Where the impact comes from
| Stage | Main concerns |
|---|---|
| Growing cotton | Large amounts of water where crops are irrigated, plus fertilizer and pesticide use |
| Spinning, dyeing and weaving | Energy use, dye chemicals, and wastewater that needs treatment |
| Finishing | Stone washing, bleaching and other treatments that use water, energy and chemicals |
| Shipping and selling | Transport and packaging |
| Use at home | Water and energy for washing, and especially for tumble drying |
| End of life | Jeans sent to landfill or incineration instead of being reused or recycled |
Published figures for the water and carbon footprint of a pair of jeans vary widely, because they depend on where the cotton is grown, how it is processed and how the jeans are used. Treat any single number with caution. The overall picture is consistent, though: making new jeans has a much larger impact than wearing and washing the ones you already own.
Wear them longer
Every extra year of wear spreads the impact of making a pair over more days. Jeans are well suited to this, since denim is tough and repairs are simple. Fix thin spots early, re-sew loose belt loops and replace broken buttons. The repairs guide shows how. If a pair no longer fits, a tailor can often take it in or shorten it.
Wash less, and skip the dryer
Washing jeans less often saves water and energy and makes the jeans last longer. Washing in cold water saves the energy used to heat it. Line drying avoids the dryer, which uses a lot of energy and adds wear. See washing and care for the details.
Buying with less impact
- Buy fewer, and choose ones you'll wear. A pair that fits well and suits you gets worn. Use the measuring guide to avoid returns and unworn jeans.
- Buy secondhand. Thrift stores, consignment shops and resale sites are full of denim, much of it barely worn.
- Read the fiber label. Organic cotton is grown without synthetic pesticides and fertilizers. Recycled cotton reuses fibers from old garments or factory scraps, though it is usually blended with new cotton because recycled fibers are shorter and weaker.
- Look at finishing. Some makers now use lasers and ozone in place of some stone washing and chemical bleaching. Rigid or raw denim skips most factory finishing altogether.
- Check claims. Words like "eco" and "conscious" have no fixed meaning. Third-party certifications for organic or recycled content are more meaningful than general claims.
A note on stretch
Stretch jeans contain elastane, a synthetic fiber. Blends of cotton and synthetic fibers are harder to recycle than pure cotton. Stretch fibers also tend to wear out before the cotton does, which can shorten a pair's life. Rigid, all-cotton denim lasts longer for many people, though comfort matters too, since a pair you won't wear has no benefit.
When a pair is finished
If jeans are still wearable, donate or sell them. If they are worn out, look for a textile recycling drop-off. Some councils, charities and stores collect old clothing for recycling, and denim can be shredded into insulation or new fibers. Check what is available locally, since programs vary a lot. Before you let a pair go, cut off any useful denim for patches. Worn-out jeans make the best repair fabric for the next pair.