Division of Finance & Administration

Sustainable T-Shirt Purchasing Guidelines

UVM purchases approximately 14,000 promotional t-shirts each academic year, in addition to thousands of other UVM branded clothing items. These purchases are currently based on cost and shirt design. To move UVM toward sustainable clothing purchases, this page outlines sustainable criteria to consider when purchasing UVM branded clothing.

Definition of Sustainability

Sustainability is a way of operating that focuses on meeting the needs of the present without compromising the needs of the future. Sustainability is measured along three principles: the economy, society, and the environment. Sustainable apparel is made in a way that does no further damage to the environment or the communities responsible for manufacturing that apparel. This could include organic or recycled materials, local sourcing, or health, safety, and wage protections for workers.

Local vendors that carry UVM’s recommended manufacturers' products (as of 8/25/22)

*Starred products are recommended. Secondary choices have some sustainable aspects.

Company	Phone	Email	Products Used
UVM Bookstore	802-656-0989	brendan.andrews@uvm.edu	The UVM Bookstore offers all-in-one shopping, including: Sourcing any clothing line, including our recommended manufacturers, & managing supply chain issues Handling artwork, licensing, & needed waivers Delivering to campus Journaling the cost to your department & paying the invoice directly, so no PO will be needed
Deerfield Design	802-496-4224	info@deerfielddesigns.com	Royal Apparel Organics w/ price-sensitive "recycled jersey tee" option Ecoconscious
Image Outfitters (B-Corp)	802-253-8369	esbert@image-outfitters.com	*Allmade
Kevin Smith Sports	802-524-3312 ext 22	eddie@kevinsmithsports.com	*Allmade Alphabroder – lots of color options but lower sustainability features
Select Design	518.774.6310	eshwajlyk@selectdesign.com	*Allmade Port & Co – strong on fair labor standards
Willington	802-651-1795	beth@willingtonprint.com	*Royal Apparel Tutlex 202 – ringspun cotton Hanes Eco Smart 5170, 5% recycled poly from plastic bottles

Most sustainable manufacturers recommended by UVM

Listed in order of recommendation, starting with the best option:

Supplier	Product	Sustainable Features
Allmade	Sustainable fabric options & certified processes Soft t-shirt available in 15 colors	B-Corporation Supplier Disclosure Information Labor Practice Disclosure
Econscious	Organic cotton fabric & certified processes Available in up to 18 colors	Supplier Disclosure Information Labor Practice Disclosure
Royal Apparel	Organic cotton fabric Recycled jersey tee is price-sensitive option	Many Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS) certified products

Sustainable fabric choices

The fabric used in the composition of the clothing impacts the inherent resource consumption of manufacturing the clothing item. The following table highlights which fabrics are the most sustainable and why; listed in order of most to least sustainable.

Fabric	Sustainable Features
Recycled cotton	Made from previously used cotton The re-use saves significant amounts of water
Organic cotton	Made without harmful fertilizers Recycled Organic Cotton is the most sustainable Important to look for additional certifications (next section)
Organic hemp	Fast growing plant which needs few resources Good for soil health
Tencel ©(Lyocell)	A type of rayon manufactured with more ethical practices Plant-based
Recycled polyester (rPET)	Made of recycled plastic bottles – i.e., diverts plastic from landfills
Ringspun cotton	Made to be more durable than traditional cotton, thus there is a longer lifespan

Fabrics to avoid

Fabric	Sustainability Issues
Uncertified cotton	Water-intensive Chemically intensive Labor intensive
Uncertified wool	Desertification & animal rights abuse implications
Uncertified leather	Chemical intensive Cattle are a significant contributor to greenhouse gases Deforestation
Rayon/viscose/modal	Made from wood pulp Chemical/energy/water intense process Deforestation impacts
Bamboo	Heavily chemically intensive process to convert bamboo into retail fibers
Polyester	Petroleum (oil) based fabric