Organic Cotton and Bamboo Underwear (the best brands)

Eczema Clothing (organic cotton boxers)

Unless you commando (!), you likely wear some kind of knickers, briefs or boxer shorts. But most brands on sale (even the holy grail of M & S) are made from cheap polyester and nylon (plastic). These are not just bad for the planet (and leach microplastics from washing machines into the sea). But also don’t let your skin breathe.

And to put it politely, wearing plastic near your nether regions is not just uncomfortable, but also likely to make you sweat more. And you don’t want a sweaty crotch in hot weather, it’s just not the done thing!

Who offers 100% organic pants?

• Eczema Clothing offers undies for women, men and children. The range includes vests, no-elastic box shorts and even organic cotton long johns!
• Greenfibres offers organic cotton undies for women in neutral colours. These are ethically made in Romania and are 100% cotton. Also as shorts, vests and even organic cotton long johns! Some for men are wool/silk (so not for vegans).

The best of the rest (organic cotton with a little elastane)

Also read our post on organic cotton bras.

A caveat here. Nearly ALL ‘sustainable undie brands’ use a little elastane (they say it’s for comfort and stretch). There are a couple of brands that do offer 100% organic cotton undies. For the rest, it’s best to invest in a microfiber filter (which you can to launder all synthetics, then you catch the microplastics to be sent off for recycling, and get empty cartridges in return). 

Having said that, wouldn’t it be a better country if people switched to more sustainable brands? It would send a strong message on the kind of clothing industry we want. All the following brands are also made ethically and sent in plastic-free packaging.

Sustainable undies for children

ECOOutfitters (which makes organic school uniforms) offers organic cotton underwear for girls and boys. Including briefs and boxer shorts for girls and boys.

Where to recycle your old undies!

You likely know that underwear cannot be returned once bought for hygiene reasons. And for the same reason, you can’t donate it to charity shops. But you can drop old pairs (even torn or worn) into textile banks. From there, the fabric gets shredded and turned into industrial products like carpet insulation.

Kent (90-day compostable undies!)

Kent offers fully biodegradable and compostable undies, with the slogan that you can ‘plant your pants!’ Everything is 100% organic cotton, and sent in compostable packaging, with soy inks and tagless labels.

Rapanui (undies made with clean energy)

Rapanui (Isle of Wight) is an outdoor clothing company, which also offers organic cotton underwear (also for men). In many colours, everything is made with clean energy, and sent in zero waste packaging.

Community Clothing Undies (sewn in South Wales)

Community Clothing produces locally-made underwear in organic cotton, also for men. Everything is hand-cut and sewn by seamstresses in a South Wales factory.

Earth Wardrobe (affordable organic cotton undies)

Earth Wardrobe offers organic affordable undies from Scotland, in pretty colours. Including boxer shorts for men.

Y.O.U. (briefs and boxers for men and women)

Y.O.U. Underwear offers comfortable organic cotton underwear for men and women, from neutral colours to bright prints. Designed to fit a wide range of body sizes, you’ll find bikinis, briefs and boxers, with a focus on comfort, rather than fussy extras.

Bamboo Clothing (undies for all sizes)

Boody offers bamboo undies. Industrial bamboo is not the same as fresh shoots eaten by pandas. It’s not local but the shoots are quick to grow, and it’s comfortable and breathable. This range offers plus-sizing

Also for men.

For more local fabric, The Hemp Shop has a small range, often blended with organic cotton. Also for men

Thunderpants (fun cotton undies for all sizes)

Thunderpants is a slightly bonkers company (for people who love bright patterned undies!) that offers UK-stitched and finished undies, made locally to cut transport miles and support local economies.

The wide waistbands and flat seams prevent digging or chafing, and they hold up after each wash. You’ll also find matching vests and leggings.

Sprout Organics (monthly pants subscription boxes!)

Sprout Organic has colourful options for women. From sustainable fabric in India, then made in a workshop in East Sussex by the sea. All scraps are repurposed and items are sent in zero waste packaging. Trim colours depend on the leftover fabric available.

You can subscribe to the pant subscription box to order a fresh pair every month. Or just enter ‘three pants’ at checkout to get a discount. Choose from knickers, high-waisted knickers or unisex boxers.  Plus there are unisex pants for children.