Is silk vegan, sustainable, or ethical? The material guide

In this post:

What is silk

Silk is a natural fiber produced by silkworms, which are the larvae of silkmoths. Silkworms spin cocoons around themselves before they transform into moths. The cocoons are made of silk that can be harvested and woven into fabrics.

Natural silk is a fine, lustrous, natural fiber produced by silk moth larvae.

It has a smooth, soft texture that is not slippery, unlike many synthetic fibers.

It is one of the strongest natural fibers, but it loses up to 20% of its strength when wet.

How is silk made

The process of making silk from silkworms is called sericulture or silk farming. It involves several steps, such as:

Incubating the eggs of silk moths until they hatch into larvae.

Feeding the larvae with fresh mulberry leaves, which is their only food source.
Waiting for the larvae to grow and shed their skin several times.
Collecting the cocoons when the larvae are ready to pupate.
Killing the pupae inside the cocoons by boiling, steaming or drying them. This prevents the moths from emerging and breaking the silk threads.
Reeling the silk threads from the cocoons and twisting them into yarns.
Dyeing the yarns with different colors and weaving them into fabrics.

Silk is a luxurious and expensive fabric that has many desirable properties, such as:

High luster and shine
Softness and smoothness
Strength and durability
Breathability and moisture absorption
Thermal insulation and wrinkle resistance
Biodegradability and hypoallergenicity (yes silk IS biodegradable and hypoallergenic!)

However, silk production also has some ethical and environmental issues, such as:

The killing of millions of silkworms for their cocoons
The exploitation of silk farmers and workers in developing countries
The use of chemicals and water for dyeing and processing silk
The loss of biodiversity and habitat due to monoculture of mulberry trees

Are there more ethical alternatives to silk?

Some alternatives to conventional silk are:

Peace silk or Ahimsa silk

Made from cocoons that are collected after the moths have emerged naturally. This is more humane but also more expensive and less durable than regular silk.

Vegan silk or plant-based silk

This fabric is made from fibers derived from plants such as bamboo, soy, banana, pineapple, lotus, etc.

This is more eco-friendly but also less lustrous and smooth than regular silk.

Is natural silk biodegradable?

Natural silk is a biodegradable and long-lasting fabric, but it also has a larger environmental impact than other natural fibers.

Yes, silk is biodegradable. This means that it can be broken down naturally by microorganisms in the environment. Silk is a natural protein fiber that does not shed microplastics, unlike some synthetic fabrics.

However, the biodegradability of silk may depend on how it is treated and processed. Some silk products may contain chemicals, such as bleach, dyes, or finishes, that can affect the rate and extent of biodegradation.

These chemicals may also have harmful effects on the environment and wildlife when they are released during silk production or disposal.

Therefore, to ensure that silk is biodegradable and eco-friendly, it is better to choose organic, natural, or untreated silk products that do not contain harmful chemicals.

Alternatively, there are some sustainable alternatives to silk fabric, such as peace silk, wild silk, vegan silk, or recycled silk, that have different sources and characteristics.

These alternatives may have less environmental impact than conventional silk production.

If you want to dispose of silk products responsibly, you can try to compost them at home or in a commercial facility.

Composting is a process that converts organic waste into nutrient-rich soil. To compost silk products, you need to cut them into small pieces and add them to a compost bin or pile with other organic materials, such as food scraps, leaves, or grass clippings.

You also need to maintain the right balance of moisture, oxygen, and temperature for the microorganisms to thrive and decompose the materials.

Composting can take several weeks to months depending on the conditions and the type of materials.

Does silk production take a lot of energy and water?

It requires a lot of water, energy, and chemicals to produce, and it may harm the silk worms and other animals involved in the process.

Is silk vegan?

No, silk is not considered a vegan fabric, since it is made by animals. Specifically, it is made by worms — who are typically killed after the silk threads have been taken.

Silk is a fabric woven from fibers made from the cocoons of the larvae of the silkworm Bombyx mori before becoming moths. The species are bred in captivity and rely entirely upon humans for survival. They no longer exist in nature.

To obtain silk, the cocoons are boiled, steamed, or baked to kill the pupae inside and unravel the long silk fibers. This process is called reeling and it destroys the possibility of the pupae developing into moths. About 3,000 silkworms are killed to make one pound of silk.

Some people may argue that silkworms are not sentient and do not feel pain, but there is no conclusive evidence to support this claim.

Silkworms have a nervous system and respond to stimuli, such as heat and touch. They also exhibit complex behaviors, such as spinning cocoons, mating, and laying eggs.

There are some alternatives to conventional silk that claim to be more humane, such as Ahimsa or peace silk.

These types of silk allow the moths to emerge from the cocoons before reeling the fibers.

However, these methods still involve exploiting and manipulating the silkworms for human benefit, and may not guarantee their welfare or survival.

Therefore, vegans who avoid animal products for ethical reasons should also avoid silk.

Is there ethical silk?

Ethical silk is a term that refers to silk that is produced in a way that minimizes harm to the environment and the animals involved in the process. There are different types of ethical silk, such as:

Peace silk or Ahimsa silk, which is made from cocoons that are collected after the silkworms have emerged and are not killed.

Recycled silk, which is made from leftover or discarded silk fabrics that are spun into new yarns.

Wild silk, which is made from cocoons that are harvested from wild silkworms that live on trees and are not cultivated by humans.

Vegan silk, which is made from plant-based fibers that mimic the properties of silk, such as banana, cactus, pineapple, or soy silk.

Ethical silk is considered more sustainable than conventional silk, which involves boiling or gassing the silkworms inside their cocoons to obtain the long and smooth fibers. Conventional silk also uses large amounts of water, energy, and chemicals in the production process.

Some brands that offer ethical silk products are:

The Ethical Silk Company, which produces luxury mulberry silk sleepwear, accessories and pillowcases that are hand-printed and sustainably made in Fairtrade tailoring units in India.

Sustainably Chic, which features a curated selection of ethical and sustainable fashion brands, including some that use peace silk, recycled silk, or vegan silk.

Good On You, which is an app and website that rates fashion brands on their environmental, social, and animal impact, including their use of silk and other materials.

Top sources of silk nowadays

The top silk sources are the countries that produce the most silk in the world. According to one source, the top 10 largest silk producing countries in the world as of 2022: