Sustainable Sports Bras – The Best UK Ethical Brands
To support the running costs of Moral Fibres, this post contains affiliate links. This means Moral Fibres may earn a small commission, at no extra cost to readers, on items purchased through these links.
In need of some eco-friendly support? Try our guide to the best sustainable sports bras made from recycled or organic fabrics, from brands that we say bra-vo to.
Nylon, lycra, polyester and other stretchy fabrics may perform well in the gym or on a run or bike ride. Yet there’s a downside. These performance fabrics tend to be made from virgin plastics, which are derived from planet-warming fossil fuels. As such, your sports gear can have a pretty hefty carbon footprint.
The good news is that greener alternatives are now available for all your activewear needs. If, in particular, you are looking for a sustainable sports bra that helps you to stay comfortable and perform, but also has a positive impact on the environment then I’ve got you covered.
From the brands using recycled or natural fabrics, you’ll find out how the latest innovators are revolutionising the industry with their sustainable solutions. This helps to give you the support you need whilst supporting the health of the planet.
Guide To The Best Sustainable Sports Bras
Here are our favourite eco-friendly and ethical brands that we say bra-vo to.
The price range key for this guide is £ = Under £50 | ££ = £50 – 100 | £££ = £100+
Use the quick links below for information about each brand or keep reading for the full post:
Girlfriend Collective
⭐ Best for size-inclusive sustainable sports bras
Budget: £
Caters for sizes: XXS – 6XL
Available from: John Lewis
US brand Girlfriend Collective, available in the UK at John Lewis, is an ethical clothing brand that makes inclusively-sized and ethically-made activewear from recycled polyester. Its pieces are then dyed using eco-friendly dyes for the smallest environmental footprint possible.
All of Girlfriend Collective’s activewear is fully Oeko-Tex Standard 100 certified. This means that every component of each item of clothing produced, including every thread, has been independently tested and found to be free of up to 350 harmful substances.
Girlfriend Collective’s pieces are also made with certified fair labour. Its factories are certified by the Social Accountability Standard International SA8000, which independently verifies that the brand conducts business in a way that is fair and decent for workers, and demonstrate its compliance with the highest social standards
Offering the largest collection of sustainable sports bras I’ve found, Girlfriend Collective offers both low and medium-impact bras in a variety of different styles and colours.
Modibodi
⭐ Best for sustainable sports bras made from natural fibres
Budget: ££
Caters for: UK sizes 8 – 22
Available from: Modibodi
Sports bras aren’t often made from natural fibres. However, this one, from Modibodi is made from 95% Merino wool. This wool is then sourced from mulesing-free farms.
There’s a little bit of elastane for stretch and it is lined with recycled nylon. This means if you are looking to avoid synthetic fibres completely then do look for an alternative.
What we love about this sustainable sports bra is that the soft Merino wool helps to regulate your temperature while you work out and control odour. It also cleverly features an invisible zip pocket, perfect for your keys or coins.
Suitable for light-impact workouts, removable foam bra cups are included for extra support.
Modibodi’s supply chain partners are audited under BSCI standards. This ensures fair working pay, reasonable hours, and safe working conditions.
Meanwhile, through its charitable Give A Pair programme, every pound donated by customers goes towards providing someone in need with a pack of five pairs of period undies. So far, it has donated more than 125,000 pairs of pants to people in need through its charity partners. These partners include Bloody Good Period and Plan International.
Get 10% off your first order when you sign up for the Modibodi newsletter.
Boody
⭐ Best for sustainable sports bras made from bamboo
Budget: £
Caters for: Sizes XS – XL
Available from: Boody
Boody, a certified B-Corp – a company that is independently verified as meeting high standards of social and environmental performance, transparency, and accountability – specialises in high-quality basics, with a focus on sustainable materials and ethical and planet-friendly practices.
Its collection of bamboo sports bras provides support for low to medium-impact sports.
Offering two options – one made from organic and sustainably sourced bamboo and the other made from a blend of organic bamboo and organic cotton – both choices are soft, comfortable, and breathable.
And if you are looking for a brand that gives back, then good news. Boody donates 1% of all bra sales to Breast Cancer UK.
Sign up for the Boody newsletter and get 15% off your first order.
TenTree
⭐ Best for sustainable sports bras that plant trees
Budget: £
Caters for: Sizes XS – XL
Available from: Wildbounds
TenTree is a Canadian ethical clothing company- available in the UK via Wildbounds – that makes stylish ethically and sustainably produced outdoor, sports, and casual wear.
As another certified B-Corp that prioritises people and the planet, TenTree also plants 10 trees for every item you purchase – hence the name!
Giving light support, this double-layered sustainable sports bra is made from recycled polyester. Despite being made from polyester, it is soft, thick and stretchy, perfect for a range of different sports and activities.
Beaumont Organic
⭐ Best for GOTS-certified organic cotton sports bras
Budget: £
Caters for: Sizes XS – L
Available from: Beaumont Organic
Made ethically in Portugal, Beaumont Organic’s vegan-friendly and GOTS-certified organic cotton bras are designed with yoga in mind.
Highly breathable, whilst providing you with gentle support, you can do the downward-facing dog without worry.
If you are new to Beaumont Organic, this sustainable brand launched way back in 2008.
Focussing on ethically made fashion produced using sustainable and eco-friendly fabrics such as GOTS-certified organic cotton, linen, lyocell, Tencel and non-mulesed wool, it’s become the go-to place for laidback leisurewear.
Beaumont Organic also offers its UK customers free repairs on all Beaumont Organic garments – helping to ensure your pieces goes the distance.
Get 10% off your first order when you sign up for the Beaumont Organic newsletter.
Thought Clothing
⭐ Best for Global Recycle Standard certified sustainable sports bras
Budget: £
Caters for: UK sizes 6 – 24
Available from: John Lewis
Thought Clothing’s stylish range of sports bras is made from recycled polyester that is certified by the Global Recycle Standard (GRS).
This independent standard verifies that Thought’s bras are made using a high proportion of recycled materials – in this case, 75%.
The standard also assures that Thought has reduced the harmful impact of production on people and the environment. And it assures that Though processes its products in a more climate-friendly way.
Thought says that its sports bras are comfortable and flattering, and offer lightweight support. The racerback straps and cover-stitch on the bust ensure a flattering shape. Meanwhile, the removable padded cups mean you can wear this piece as you wish.
Hopefully, you’ve been able to find ways to support yourself and the planet. And if you are looking for more help, then you can also check out my guide to ethical women’s underwear for more sustainable undies inspiration.
Found this post useful? Please consider buying me a virtual coffee to help support the site’s running costs.
