When battling the cold, sometimes pulling out last year’s coat doesn’t feel like enough. We have all felt the tug of wanting something new, whether it is the jacket you spotted in a shop window or the puffer making the rounds on Instagram. These days, warmth is almost an afterthought when it comes to winter clothing. Pure utility rarely makes for a memorable social media story. Instead, the focus has shifted to style, keeping in the loop, and showing up polished for everything the season has to offer.
But there is a hidden cost to all of this. The push to refresh our wardrobes every winter fuels fast fashion, which, in turn, generates a surge of unnecessary plastic waste. Did you know that many coats and sweaters on store shelves are made from inexpensive materials like polyester, nylon, or acrylic? They may satisfy the seasonal urge to keep up with trends, but ultimately, they are also made of plastic. These pieces shed microplastics with every wash, and because they wear out after just a season or two, they end up discarded. The cycle begins again, and the waste keeps piling up. In fact, the fashion industry is the second-largest polluter in the world, second only to the oil industry.
Why Plastic-Free?
Going plastic-free is not just about reducing closet clutter. It is about stepping away from a cycle that fills landfills with synthetics and pollutes waterways with microplastics. In a culture that leans so heavily on the disposable, choosing something real and lasting matters more than ever. Natural materials do more than keep you warm — they carry value, care, and longevity. This winter, what will you choose?
Four Challenges (and Solutions) to Wasteful Winter Fashion
1. Disposable Trends
Oversized puffers, faux-fur trims, the latest colour craze. In essence, fast fashion thrives on making last year’s coat and pants feel outdated. The result is a constant cycle of buying and discarding, leaving closets stuffed with items worn only a handful of times and landfills brimming with poorly made garments.
The Solution?
Embrace your self-expression and lean into timeless, personal style. A classic coat in a neutral colour, paired with scarves or accessories, can be refreshed year after year. Layering and mixing pieces you already own adds variety without sending you back to the store. Choosing clothes you can rewear with confidence means your wardrobe holds value as strong as your personality, season after season.
2. Plastic Wardrobes
So many winter jackets, sweaters, and accessories are made from polyester, nylon, or acrylic. These fabrics may look stylish and come with an attractive price tag, but at their core, they are plastic disguised as clothing. Each wash sheds tiny microfibres into waterways, and the materials themselves never fully break down. What feels soft and cozy for a single season leaves behind a far harsher legacy for the environment. The trend may fade quickly, but the plastic never truly goes away.
The Solution?
The cozier path is natural fabrics like wool, organic cotton, and hemp. These options are not only warmer but also durable and fully biodegradable. A wool coat may cost more upfront, but it pays back in longevity and comfort. Alternatively, gently used garments made from quality materials can often be found for excellent prices in second-hand shops and other curated thrift stores. Choosing natural fibres reduces plastic pollution and creates a wardrobe that feels as good as it looks!
3. Here Today, Gone Tomorrow
As the name suggests, fast fashion is built on speed rather than quality. Winter wear from big box retailers often frays, pills, or loses shape after just one or two seasons. A zipper breaks, the lining tears, or the material thins, and suddenly the “bargain” coat is on its way to the curb for morning pickup.
The Solution?
Investing in quality over quantity completely changes the equation. Sturdy stitching and heavier fabrics mean your clothing is built to last, even in harsher conditions. As mentioned earlier, these pieces may require a higher initial investment; however, they save money over time. They also reduce waste by staying out of landfills and in your closet, where they belong.
4. The Price of Packaging
Fast fashion waste does not end with the clothes themselves. Online orders often arrive wrapped in multiple layers of plastic bags and non-recyclable packaging. Multiply that by millions of shipments each season, and the environmental footprint grows even larger. In fact, 2.6 million tonnes of returned clothes ended up in landfills in the US alone in 2020. That’s absurd. It’s a little like buying a carton of eggs and finding them packed in single-use plastic instead of a biodegradable carton — unnecessary, wasteful, and completely avoidable.
The Solution?
Support brands that are rethinking packaging. Adidas' packaging initiatives are one example of how businesses can reduce waste at every step, not just in the product itself. As a consumer, bringing your own reusable bags when shopping or choosing retailers committed to eco-friendly practices helps send a message: sustainability matters.
Additional Considerations
A sustainable winter wardrobe isn’t about doing everything perfectly. It’s about making choices that last longer, create less waste, and still keep you stylish and warm. Small wins, such as repairing a coat, shopping second-hand, or choosing natural fabrics, add up. The more mindful we are about what we wear, the greater the impact we make on the planet. Each sustainable choice is a step towards a better future and a source of personal accomplishment.
Share Your Swaps!
We’d love to see how you’re keeping your winter wardrobe both warm and sustainable! Share your tips, hacks, and wins on social media using #PlasticFreeFashion and #DitchPlasticPackaging.
Let’s keep the season cozy, stylish, and plastic-free!
