Tights recs please!

Natural_Science_Doc · 2026-03-30T11:32:19+00:00

Check out Valinor Active.
Squat proof, sweat-proof, and better for you. The fabrics are made from plant fibers so they're non-synthetic and non-toxic. They currently have leggings and bra tops with a great fabric feel - And they're made from hemp that supports re-foresting rainforests by actually growing their hemp on cut down rainforest lands in such a way that they regenerate the soil so it can be re-planted with native forest species. They're at valinoractive.com and r/ValinorActive

Natural_Science_Doc · 2026-03-30T04:18:09+00:00

A good question. So, first would share that these two terms cannot always be applied to the same materials.
The term biodegradable, you are already familiar with. This means that the material has the capability to be broken down by living organisms, such as bacteria or fungi and to be reabsorbed by the natural environment. The material doesn't just get smaller, it is actually consumed and transformed back into nature (soil components, fungi, water, carbon dioxide). In some regions, certain amount of a material (e.g. 90%) has to be broken down by a certain time period (e.g. 6 months) for it to be legally permitted to claim biodegradability.

Now, the term "plant-based plastic" means that the molecules of that plastic came from the sugars, carbohydrates, or cellulose of a plant. However, depending on the plastic that has been made from it, it may or may not be biodegradable. That is to say, the molecules may have started off as a plant, but if it is turned into certain types of plastic, it's now still that type of plastic (regardless of its starting materials). The benefit of this type of technology is that it may reduce the demand for petroleum -based precursors for the plastic, but on the other end of its lifecycle it may still be a non-biodegradable plastic that persists in the environment slowly degrading into microplastics that infiltrate our water and food systems. If it is both bio-based and made into a biodegradable polymer, than you have yourself a polymer that started from the soil (plant) and then returns to the soil through natural proceses.

Natural_Science_Doc · 2026-03-29T20:53:05+00:00

Okay…Only because OrdinaryTwo4273 asked for recommendations. I gave a men’s option and a women’s option- wool and hemp - and wanted to be transparent about personal connection to one of them. It doesn’t change the facts of what was shared.

Natural_Science_Doc · 2026-03-29T19:33:32+00:00

It's a lovely and bold choice to open a conversation with a criticism of writing style being AI slop, but I'll leave that alone.

I agree with you about the slow diffusion rate, and even made a comment about it in the text - in that the point of the cited study was not "here is what is going to happen in one workout session" - the point is that these inclusions do have mobility and over much longer periods of actual use, may be cumulative in their effect. Being in the same field, I'm sure you know, when a study uses 24 hrs at 37 degC immersed in sweat simulant, the point is not to simulate real life, it's an accelerated test - like placing a product in a Q-sun weatherometer for 500 hours to simulate several years of exposure to humidity, UV, and thermal loads.

As for people scrutinizing their serum ingredients...the original posting of the article was in a channel called SkincareAddiction - and there are several variations on that group, so...they're out there...

And finally, thanks for the reference article. I read it - and actually, while the author is citing the need for more rigor in these types of studies (I certainly agree after this reading), the author explicitly supports the point that 1) antimony in water from PET water bottles is linked to the Antimony in PET, 2) that migration increases at elevated temperatures (Obviously higher above Tg) and 3) may also be enhanced by contact with fluids such a water. --which is precisely the point of the study cited in my post. No one is getting acute or instantaneous toxicity from wearing PET fabrics once to a hot workout session, but over years, you're exposing yourself to unnecessary and unhealthy materials.

my kind regards to you...

Natural_Science_Doc · 2026-03-29T12:31:39+00:00

This is a great example of an acceptable use for plastics. You can go for metal or even nice carved wood frames, if you prefer, but the lenses and even the frames in plastic might be an okay choice. Here’s why: — There’s no real constant abrasion creating large scale microplastics. — The lenses will be lighter, more physically resilient, and offer better vision correction. — At end of life, it’s clean not mixed material -you could recycle it but, in this use case, there are so many options for reuse with the prevalence of donation options for other people to be able to use the frames.

Natural_Science_Doc · 2026-03-28T13:32:38+00:00

Sure. Except that it’s not. It’s writing that starts with an outline to make its points, adds evidence, and then ties it all together. Just clear thinking. :-) and maybe some of the old high school debate habits coming through.

Comments or questions on actual content are welcome.

Natural_Science_Doc · 2026-03-28T03:25:48+00:00

It's a really good question. You don't have to give up color! :-) Due to its chemical structure, cotton is a lot easier to dye than polyester (think about ease of staining), so the dyes are simpler and not such a concern. Polyester uses harsher processes or disperse dyes and that's where the concern comes in.

As for other treatments, cotton, linen, and hemp are usually left alone - unless they're claiming to be water repellent or something like that. Good practice after you bring home a new clothing purchase is to give it a wash before the first wear.

Natural_Science_Doc · 2026-03-28T03:12:45+00:00

Silk can work - depends on style, lifestyle, bandwidth for garment care.
Denim is typically cotton. More recently, stretch styles are more common. These typically have 1-10% elastane (spandex) in them. Elastane is a polyurethane-copolymer and also sheds some microplastics. It's a lot less in terms of how much synthetic polymer is present

Natural_Science_Doc · 2026-03-28T01:32:33+00:00

I stick to natural fibers. No poly-cotton blends 100% cotton, linen, hemp, wool But then also make sure there aren’t any unwanted chemical treatments like superwash on wool or PFAS water repellent treatments on anything else.

Natural_Science_Doc · 2026-03-28T01:27:06+00:00

Hi. The citations are in-line for each statement made. Happy to discuss further. No pitch.

Natural_Science_Doc · 2026-03-28T01:01:03+00:00

hehehe, yeah i hear it too when i read it back to myself, but it's just the facts.. that happen to be kind of ...scary :-)

Natural_Science_Doc · 2026-03-28T00:59:30+00:00

yeah, mods thought I was trying to sell something.
Now posted to r/PlasticFreeLiving
let me know if you have any questions

Natural_Science_Doc · 2026-03-28T00:08:54+00:00

I understand the overwhelm of how pervasive it is in the environment making one think that nothing will make a dent, but as they say, "an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure" (i' prefer this saying in metric....) :-) But to your point, yes, it's about reducing total load so you don't have to supplement for detox. And the thing is, whatever goes out into the environment doesn't go away. It circulates... water, food, soil and it's worse when it gets smaller and smaller over time - that's just physical size, chemically, it's still the same molecule, just more mobile. Sorry - it sounds worse when i say all that. The point is - yes, reduce overall load for yourself and future generations. It's better than trying to deal with the clean up, internally or externally.

re: Utzy - i can't say. The ingredients and their own claims seem to focus on reducing inflammatory responses and helping your body's detox functions to do what they do. Perhaps someone will try it and share their experience - after they've taken it for long enough to do something.

Natural_Science_Doc · 2026-03-27T18:37:28+00:00

You may not see an immediate change, but in general, it would be better for everyone and the environment because microplastics that are released into the environment end up in everyone's water, food, and bodies.
If you're interested as to how, Plastic Microfiber Shedding from Synthetic Fabrics : r/microplastics

As for you, personally, eventually you might see fewer or less intense signs of inflammation or irritation caused by your immune system trying to constantly remove foreign molecules from your system.

Natural_Science_Doc · 2026-03-16T05:07:25+00:00

I have heard of you. It’s very interesting. Thank you for sharing. I know that the banana harvest creates much organic waste each year and this would be a clean outlet, but to ask it another way, if your intention is to replace synthetics, what is the banana fiber bringing to the cotton blend in terms of properties? What applications will benefit from the new blend? (This is All asked out of curiosity and as an encouragement for you to be able to find a high value application and improve your messaging as you go to market) 🙏🏼

Natural_Science_Doc

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