Keeping Peanut and Bumble Sustainable

What Sustainability means to P&B

It starts with sustainable choices

At Peanut & Bumble, sustainability isn’t a trend but a value that guides every decision we make. From the fabrics we choose to the people we work with, we aim to create clothing that feels good, fits well, and does better for the planet and the people on it.

Why polyester isn't our first choice

What Does “Sustainable” Really Mean?

The word sustainable may seem like the latest buzzword, but what does sustainable actually mean? There are currently no regulations around the use of the word, so how can we know what a brand means when they say they're sustainable?

The term sustainability often brings to mind ideas of the environment, eco-friendly options and being plastic-free, but it can be so much more. At Peanut & Bumble, sustainability means producing and distributing our clothing in a way that lessens our impact on our environment and positively impacts the lives of others, whether it be the sewists that produce our garments or the children that wear them.

Why We Avoid Polyester

Polyester is the most widely used textile today. Essentially, plastic is melted down and then extruded into very thin, long strands. These strands are woven or knit together to form fabrics, which is then cut and sewn into clothing. Polyester is cheap, durable, doesn't shrink and can be recycled. Because it can be produced very quickly and inexpensively, fast fashion brands rely on polyester to keep their prices low and production speeds high.

However, polyester has a massive carbon footprint - from being derived from oil to never breaking down naturally. Globally, landfills are stuffed with discarded polyester clothing which pollute the water of nearby communities and create literal mountains of unwanted clothing that have nowhere else to go. When it's not in our own backyard, it's easy to ignore the consequences of polyester, but other populations are suffering dire consequences from our overconsumption of this textile.

Polyester does have unique qualities that can be difficult or impossible to reproduce with a natural fiber, and we believe there is room for responsible use of polyester in a fashion brand's lineup. However, wherever possible the use of natural fibers is preferred.

Why We No Longer Use Bamboo

When Peanut and Bumble launched in 2020, we had a line of bamboo items. Customers fawned over the baby-soft bamboo items on the rack, and loved the fact that bamboo was touted as one of the most sustainable fabrics available.

Now in 2024, we no longer use bamboo for two main reasons:

Bamboo is incredibly soft off-the-rack, but pills quickly and becomes less soft over time
Bamboo grows quickly without irrigation or pesticides (generally why it's considered so sustainable), but the process to turn bamboo pulp into useable fibers for textiles is very chemically intensive

Our lineup now consists mainly of cotton/spandex which we use for all of our printed items, and a lyocell/cotton/spandex blend for our solid colours.

Our fabric breakdown

Cotton (with a touch of spandex)

Breathable, washable and perfect for play
Holds our bold prints beautifully
We work with responsible suppliers to reduce the environmental footprint of cotton farming
A small amount of spandex (5% or less) adds stretch and helps pieces last longer

Lyocell (blended with cotton and spandex)

Made from sustainably harvested trees
Uses a closed-loop process where chemicals are recycled instead of dumped
Incredibly soft, breathable, and durable

Ethical sourcing matters

A fabric isn’t truly sustainable unless the people who make it are treated fairly. We’ve built strong relationships with suppliers who share our values:

Our printed fabrics come from a family-owned custom print shop in Turkey with high ethical standards and certifications.
Our solid fabrics are sourced from a trusted supplier in Vancouver, BC, with a commitment to responsible materials and support for small brands like ours.

Together, our fabrics are one of my personal sources of pride with Peanut and Bumble. At each market we attend, there's guaranteed to be someone commenting on how soft our fabrics are and how amazing the quality is. To also know that they're sustainably produced is the ultimate cherry on top.

The bottom line is no matter how eco-friendly or ethical a fabric is, if it sits in a closet unworn because it's not comfortable or doesn't spark joy for you or your kids, it doesn't fit the bill for us. Ticking all the boxes - our fabrics are fun, bold, unique, incredibly soft and we can feel good about their production as we head into cutting and sewing!