“Faux fur is currently ordinarily made from synthetic fibres, and ultimately clothing that is synthetic is a major contributor to the microplastics that greatly harm our marine life and end up in the food we consume,” says Emma Slade Edmondson, a sustainability and behaviour change consultant.

These synthetic fibres, such as polyester and acrylic, are made from non-renewable sources with a “manufacturing process that emits greenhouse gases and other pollutants, contributing to climate change and environmental degradation,” adds Mj.

So, although faux fur offers a cruelty-free option for consumers, its reliance on petrochemical-based materials underscores the importance of seeking sustainable alternatives and improving manufacturing processes, according to Mj. The good news is that these improved faux fur fabrics are starting to pop up in the fashion world.

“The innovation happening in this space is huge,” says Edmondson. “For example, 100% plant-based Savian BioFluff is biodegradable through industrial compositing and is already a hit with luxury brands. It contains zero plastics or petrochemicals, unlike many of the more traditionally used faux furs on the market, and instead uses fibres extracted from agricultural waste and plants like nettle, hemp and flax, meaning the production of this alternative has no energy-intensive yarn spinning process either.” Ecopel is another example of a faux fur manufacturer that has just released a fully biodegradable vegan fur-like material. And Katherine Hamnett is using ‘bio-fur’ made from cotton and mohair fibres, which although is still animal-derived is said to hold much higher ethical standards than typical fur pelts as the animal is not killed.

Faux fur is becoming one of the most popular fabrics around, but is it any better for the planet?