materials

Cotton and Beyond

Since we are a denim brand, about 80% of all of our raw materials consists of cotton, a crop that has historically been associated with high water and pesticide use. About 0.5% of the cotton we use is conventional cotton, the rest of our cotton is either organic, recycled or sourced through a system of mass balance via BCI.

Next to cotton, the remaining 20% of our raw materials includes 50% polyester and 50% other materials. Some examples of the non-cotton certified or branded fibres we use, include Lycra®T400® EcoMade, ROICA™ V550, LENZING™ ECOVERO™ Viscose, Lycra® 166L, recycled polyester and TENCEL™ branded Lyocell fibers.

Our goal is that by 2030, 100% of our fibres are certified recycled, organic, bio-based or compostable. In 2025 we reached 72.3%.

Materials definitions

Natural

Recycled cotton: Made from pre-consumer or post-consumer cotton waste. Using waste as a raw material reduces the need for virgin fibre. The recycled cotton used for our products is certified in accordance with either the Recycled Claim Standard (RCS) or the Global Recycling Standard (GRS).

Organic Cotton: Grown without synthetic pesticides and fertilisers, in line with organic farming standards. The organic cotton used for our material is certified in accordance with the Organic Content Standard (OCS).

BCI Cotton: G-Star is a partner of the Better Cotton and sources Better Cotton through its mass balance system. By investing in this, we support the Better Cotton Initiative’s mission to help cotton communities survive and thrive, while protecting and restoring the environment. The Better Cotton Initiative applies a mass balance system, which means that the cotton is mixed with conventional cotton in a complex supply chain. The end product may therefore not actually contain Better Cotton.

Hemp: Made from fibres of the hemp plant.

Linen: Made from fibers of the flax plant.

Conventional Cotton: Conventional cotton can have a harmful impact on people and the environment. This because the cultivation requires a lot of water as well as toxic and polluting chemicals. Around 0.5% of the cotton we use is conventional cotton; the rest is certified organic or recycled, or sourced as Better Cotton via mass balance, which means it is not traceable to individual products.

Unethical Cotton: With unethical cotton practices we mean cotton that is cultivated in circumstances without respect for human rights, any form of forced labor, a lack of healthy and safe working conditions for workers and no or limited environmental protection. G-Star prohibits suppliers to source cotton from areas where ethical practices cannot be guaranteed.

Synthetic

Recycled Polyester: Made from pre-consumer and post-consumer waste of which PET bottles are the most common source. Using waste as a raw material reduces the need for virgin fibre. The recycled polyester used for our products is certified in accordance with either the Recycled Claim Standard (RCS) or the Global Recycling Standard (GRS).

Recycled Polyamide: Made from polyamide waste (spinning waste, fabric waste, industrial fishing net waste). Using waste as a raw material reduces the need for virgin fibre. The recycled nylon used for our products is certified in accordance with either the Recycled Claim Standard (RCS) or the Global Recycling Standard (GRS).

Polyester: A manufactured synthetic fiber made from petroleum, a non-renewable resource. Polyester has a negative environmental impact during production, use, and disposal.

Polyamide: Made from petroleum, a non-renewable resource. Polyamide has a negative environmental impact during production, use, and disposal. 

Acrylic: A synthetic fiber which has a similar feel to wool. Acrylic fabric is made with plastic threads and made from fossil fuels. It is produced in a comparable way as polyamide and polyester.

Polyacryl: A synthetic fiber which has a similar feel to wool. It is made from fossil fuels and produced in a comparable way as polyamide and polyester.

Polyurethane: A type of plastic, synthetic fiber similar to the polyester fiber.

Sorona® (polyester): A high performance material, often used in combination with other materials. According to the manufacturer, 37% of the Sorona® polymer by weight is made from annually renewable plant-based ingredients.

ROICA™ EF: A recycled stretch innovation (elastane), re-made from pre-consumer materials. ROICA™ EF is certified according to the Global Recycling Standard (GRS).

ROICA™ V550: A stretch fibre from Japan which the manufacturer states is degradable, and which holds a Gold Level Material Health Certificate from the Cradle to Cradle Products Innovation Institute. 

LYCRA® elastane: The LYCRA® fibers we use are high performance stretch fibers which hold a Gold Level Material Health Certificate from the Cradle to Cradle Products Innovation Institute.

LYCRA® T400® ECOMADE: A stretch fiber, partially made from recycled and renewable resources.

Conventional elastane: An entirely synthetic fiber. It is a stretch material that is notable for its exceptional elasticity, strength and durability.

Manmade

TENCEL™ Lyocell: Fibres derived from wood pulp from FSC- or PEFC-certified sources and, by using less water and closed loops for process solvents, according to Lenzing they have a lower environmental impact than conventional lyocell.
TENCEL™ is a trademark of Lenzing AG. (TENCEL™ fibers – Lenzing>)

TENCEL™ Modal: Fibres made from beech wood sourced from certified sustainably managed forests. The characteristic of the modal fibre produced by Lenzing, compared to conventional modal, is the high recovery rate of the chemicals used and the reduction of wastewater.

LENZING™ ECOVERO™ Viscose: Fibers are derived from the natural raw material wood and are certified with the EU Ecolabel (license no. AT/016/001) for high environmental standards throughout their life cycle.

Conventional Viscose/Rayon: Rayon is a manufactured regenerated cellulosic fiber derived from wood pulp. Rayon is typically made of wood from eucalyptus, spruce, and pine trees, but can also be made from cotton or bamboo.

Conventional Lyocell: It is a form of Rayon, and it is composed primarily of cellulose derived from wood.

Cupro: Made from cotton waste. It is a plant-based material that is chemically processed to produce the resulting fabric. It has a similar feel to silk.

Animal

Recycled wool: Made from pre- consumer or post-consumer wool waste. Using waste as a raw material reduces the need for virgin fibre.

Wool: Production of wool can have significant negative impacts on the environment and animal welfare. G-Star only accepts wool from sheep that have not been mulesed and to support the welfare of the sheep, we are focused on using either recycled wool or Responsible Wool Standard (RWS) certified wool.

Leather: A fabric that is made from animal hides or skins. Today, G-Star only accepts leather from cows, sheep, buffalos, goats and pigs. We only use leather as by-product from the meat industry. We give preference to leather processed through facilities rated by the Leather Working group (LWG) as Gold, Silver or Bronze.

Alpaca: Derived from the fibers that naturally grow on alpacas. Although our use of Alpaca wool is very limited, we are focused on using certified Responsible Alpaca (RAS)

Silk: Fiber derived from the silkworm. Its production has a larger environmental impact than other natural fabrics as it uses a lot of energy and water. Silk is rarely used by G-Star.