High-Impact Sustainable Sports Bras
These sports bras are both supportive and eco-conscious
Image: Jacob Lund, Adobe Stock
As much as you love your organic cotton sports bra for lounging around the house or for your morning yoga flow, you might be in search of something a little more sturdy for your higher-impact adventures.
Thankfully, there are several sports bras available that strike a balance between performance, support and sustainability. When selecting any type of gear, keep in mind that purchasing well-made items that you will be able to wear for years (maybe even decades) is the most eco-friendly way to go.
Here are the best high impact sustainable sports bras of 2022:
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Girlfriend Collective Simone High Support Bra
Girlfriend Collective is a brand built on a foundation of sustainability. While not a perfect option, mostly due to microplastic waste (this is honestly a problem with most performance activewear, don’t forget your GUPPYFRIEND), Girlfriend Collective crafts their activewear, including their Simone High Support Bra, from recycled plastic bottles, which saves water and energy when compared to production from virgin plastic materials.
How sustainable is Girlfriend Collective’s Simone High Support Bra?
Energy use: Their website does not indicate renewable energy use.
Materials: This bra is constructed from 79 percent recycled plastic bottles (RPET) and 21 percent spandex.
Circularity: Girlfriend Collective clothes are recyclable through their in-house program ReGirlfriend.
Governance: Rather than being tasked with turning around the sustainability initiatives of an old-world activewear brand, Girlfriend Collective was founded on values of sustainability.
Certifications: Girlfriend Collective’s clothes are made in an SA8000-certified factory.
Patagonia Wild Trails Bra
Patagonia’s Wild Trails Sports Bra is made for high-impact activities. While the bra is made from some less-than-ideal fabrics, buying from Patagonia is usually a safe bet when it comes to choosing a consciously-constructed, durable product.
How sustainable is Patagonia’s Wild Trails Bra?
Energy use: Patagonia runs on 100 percent renewable energy in the US and 76 percent globally.
Materials: Patagonia’s Wild Trails Bra is constructed from recycled polyester, nylon, polyester and spandex.
Circularity: Patagonia will accept your old Patagonia clothing at their stores or service center for recycling.
Governance: From using sustainable materials to giving away the company for the planet Patagonia is a brand that you can trust to be motivated by Earth’s best interests.
Certifications: Fair Trade Certified.
adidas TLRD Impact Training High-Support Bra
adidas may not be a brand that you think of as a sustainable brand, but they are making some moves. adidas is creating some eco-minded products like this TLRD Impact Training High-Support Bra, and incorporating some important sustainability practices, like reducing greenhouse gas emissions, into their broader operations.
How sustainable is adidas’s TLRD Impact Training High-Support Bra?
Energy use: adidas has set a science-based decarbonization target of greenhouse gas neutrality across its entire value chain by 2050. They have decreased their greenhouse gas emissions by 30 percent since 2017.
Materials: adidas’s TLRD Impact Training High-Support Bra is made from 79 percent recycled polyester and 21 percent elastane interlock.
Circularity: adidas launched a used clothes send-in program, Choose to Give Back, in 2021. However, it is somewhat unclear how to participate.
Governance: With annual revenue topping 20 billion Euros, adidas is a behemoth activewear brand. Bigger brands are often slower to integrate company-wide sustainability initiatives, but can potentially make a bigger impact when they do. adidas has some lofty sustainability goals, it will be interesting to see if they achieve them.
Certifications: None listed.
Athleta Advance Bra
As a brand, Athleta is doing a pretty good job. The company is a certified B Corp and their parent company, Gap, has been working towards some more sustainable practices, including the use of renewable energy and sustainable materials. Athleta’s Advance Bra is not the most sustainable option out there, but it is a well-constructed bra made by a company that is working on their sustainability with transparency.
How sustainable is Athleta’s Advance Bra?
Energy use: Athleta’s parent company, Gap has set a 2030 goal of running on 100 percent renewable energy. According to Gap’s 2021 ESG (environmental, social and governance) report, their 2020 Scope 1 and 2 emissions (emissions such as facilities and vehicle use and commuting, electricity, heat and cooling) were reduced by 39 percent since 2017.
Materials: The website doesn’t list the fabric used to make this bra.
Circularity: Gap’s waste and circularity goals are marked as “Needs Attention” on their 2021 ESG report. Athleta did partner with ThredUp to offer store credit for turning in gently used items.
Governance: Athleta is a certified B Corp, which means that the company has gone through a rigorous vetting process to certify that they made transparent, legal commitments to social and environmental impact. Athleta’s B Corp rating has increased from 84.3 to 91.9 since 2018.
Certifications: None listed.
Buy Your High-Impact Sports Bra on ThredUp or Poshmark
If you find a high-impact sports bra that you like, don’t be afraid to buy it gently used from online secondhand purveyor like ThredUp or Poshmark (*get $10 towards Poshmark by using code GAIACTIVE ). Not only will buying secondhand decrease the use of resources that would be used to make a new product, it will also save you money.
In the grand scheme of environmental things, which sports bra you choose to wear is a pretty small decision. However, the fashion industry does make a good-sized impact, accounting for approximately 10 percent of global emissions and egregious water use. The more you can support brands that are authentically working towards eco-conscious operations when you genuinely need new gear, the better.
