Pros & Cons Of Natural Fibres (Advantages & Disadvantages)

In the guide below, we list and discuss some of the potential pros and cons of natural fibres.

It complements our separate guide on the potential pros and cons of synthetic fibres.

 

Summary – Pros & Cons Of Natural Fibres

Firstly, What Are Natural Fibres, & How Do They Compare To Other Types Of Fibres?

We outline what natural fibres are, and how they compared to natural fibres and other types of fibres in this guide.

 

Potential Pros

Can Be Blended With Other Types Of Fibres

Can Come From Renewable Sources 

Can Come From Non-Animal Derived Sources 

Some Natural Animal Fibres Are Made With More Humane & Animals Friendly Practices

Can Have More Desirable Traits & Performance Than Some Synthetic Fibres In Some Instances

Can Sometimes Involve Mostly Mechanical Fibre Processing & Little Chemical Processing

Can Be Made According To Standards Are In Line With Specific Sustainability & Ethical Criteria

Natural Fibres Come In Both Short Staple Fibres, & Also Longer Fibres 

Natural Fibres Can Be Important Economically & Socially

 

Potential Cons

Not Produced Or Consumed In The Quantities That Some Synthetic Fibres Are

Synthetic Fibres May Have More Desirable Traits & Performance In Some Instances

Can Come From Animal Derived Sources

Can Be Dependent On Certain Agricultural Variables That Might Impact Supply, Production & Other Factors

Can Involve The Unsustainable Use Of Resources, & Intensive Agricultural Practices

May Use GMOs 

Can Sometimes Involve Heavier Chemical Processing 

Some Natural & Organically Grown Natural Fibres Can Be Expensive 

Some Question The Subsidies That Some Natural Fibres Might Receive In Some Countries

 

Other Notes

All fibres are produced by different brands and suppliers, and processed and used in textiles in different ways

Therefore, each individual fibre will have it’s own pros and cons, depending on variables to do with these aspects of fibres

The pros and cons in this guide are therefore generalized to an extent

 

Potential Pros Of Natural Fibres

Can Be Blended With Other Types Of Fibres

Natural fibres can be included in blends with other fibres to achieve desired traits in the end textile product

Cotton can be blended with polyester as one example

 

Can Come From Renewable Sources

Natural fibres tend to come from animal or plant based sources

These are generally considered renewable sources compared to petrochemical based non renewable resources used for synthetic fibres

 

Can Come From Non-Animal Derived Sources

Some natural fibres only come from vegetables, plants, grasses, wood, and other non animal derived sources

This might align with the ethics of those who believe in the use of non-animal derived products.

 

Some Natural Animal Fibres Are Made With More Humane & Animals Friendly Practices

For example, peace silk might be made with more humane practices than regular silk

 

Can Have More Desirable Traits & Performance Than Some Synthetic Fibres In Some Instances

Natural fibres have their own natural traits that synthetic fibres may not have

For example, some natural fibres are more absorbent, and more breathable than some synthetic fibres

These traits and the performance of the fibre can also impact what it can be used for in it’s end use applications

 

Can Sometimes Involve Mostly Mechanical Fibre Processing & Little Chemical Processing

Some fibres are either created from chemical reactions, or involve chemical processing, or both.

However, some natural fibres might come from a natural source, but mostly only involve mechanical fibre processing (instead of chemical processing).

Bamboo can be mechanically processed (instead of coming in the form of bamboo rayon), and so can linen and even jute.

Some cellulose fibres are also only processed as much as is needed to clean the fibre.

 

Can Be Made According To Standards Are In Line With Specific Sustainability & Ethical Criteria

One example is GOTS certified organic cotton 

 

Natural Fibres Come In Both Short Staple Fibres, & Also Longer Fibres 

Linen/flax is one example of a natural fibre that comes in both shorter tow fibers, and also longer line fibres.

But, there’s other natural fibre examples too.

 

Natural Fibres Can Be Important Economically & Socially

For example, fibres like cotton can employ many people worldwide, and also provide a source of income.

 

Potential Cons Of Natural Fibres

Not Produced Or Consumed In The Quantities That Some Synthetic Fibres Are

Synthetic fibres, and polyester are produced and consumed the most of all fibres

Cotton is most commonly produced natural fibre

 

Synthetic Fibres May Have More Desirable Traits & Performance In Some Instances

Some synthetic fibres can be more elastic, more water repellant, and easier to clean and care for than some natural fibres

 

Can Come From Animal Derived Sources

Some natural fibres come from animal derived sources, with wool from sheep (and other animals), and silk (from silkworms), being two examples.

This may not align with the ethics of some consumers who don’t believe in the use of animal derived products.

 

Can Be Dependent On Certain Agricultural Variables That Might Impact Supply, Production & Other Factors

Plants, grasses and other sources for natural fibres involve agriculture.

Because of this, these plants, grasses and other sources for natural fibres can be impacted by agricultural factors like weather, rainfall, and ultimately factors that can impact the end yield.

Yield impacts things such as revenue for farmers, and also supply/production of a particular fibre.

 

Can Involve The Unsustainable Use Of Resources, & Intensive Agricultural Practices

As one example, in some countries, cotton cultivation is responsible for:

– Significant water use via irrigation

– And, heavy use of agricultural chemicals like pesticides and fertilizers

 

Intensive farming practices of some plants, grasses and other agricultural products that produce natural fibres, may also contribute to issues like soil erosion

 

May Use GMOs

Cotton for example heavily relies in GMOs in some countries

The use of GMOs may not align with the beliefs of some consumers

 

Can Sometimes Involve Heavier Chemical Processing

Using the example of bamboo, there’s mechanically processed bamboo, and there’s also chemically processed bamboo rayon

The viscose process used for bamboo rayon has improved over time in some countries, but there’s still questions over some parts of the process in some countries

 

Some Natural & Organically Grown Natural Fibres Can Be Expensive

Some soya fibres grown organically without GMOs might be expensive

Comparatively, some polyesters are cheap to produce, and affordable for consumers

 

Some Question The Subsidies That Some Natural Fibres Might Receive In Some Countries

With one example being the subsidies that the cotton industry receives in some countries

 

 

Sources

1. Various ‘Better Meets Reality’ guides

2. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fiber

3. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Natural_fiber

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