The 8 Best Sustainable Underwear Brands

Diet and Lifestyle

Aug 7

When it comes to building out a sustainable yet fashionable closet, there’s nothing quite as important as the intimates that you don daily. Like eating a healthy diet, choosing sustainable and ethical brands of underwear can have a positive impact on both the planet and your health.

You may be able to shop for a lot of secondhand clothing to keep your closet sustainable, but not so for underwear. Between their daily use and delicate fabrics, they don’t tend to last more than a few years.

However, it can be challenging to find a brand of underwear that you like – let alone vetting that brand for its sustainability practices. That’s why I’ve compiled a list of the top underwear brands in terms of sustainability, inclusivity, and ethicality. Whether you’re looking to overhaul your underwear drawer or find your next bra, you’ll be sure to find something that works for you in this guide.

Why buy sustainable underwear?

By buying undergarments from brands with a proven sustainability record, you’re buying more than appearances: you’re investing in your personal comfort and health, planetary well-being, and workers’ rights. This often translates to spending a little more money upfront, but it doesn’t have to cost a fortune.

Here are the top reasons why switching to sustainable underwear matters:

Free of toxic chemicals

When you can buy a multipack of cotton briefs on Amazon for less than $20, it may seem ridiculous to spend almost the same amount or more for a single item of underwear, even if it’s sustainable. But when you think about the fact that you wear said underwear all day long next to your permeable skin, you might start to think twice about buying underwear with potentially toxic chemicals in it.

Thousands of chemicals are used in the manufacturing of clothes, underwear, and other textiles. Some of these synthetic chemicals, known as finishers, are incredibly useful: they result in flame-retardant children’s clothes, waterproof apparel, stain-resistant period underwear, wrinkle-free shirts, and more.

These chemicals weren’t designed to be bad, but there’s a growing body of research connecting chemicals used in fashion with adverse health effects. And these effects are presenting themselves in real life: flight attendants getting sick from new uniforms, the period underwear brand Thinx settling a lawsuit over the presence of PFAS chemicals in its products, scientists finding high levels of BPA in multiple brands of polyester-spandex socks and sports bras, and more. And while consumers are exposed to these chemicals through their clothing, it’s the textile workers, often in developing countries, that get the worst level of exposure, with very little to no protection.

Because the fashion industry is largely unregulated, companies have no obligation to report the presence of potentially toxic chemicals in their products. However, brands can choose to be transparent with their customers. Many of the brands in this list even have third-party certifications that check for the presence of hazardous chemicals in clothing. Buying from such a company is a good way to avoid greenwashing in the fashion industry.

Sustainable textiles

More and more fabrics are being made with plastic fibers such as polyester, which doesn’t break down in the environment and can’t be recycled once it’s turned into fabric. Moreover, like most plastics, polyester is fossil-fuel-based and therefore a limited resource.

Buying undergarments made with sustainable textiles helps support a more circular economy, one that promotes recycling and focuses energy on doing the least amount of harm possible to the planet. This includes buying underwear made from all-natural or recycled materials, or choosing organic cotton over plain cotton to support sustainable agriculture.

Here are the top sustainable fabrics to look out for:

Organic cotton
Hemp
Recycled polyester
Wool
TENCEL™
Silk
Bamboo linen

Bamboo rayon fabrics, which have in recent years been touted as highly sustainable fabrics due to bamboo’s regenerative properties, are not all that they are made out to be. In fact, most fabrics made from bamboo (other than bamboo linen, which is less common and not as soft) have been highly chemically processed. According to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), “there’s no trace of the original plant left” in these products.

Fair labor

Environmental issues are also human rights issues; and when it comes to the fashion industry, this couldn’t be more true. Demand for fast and cheap fashion means that fast fashion companies are always chasing cheap labor. It’s no secret that this is often found in developing countries where workers have little to no rights or protection.

This results in many textile workers earning less than what’s considered a living wage. Some manufacturers pay per item rather than per hour, encouraging fast production over quality. Additionally, textile workers are often subjected to long hours and dangerous working conditions. Exposure to toxic chemicals, cotton dust, and noise are just some of these dangers. The Dhaka garment factory fire of 2012, which left hundreds dead or injured, exemplifies the lack of safety standards in the textile industry.

Any brand that wants to be sustainable needs to focus on not only its environmental impacts, but also its impact on the people it employs throughout the manufacturing process. This means ensuring fair labor practices, safety standards, no slavery or child labor, and fair wages. Most importantly, brands should be transparent about their impact and ways in which they’re trying to improve. Third-party fair labor certifications are another way brands can prove their commitment to fair labor for textile workers.

Less waste

As we explored in an earlier article on sustainable fashion, the fashion industry has a huge waste problem. Fast fashion, with its focus on quick production, is the biggest culprit and results in a lot of textile waste that often gets set to the landfill.

Sustainable fashion, by definition, should aim to support a more circular economy. This means using leftover material or deadstock as much as possible and ensuring that the rest gets recycled. While it’s difficult to recycle fabrics back into new fabrics (the fibers simply don’t hold up), they can be recycled into other useful products such as insulation, stuffing, carpet tiles, and more.

Speaking of recycling fabrics, learn how you can recycle your old clothes here!

8 sustainable underwear companies

Now that you have a better idea of what makes an underwear company, or any fashion brand sustainable, let’s take a closer look at some examples:

Most inclusive: TomboyX

TomboyX may not be the most sustainable brand on this list, but they are the best in terms of inclusivity due to their wide range of gender-neutral designs fit for any body. While there’s already some transparency when it comes to their sustainability practices, they’ve been vocal about how they’re working to make improvements, including hiring a sustainability expert.

To TomboyX’s credit, they are B-corp-certified, which means they meet the third party’ standards for “high social and environmental performance” and transparency. Additionally, all of their cotton products (including their period underwear) are certified by the Oeko-Tex Standard 100, which means they are free of known harmful substances such as PFAS chemicals. Besides cotton, they also use TENCEL™ Modal, which is made from sustainably-sourced wood and processed with non-toxic chemicals.

Best daily women’s underwear: Knickey

A leader in the world of sustainable underwear for women, Knickey makes undies and bras from certified-organic cotton. Their products are certified by both the GOTS and Oeko-Tex standards to ensure the absence of potentially toxic substances.

The brand is further certified by Fairtrade, ensuring that workers throughout the manufacturing process are paid living wages, amongst meeting other requirements. In 2022, Knickey released its annual climate impact report, which not only highlights the positives, but also touches on areas of improvement. I always like to see that kind of transparency.

Like a few other brands on this list, Knickey offers a Recycling Program which encourages customers to send in their old intimates to be turned into new materials. As an incentive, sending intimates in for recycling gives you a discount for future purchases.

Most transparent: Mighty Good

As far as transparency goes, Mighty Good tops the list. Not only have they obtained multiple third-party certifications – including Fairtrade, GOTS, and SA8000 – but they break down exactly who and what is involved in their manufacturing process, from cotton suppliers to factory partners.

Mighty Good sells basics including both men’s and women’s underwear in a variety of styles and colors, at an affordable price.

Most affordable: Pact

If you’re looking for underwear that meets high sustainability standards while still being affordable, you should check out Pact. This brand of organic cotton clothing, which sells both men’s and women’s underwear as well as apparel, is certified by GOTS. Most of the factories that it works with are Fairtrade certified, though there’s not a ton of transparency beyond that.

Pact has also partnered with SimpliZero to have “net zero carbon” by measuring its carbon emissions and offsetting them through investment in reforestation, clean energy, and other carbon sequestration projects. While these kinds of investments are important for long-term sustainability, it’s helpful to bear in mind that companies sometimes use carbon offsetting as a form of greenwashing.

Pact’s Give Back Box partnership also allows customers to send in any gently-used items for donation. It does not currently offer a fabric recycling program.

Best all-around: tentree

Like Pact, tentree is a brand that sells both men’s and women’s underwear and apparel. In addition to organic cotton, they also use TENCEL™ Lyocell, elastane, hemp, and recycled polyester in their products.

Tentree has been certified-carbon neutral since 2020 through the planting of trees with every purchase. As far as its workers go, tentree is B-corp-certified and has a public Code of Conduct that it requires all of its producers to sign and adhere to (with regular audits).

In addition to its numerous sustainability commitments (some of which are backed up by certifications and some of which are not), tentree releases annual sustainability reports. While not perfect, I believe this makes tentree one of the best all-around brands on this list – blending transparency, affordability, sustainability, and ethics.

Best nude collection: Proclaim

There is not just one “nude” color, which is exactly why Proclaim has designed an inclusive line of women’s nude underwear and bras. These are ethically made in Los Angeles, California at a BIPOC-owned factory.

Their eco-conscious fabrics include organic cotton, organic hemp, cupro, recycled polyester (repreve®), and TENCEL™. Some of these are sourced locally in California as well, further reducing the brand’s carbon footprint.

Orders are shipped in minimal packaging, some of which you can compost at home! Plus, instead of throwing fabric scraps in the garbage, Proclaim collects them and sends them off for recycling.

Best compostable underwear: KENT

If you want your underwear to be part of a closed-loop system, you usually have just one option: sending it off to be recycled. But did you know that underwear made from all-natural materials like hemp or cotton can be composted?

That’s what KENT, a brand of men’s and women’s underwear and basics, is all about. Their apparel, which is made from organic cotton and other 100% natural, plant-based materials, is 100% compostable. That’s right, when you’re done with a pair of undies, you can simply cut it up and toss it in the compost, where it can break down in just 90 days!

In addition to being compostable, their fabrics are GOTS-certified, so you can be sure they are free of toxic chemicals. There is less transparency in their manufacturing process, though the last stage of production does take place in the US.

If you don’t compost at home, don’t worry! You can join KENT’s compost club to take advantage of its “compost take back” program, or you can learn how to start composting at home here!

Best for special occasions: Underprotection

Sometimes, you just want to feel fancy, right down to your underwear. But you don’t have to sacrifice sustainability to feel sexy! Underprotection is a Danish lingerie brand that makes a variety of beautiful underwear, bralettes, swimwear, and loungewear.

Underprotection’s lingerie is made primarily from TENCEL™ Lyocell, recycled polyester, banana fibers, recycled polyamide, recycled elastane, milk fiber, organic cotton, and wool. It is B-Corp-certified and has a Code of Conduct that it expects all of its producers to adhere to.

Underprotection’s Take Back Program accepts any used pieces of its own brand and offers a discount for future purchases as a reward. Plus, should your piece sustain any damage and be in need of repair, their “First Aid Rewards” ensure that you can either fix it yourself or get it fixed professionally, and receive a voucher for twice the cost in return!

Didn’t find what you were looking for? Check out Good On You’s directory for sustainable underwear here!