Decoding Sustainability Buzzwords in Fashion: What Does It All Mean?

In the last decade, sustainable fashion has gone from a niche idea to a global conversation. As shoppers demand eco-friendly clothing and lower-impact materials, brands have responded with a flurry of green claims, but not all of them are as clear as they sound. Words like sustainable, compostable, biodegradable, and recyclable show up on clothing tags, product descriptions, and lookbooks. They feel reassuring, but without context, they can be more confusing than helpful.

This guide breaks down what these buzzwords actually mean in the fashion world, how to tell if a brand is using them honestly, and how to make choices that truly benefit the planet.

How Sustainability Language Entered Fashion

The push for environmental language in fashion grew in the late 20th century as awareness of fast fashion waste, pollution, and labor issues increased. In the 1980s and 1990s, brands began experimenting with “eco” labeling, but without much regulation.

By the early 2000s, consumer demand for ethical fashion and transparency pushed governments, NGOs, and textile industry groups to set guidelines for environmental marketing. Today, there are more certifications and standards than ever, but there’s still no universal law that defines every sustainability term in fashion. This leaves room for both genuine progress and greenwashing.

 

What Do These Words Actually Mean?

Let’s unpack them one by one so you know exactly what you’re getting.

Sustainable

Definition:
A product or process that minimizes environmental harm and supports long-term ecological balance. In fashion, this can apply to materials, manufacturing, transportation, and end-of-life disposal.

What to know:

• “Sustainable” is an umbrella term with no single legal definition.
• Some brands highlight a single improvement (like switching to organic cotton) but continue harmful practices elsewhere.
• True sustainability considers the entire garment lifecycle — from fabric sourcing to how the item is disposed of.
  
  

How to spot the real thing:

• Look for measurable goals (e.g., “50% reduction in water use since 2019”).
• Certifications such as GOTS, OEKO-TEX, Fair Trade, or B Corp add credibility.
• Brands that publish annual sustainability reports are more likely to be transparent.
  
  

Compostable (in Fashion)

Definition:
In fashion, compostable refers to clothing, shoes, or accessories made from natural materials that can break down into non-toxic components in a composting environment, leaving no harmful residues behind.

Types of compostable fashion products:

• Home compostable: Garments made from 100% untreated natural fibers like organic cotton, hemp, linen, or silk, using plant-based dyes and no synthetic trims. These can break down in a home compost bin, often within a year.
• Industrial compostable: Items requiring specialized facilities to decompose, such as garments blending natural fibers with bioplastics (e.g., biodegradable shoe soles or accessories made with PLA).
  
  

What to watch out for:

• Many “compostable” garments still contain synthetic stitching, zippers, or elastics that won’t break down.
• Fabrics treated with chemical dyes, coatings, or finishes may leave harmful residues.
• Industrial compostable clothing is rare and may not be processed locally.
• Composting clothes with non-compostable trims can contaminate your compost.
  
  

Tip: Always check product details for a complete material list and remove synthetic elements before composting whenever possible.

Biodegradable

Definition:
A garment that will naturally break down into non-toxic materials over time.

Key points in fashion:

• “Biodegradable” doesn’t specify how long it takes, it could be months or decades.
• Many biodegradable fabrics, like untreated cotton or hemp, still need certain conditions (moisture, oxygen, warmth) to decompose efficiently.
• Without regulation, brands may use the term even if parts of the garment (threads, trims, dyes) are not biodegradable.
  
  

Better indicators:

• Clear timelines for decomposition (e.g., “biodegrades in 180 days in soil”).
• Certifications such as TÜV Austria OK Biodegradable or ASTM D6400.
  
  

Recyclable

Definition:
A material or garment that can be collected, processed, and transformed into a new product.

What affects fashion recyclability:

• Single-fiber garments (e.g., 100% cotton, 100% polyester) are easier to recycle than blends.
• Local textile recycling facilities vary widely in capability.
• Contamination from dyes, coatings, or mixed trims can make recycling impossible.
  
  

Signs of real recycling potential:

• Brands offering take-back programs or closed-loop systems.
• Products labeled with recognized recycling symbols and fiber content
• Simple designs without mixed materials or unnecessary trims.
  
  

How Brands Use (and Misuse) These Words

Now that we’ve unpacked what each term really means, it’s important to notice how brands apply them in practice. This is where greenwashing often sneaks in, when claims sound eco-friendly but don’t hold up under closer look.

Spotting Greenwashing in Fashion

• Vague language without proof.
• Nature-inspired branding with little substance behind it.
• An “eco” capsule collection while the rest of the brand continues fast-fashion practices.
  
  

What to Do Once You Spot Greenwashing

Once you start recognizing the red flags of greenwashing, the next step is knowing how to respond as a shopper. Slow fashion isn’t about perfection,  it’s about asking better questions and making mindful choices that add up over time.

Here’s how to put that awareness into action:

• Check fiber content: Aim for single-material garments when buying for recyclability or compostability. Avoid synthetic fabrics like polyester.
• Research dyes and trims: Even natural fibers lose eco-cred if finished with toxic chemicals or synthetic elements.
• Ask questions: How is this garment sustainable? Is it home or industrial compostable?
• Buy less, choose better: Extending the life of your clothes is one of the most sustainable actions you can take.
• Support real transparency: Spend your money on brands that publish measurable goals and verified certifications.
  
  

What We Can Do With This Knowledge

Slow fashion is about more than labels - it’s about learning as we go, asking better questions, and choosing pieces that last. If you’ve ever felt lost in the buzzwords, you’re not alone. But now you’ve got the tools to read between the lines and shop with clarity, not confusion. Together, we can hold brands accountable and build closets that feel as good as they look.

As a single-member business founded in 2024, Made by Good Karma is committed to thoughtful, small-scale production that honors both people and the planet. Our pieces are made with azo-free dyes and handwoven cotton sourced from Jaipur, India, as well as natural cotton and naturally dyed gauze from Chiangmai, Thailand. We use cotton stitching and wooden buttons to avoid plastic wherever possible, and we release only a couple dozen styles per year in limited quantities—keeping overproduction out of the landfill. While we are not yet B Corp certified, achieving that recognition is one of our future goals. By making clothing in small batches with natural fibers and responsible processes, we aim to create garments that feel good, last long, and leave a lighter footprint.