Help Save the Planet with your Tights

Help save the planet with your tights

An estimated 2 billion pairs of hosiery are produced, worn once and then thrown away each year in the UK.

As pantyhose are mostly made from nylon yarn, it takes 30 - 40 years for that one pair of tights to decompose.

With 350,000 tonnes of clothing going into landfill every year dealing with our fashion waste is a huge, environmental problem.

Many of us are guilty of throwing away tights having only worn them once, whether it is because they have laddered, or we’ve simply moved on to another style and the old pair wind up in the bin.

And it’s not only hosiery waste that’s an issue. As a Nylon product, tights and pantyhose release microplastics when washed, which contaminate water and create environmental hazards. In addition, the manufacturing process of Nylon and similar synthetic materials requires a huge amount of heat, water and energy – all resources that put a strain on the environment.

We all want to help do our bit for the planet - but ideally without compromising on the quality, convenience or style we’re used to.

So, what can we actually do to make our hosiery habit kinder to the environment? Here are some small things we can ALL do to help reduce waste and make the hosiery cycle cleaner.

Wash our hosiery items less and care for them better to give tights a longer wear life.

a. Use a hosiery or delicates washbag when using a washing machine.
b. Handwash if and where possible.
c. Never put your tights in the tumble dryer.
d. Store tights in protective bags or cases to avoid snagging.
e. Be careful with your choice of shoes, jewelry and other accessories when wearing or putting on hosiery.
f. When putting on hosiery, roll the leg down to the foot first and step in this way – also watch out for sharp finger or toe nails!

For more info, see our wash and care page which includes information, some wash and care top tips.
Re-cycle or Re-use your old tights!

We have 16 creative top tips to Re-use your old tights around the home and garden. Not only are these a great way to reuse old tights, they might inspire you to get creative in your home too!
Investing in quality over quantity will extend the lifespan of your hosiery - it may also help you save money in the long term.

If you find yourself having to replace your tights again and again because they ladder, stretch out of shape or tear, you’re spending more money in the long run. Investing in a quality pair of tights will prove to be more durable and have a longer life. (Especially if you also follow our tips on how to wash and care for your tights above!)
Shop Eco-Tights

At The Tight Spot we are committed to supporting the changes in the hosiery market to achieve a more sustainable, environmentally friendly industry and so we continue to grow our eco-range of tights, stockings, hold ups, leggings and bodywear items. We also know that it’s important to our customers to have access to these innovative and exciting new products.

We are most impressed with the Wolford Aurora range, which is biodegradable and recyclable and therefore has been Cradle to Cradle certified at a Gold Level, which is well deserved. These tights, leggings and bodywear items still maintain the high standard of quality and style that we are used to from Wolford, whilst giving the peace of mind that they are made with sustainable materials and completely biodegradable.

Falke Eden Leggings for Women are a good choice for fashionable leggings with their feminine lace made from sustainable, recycled yarn composition.

Making changes to our lifestyle to be more environmentally friendly is inevitable as we continue to grapple with climate change, however we can continue to enjoy the products we love by supporting innovation and being mindful about the lifecycle of everything we buy and use.

Discover more advice and tips:

- Recycle or reuse your old tights

- The history of seamless tights

- The ultimate Hosiery glossary