon
Cheap and durable, but they trap heat and odour, don’t breathe, shed microplastics, and won’t break down for decades in landfill.
The fibre label doesn't tell the whole story:
Why we choose OEKO-TEX® certified fabrics
A “100% cotton” label tells you the fibre content but cotton garments can still contain dyes and chemical finishes used to add softness, reduce creasing or repel stains and water. Some machine-washable wool is also treated with synthetic polymers to help prevent shrinking. Natural fibres do not automatically mean untreated fabrics.
That's why we choose fabrics certified to OEKO-TEX® STANDARD 100. These have been independently tested for harmful substances and must meet strict limits appropriate to their intended use.
What our certifications actually mean
GOTS
Certifies organic fibre content from
farm to finished garment, and
restricts hazardous chemicals at
every stage of production.
OEKO-TEX® Standard 100
Tests the finished fabric for more than 100 substances pesticides, heavy metals, formaldehyde, toxic dyes and confirms it’s safe against skin.
Fairtrade
Certifies fair prices and ethical labour conditions for the farmers growing the cotton in the first place.
To Inform, Not To Alarm
The research around the impacts of microplastics on human health is quite recent and growing. Awareness remains low. The more we educate ourselves, the better decisions we can make for our children, their future health and fertility and the environment that they will continue to live in.
We will continue to update this over time but here are some significant findings (along with our lived experience and our love for the environment) that inspired our business.
Plastic & Health
Research from the Minderoo Foundation, JBI at the University of Adelaide, and Boston College using data up to 2020 has confirmed what parents deserve to know: chemicals in plastics are harming human health across every stage of life.
From preconception through to adulthood, we’re exposed daily to substances like BPA, phthalates, PCBs, flame retardants (PBDEs), and PFAS. These chemicals are found in everyday plastics - including clothing - and have been shown to cause consistent and irrefutable harm.
Fact Sheets
The Minderoo Foundation have prepared some fantastic, easy to digest fact sheets to show you where these hidden plastics are often found (including in clothing and particularly in polyester) and the specific impacts they are having at different stages of the lifecycle.
Visit their website and download the fact sheets here.
A growing body of evidence
Plastic chemicals such as BPA and phthalates, all commonly found in everyday plastic items including polyester clothing, have been linked to risks of multiple health harms
Our story
— Caroline Hartline, Founder“I became conscious of the chemicals in everyday clothing during my own fertility journey a season that makes you read every label differently. What I found sent me looking harder: PFAS, bisphenols and formaldehyde turning up in the ‘performance’ activewear I’d worn for years without a second thought. Then I had kids of my own, and did the same audit on their wardrobes underwear, singlets, socks, uniforms, nearly all of it was plastic-based. That’s what led me to natural fibres, and eventually to founding Billie Green.”
Where to start
You don’t need to replace your child’s entire wardrobe overnight and we’d never ask you to. The highest-impact place to start is whatever sits closest to the skin for the longest: underwear, bras, socks and sleepwear. From there, most families move on to swapping in one uniform garment along side what the school already has, with no need toreplace the whole range.
GOTS-certified organic cotton polos, shorts and dresses matched to your school's colours and logo.
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