THE FACTS
Life Cycle Analysis Findings
When compared with a conventional cotton/polyester sweatshirt, PLAYBACK has the following positive impacts on the environment:
- 68% less global warming potential
- 33% less land used
- 49% less air pollution produced
- 80% less waste generated
- 25% fewer carcinogens produced
- 79% less fossil fuels used
Organic is Good. Recycling is Better.
Look, we like organic stuff as much as the next sustainable clothing company. Organic products use fewer chemicals. And that’s great, for organic food products that are regulated by the Food and Drug Administration. But organic cotton actually requires more water and land use due to lower yields, and often still uses harmful dyes. And unlike food, there is no regulatory body that requires a certain percentage of organic contents for a product to be labeled “organic.” So in theory, an “organic” clothing company can take a made-in-china t-shirt, slap an organic tag on it and call it a day.
Other products (such as some clothing made from bamboo) also strike-out on sustainability because while their intentions may be good, the process of making the material isn’t so good. For example, strong chemical solvents (similar to the contents of Drano) are used to cook bamboo into fiber for clothing. Again, not so great for the environment.
PLAYBACK has yet to make a product that is less than 70% recycled. In fact, most of our products are now 100% recycled, with contents plainly listed on the label. Because we recycle, we save tons (literally) of textile waste from going to landfills. We also require no extra land or water use, and our products come in the original color of the recycled component to minimize dyes. So, you know, we’re kind of on to something here.