Sustainable Towels: Cotton, Bamboo and More

Towels are among the most frequently used textiles in the home. They accompany us every day in the bathroom, at the gym or when travelling. Alongside classic cotton, other materials and material blends are now increasingly being used – such as bamboo, viscose or recycled microfibre – and promoted as sustainable alternatives.

But how sustainable are these materials really? In this article, we take a closer look at the most common fibres and fabric blends used in towels and show you what to look out for when buying, so you can make a more conscious choice in everyday life.

Overview: The most common towel fabrics

While simple linen cloths were often used in the past, today’s market offers a wide variety of materials. Depending on the intended use and desired properties, the fibres used range from classic cotton to modern cellulose fibres such as bamboo viscose and recycled microfibre.

Cotton remains the most commonly used material for towels. It is kind to the skin, soft, absorbent and durable – offering many of the qualities that define a good towel.

The materials or fibres used can generally be divided into three categories:

Natural fibres

Natural fibres are obtained from plants or animals. They are renewable, meaning they grow back, and can be processed without chemical transformation. The most important plant-based natural fibres include cotton, linen and hemp, while animal-based fibres include wool, cashmere and silk. In towel production, plant-based natural fibres are generally used almost exclusively.

Regenerated fibres

Regenerated fibres are also based on natural, renewable raw materials. The starting material is cellulose from wood or woody plants – such as beech, bamboo or eucalyptus. To turn this into a spinnable fibre, the cellulose is chemically dissolved and further processed.

Well-known examples include viscose, modal and the more environmentally friendly lyocell (TENCEL™). A particular advantage of lyocell lies in its production process: it takes place in a largely closed-loop system, in which more than 99 per cent of solvents and auxiliary substances can be recovered and reused. In addition, hardly any by-products are produced.

Synthetic fibres

Synthetic fibres are made from non-renewable raw materials. Crude oil or natural gas is first turned into basic chemical substances, from which plastics such as polyester or polyamide are produced. These are melted and spun into fine fibres. In towels, synthetic yarns are mainly used in the form of virgin or recycled polyester.

Criteria for sustainable and high-quality towels

The material of a towel has a major influence on its properties – both in everyday use and in terms of its environmental footprint. Alongside production that is as environmentally friendly as possible, skin-friendliness, durability and recyclability also play an important role. These factors determine not only the quality of a product, but also its actual sustainability.

Resource-efficient production

The basis of a sustainable product is the use of natural, renewable or recycled raw materials. Cotton, linen and viscose are based on renewable resources and are therefore generally considered more sustainable than petroleum-based microfibre. Recycled microfibre, in turn, relies on the reuse of existing plastic materials and can therefore reduce the need for new raw materials. Recycled content is also increasingly being used in textiles made from natural fibres.

In addition to the material itself, however, cultivation and processing are also crucial. Resource-efficient cultivation, reduced water consumption and production processes that are as environmentally compatible as possible are important criteria.

Conventionally grown cotton is often very water-intensive, and pesticides and other chemicals are sometimes used in its cultivation. Organic cotton avoids many harmful pesticides and can significantly reduce water consumption. The GOTS standard also ensures environmentally and socially responsible processing.

Fibres made from wood, linen or hemp are often more land-efficient to cultivate than cotton. They also usually require fewer herbicides, pesticides and fertilisers, as they are more robust, grow more densely and therefore suppress weeds more effectively. Additional irrigation is often only necessary during particularly dry periods. However, their further processing can sometimes be more energy-intensive and – especially in the case of viscose – involves the use of chemical substances.

Skin-friendliness

Materials that regularly come into contact with the skin should feel pleasant and be well tolerated. Natural fibres such as cotton are considered particularly soft and kind to the skin. Linen is also of interest to allergy sufferers, as it dries quickly and therefore provides a less damp environment. At the same time, linen is less soft, has a more uneven surface and is harder to dye. These are some of the reasons why it has not yet become widely established as an alternative to cotton in the mass market.

Modern cellulose fibres such as modal or lyocell are characterised by a smooth, supple surface. They feel soft and silky and are often combined with cotton to give the fabric additional softness and an elegant, slightly flowing appearance. For heavily used textiles such as towels, however, they are usually not the first choice on their own, as they are less robust than cotton.

Synthetic fibres offer functional advantages, but their feel often does not achieve the same natural quality as plant-based fibres.

In addition to the material itself, potential harmful substances also play an important role in skin compatibility. Certifications such as OEKO-TEX® STANDARD 100 provide consumers with guidance and confirm that a product has been tested for substances that may be harmful to health.

All MÖVE terry products – from washcloths to bathrobes – are certified according to OEKO-TEX® STANDARD 100, Product Class 1. This means that all components of a product – not only the fabric, but also yarns, buttons and other elements – have been tested for harmful substances and comply with particularly strict limit values. This makes the products suitable even for sensitive skin, allergy sufferers, babies and small children.

Durability

One often underestimated aspect of sustainability is service life. High-quality materials that retain their shape, structure and absorbency even after many washes reduce resource consumption in the long term. Cotton stands out here thanks to its hard-wearing properties. Linen also scores highly for robustness and dimensional stability.

Viscose, by comparison, is more delicate and less resilient. This is why the more robust modal is now used more frequently for textiles subject to heavier wear.

Microfibre, in turn, is resistant to wear and environmental influences. However, the release of microplastics during washing is a critical issue. Particularly problematic: textiles made from recycled microfibre release even more fine fibre particles into waterways. According to estimates, a significant proportion of microplastics in the oceans comes from washing synthetic textiles.

Recyclability

At the end of a product’s life cycle, the question arises as to how well a material can be returned to the cycle. Natural fibres and viscose are biodegradable, while synthetic materials depend on technical recycling processes.

Blended fabrics present a challenge. Many towels today are made from fibre combinations, such as cotton and viscose. Since the different components are still often difficult to separate from one another, this makes recycling considerably more difficult. This is one reason why only a very small proportion of all textiles is actually recycled so far. Anyone who wants to pay attention to good recyclability should therefore choose single-material fabrics wherever possible.

Conclusion

The sustainability of a towel is not determined by the fibre alone, but by the quality of the entire product. A high-quality, long-lasting towel that is used for many years is often the most sustainable choice in the end. At MÖVE, we place great importance on producing towels that you can enjoy for a long time. Through our production in Germany, we are able to manage many processes ourselves and continuously reduce our energy and resource consumption. With our own combined heat and power plant and a photovoltaic system, we already generate around one third of our electricity needs ourselves, and our water comes from our own well.

We also make sure to use as little plastic as possible, while also using recycled materials where it makes sense. In our home region of Upper Lusatia, we are actively committed to environmental and nature conservation.

Anyone looking to combine quality with environmental awareness is making a good choice with towels made from cotton or linen. Our two collections BROOKLYN and EDEN combine the positive qualities of high-quality, soft cotton with durable, absorbent linen.

You can find more information on our sustainability information page and directly in our collections.