A great workout shouldn’t come at the planet’s expense. These 10 activewear brands prioritize lower-impact materials, fair labor, and transparent practices—without sacrificing performance. Each pick includes quick highlights and sources so you can verify the claims yourself.

What we looked for:

• Recycled or preferred fibers (e.g., recycled polyester/nylon, TENCEL Lyocell, organic cotton)
• Independent certifications (e.g., Fair Trade, GOTS, bluesign, OEKO‑TEX, Climate Neutral, B Corp)
• Repair or take‑back programs and credible impact reporting

At a glance:

• Patagonia, prAna, Girlfriend Collective, Wolven, TALA, Pact, tentree, BAM Bamboo Clothing, Boody, Allbirds

1) Patagonia — Repairable, Fair Trade–sewn performance staples

• Why it’s here: Patagonia helped set the modern template for responsible performance wear, using recycled materials at scale and paying a premium for Fair Trade sewing on many styles.
• Sustainability highlights:
  • Fair Trade Certified sewn styles across categories Patagonia Fair Trade
  • Extensive use of recycled polyester/nylon and traceable natural fibers Patagonia Materials
  • Worn Wear repair and resale program to extend product life Worn Wear
  • B Corp certified via Patagonia Works parent company B Corp profile
• Best for: Trail running layers, training tights, technical tops

2) prAna — Early Fair Trade leader with bluesign and preferred fibers

• Why it’s here: One of the first big apparel brands to scale Fair Trade Certified styles and integrate bluesign inputs for safer chemistry.
• Sustainability highlights:
  • Long‑running Fair Trade Certified program prAna Fair Trade
  • Use of responsible materials like recycled nylon/polyester, organic cotton, and hemp prAna Sustainability
  • bluesign approved materials and safer chemical management bluesign at prAna
• Best for: Yoga leggings, studio-to-street layers, travel-ready athleisure

3) Girlfriend Collective — Recycled leggings with factory and fiber transparency

• Why it’s here: Known for compressive leggings made from recycled bottles and strong supply‑chain transparency.
• Sustainability highlights:
  • Leggings and bras using recycled polyester from post‑consumer bottles; some lines use ECONYL‑type recycled nylon Fabrics
  • Fabrics and dyes tested to OEKO‑TEX Standard 100 OEKO‑TEX info
  • Take‑back and recycling via ReGirlfriend program ReGirlfriend
  • Social compliance standards at partner factory (e.g., SA8000 referenced) About/Factory
• Best for: High‑compression leggings in inclusive sizing, matching sets

4) Wolven — Climate Neutral Certified sets in recycled PET and TENCEL

• Why it’s here: Prints and performance with third‑party climate certification and recycled fibers.
• Sustainability highlights:
  • Climate Neutral Certified brand Climate Neutral directory
  • Recycled PET fabrics and OEKO‑TEX Standard 100 certification claims for materials Wolven Sustainability
  • Some pieces incorporate TENCEL Lyocell for softness and lower impact Materials
• Best for: Statement leggings/bras, studio and low‑impact training

5) TALA — Trend‑forward athleisure made with recycled and upcycled fibers

• Why it’s here: A transparency‑first label using recycled nylon (e.g., Q‑NOVA by Fulgar) and publishing supply chain info.
• Sustainability highlights:
  • Recycled and responsible fibers (including Q‑NOVA recycled nylon and TENCEL Lyocell) TALA Sustainability
  • Third‑party audits and supplier transparency summaries TALA Ethics & Supply Chain
• Best for: On‑trend sets and gymwear with fashion‑forward cuts

6) Pact — GOTS organic cotton basics with Fair Trade factories

• Why it’s here: Comfortable, breathable cotton active basics with strong certifications.
• Sustainability highlights:
  • GOTS‑certified organic cotton across core lines Pact Sustainability
  • Fair Trade Certified factories for many products Pact Fair Trade
• Best for: Light training, yoga, everyday stretch leggings and tops

7) tentree — Climate Neutral apparel that plants trees by design

• Why it’s here: Each purchase funds reforestation, and the brand uses preferred fibers and verified climate action.
• Sustainability highlights:
  • Plants 10 trees per item and verifies projects publicly tentree Impact
  • Climate Neutral Certified; uses TENCEL, recycled polyester, and organic cotton Climate Neutral directory and Materials
• Best for: Training tees, lightweight leggings, everyday athleisure

8) BAM Bamboo Clothing — Performance bamboo with deep impact reporting

• Why it’s here: UK brand pairing bamboo‑rich performance fabrics with unusually detailed impact targets and reports.
• Sustainability highlights:
  • Publishes “Impact Positive” roadmap and progress updates BAM Impact
  • Focus on lower‑impact fibers (bamboo viscose with responsible sourcing, organic cotton, recycled materials) and lifecycle transparency Impact Reports
• Best for: Running leggings, base layers, thermoregulating training socks

Note: Bamboo viscose can vary in impact depending on processing; look for brands (like BAM) that disclose sourcing and chemical controls. General context via Canopy

9) Boody — B Corp basics with FSC‑certified bamboo and OEKO‑TEX

• Why it’s here: Clean, simple performance basics with strong third‑party credentials.
• Sustainability highlights:
  • B Corp certified brand B Corp profile
  • FSC‑certified bamboo sources and OEKO‑TEX Standard 100 testing for finished products Boody Sustainability
• Best for: Low‑impact training, layering tanks, soft sports bras and shorts

10) Allbirds — Carbon‑labeled workout gear in natural and recycled fibers

• Why it’s here: Known for footwear, Allbirds also offers training apparel with per‑product carbon labeling and preferred materials.
• Sustainability highlights:
  • Per‑product carbon footprint labels and reduction plan (“Flight Plan”) Allbirds Sustainability
  • B Corp certified company B Corp profile
  • Uses ZQ‑certified merino, TENCEL Lyocell, and recycled synthetics in apparel lines Materials
• Best for: Natural‑fiber training tees, lightweight shorts, recovery layers

How to choose sustainable activewear

• Materials: Prefer recycled polyester/nylon, organic cotton (GOTS), and lyocell (TENCEL). These generally reduce fossil inputs and chemical loads versus conventional fibers. See fiber guidance from Textile Exchange’s Preferred Fiber & Materials list for context Textile Exchange PFMB.
• Chemistry and dyes: Look for bluesign or OEKO‑TEX Standard 100 to limit harmful substances OEKO‑TEX and bluesign.
• Fair labor: Certifications or robust auditing (e.g., Fair Trade Certified) indicate better worker protections Fair Trade USA Apparel.
• Climate: Climate Neutral Certified and per‑product carbon data signal real measurement and reduction plans Climate Neutral.
• End of life: Take‑back, repairs, and durable construction extend lifespan and cut impact.

Care tips to lower impact and extend life

• Wash cold, line dry to reduce energy use and fiber shedding.
• Use a microfibre filter/wash bag for synthetics to limit microplastic release (e.g., Guppyfriend; see research overview via Ocean Wise) Ocean Wise microfibers.
• Repair small snags and restitch seams early; many brands offer repair or guidance.

The bottom line You don’t have to compromise on performance to align with your values. Start with one piece from a brand that matches your workout style, check the links to verify their claims, and care for your gear well—your training kit and the planet will both go further.