The Best Eco-Friendly Running Shorts for Women
As the warmer seasons start to bloom, it’s time to pull out your running shorts. If your favorite shorts are on their last leg, you might even be looking for a new pair.
How to Find Eco-Friendly Gear
The good news is that a lot of running shorts in 2022 are made from recycled polyester. This fabric is made from old plastic items, such as bottles, fishing net and old gear. This process is much better for the planet than buying items made with virgin polyester, but can still be damaging. Recycled polyester still breaks down into microplastics that release into the environment and food system and takes from 20-200 years to decompose.
Making decisions about plastic consumption in your activewear is unfortunately an everyday experience. Most performance wear is made at least in part with plastic materials as these are what give your gear its stretch and durability.
To minimize the impact of these plastic materials, you can shift how you consume so that instead of buying with seasonal trends, you buy less, buy used, buy durable, repair, and recycle your clothes before acquiring new pieces. You can also purchase a Guppy Friend or filter for your washing machine that minimizes the plastic released into the environment.
Related: Where to Recycle Your Yoga Pants
If you do need to purchase a new pair of eco-friendly running shorts, here are the best more-sustainable options.
Eco-Friendly Running Shorts
Patagonia Strider Pro Running Shorts
Patagonia’s Strider Pro Running Shorts are light, airy and full of pocket space for your endurance fuel. These shorts are made in a Fair Trade factory from recycled polyester, which Patagonia says reduces carbon emissions by 59 percent when compared to virgin polyester. These shorts also contain spandex (plastic) and PFCs (toxic chemicals).
These shorts are highly rated and look quite comfortable. They are made from 86 percent recycled polyester and 14 percent spandex.
These popular run shorts come in a variety of colors and patterns. They are made from recycled polyester, polyester and spandex (the company doesn’t specify how much of each fabric make up the short). Athleta is also a B Corp, meaning the company has been vetted and has made a commitment towards social and environmental impact and transparency.
Adidas Run Fast Flower Running Shorts
These running shorts come in fun floral patterns and are made from 100 percent recycled polyester.
These shorts are made from 100 percent recycled polyester and can be recycled through Girlfriend’s ReGirlfriend program.
Making sustainable choices for activewear can be difficult to navigate, but it is possible. As you start to make more eco-friendly fashion choices (remember: buy less, buy used, buy durable, repair, recycle) make sure to share what you’ve learned with your friends. The actions of one person won’t make much of a difference, but if entire communities begin to embrace a more sustainable system, we can really move the needle towards getting to enjoy our beautiful planet for generations to come.
