Understanding the Fibres in Your Clothes

Our Primark Cares label is changing

You may have noticed that we’ve had a range of clothing labelled with the ‘Primark Cares’ logo in our stores and online. The products in this range are made using recycled or more sustainably sourced fibres, included in the list below.

However, we’ve now progressed to a point where a significant majority of our clothes are now made using these fibres, and these numbers are continuing to increase. So, we’ve decided we no longer need a separate Primark Cares range of clothing.

What does that mean for me?

You’ll soon notice that the Primark Cares logo won’t be on our product labels or website product pages. Updates to our product labels take time, so it may be a while before the logo is fully phased out.

But don’t worry – the removal of the logo is all that is changing! We will continue to grow the use of recycled or more sustainably sourced materials in our clothes. You will still be able find out what are products are made of on our website and product labels instore.

You can read more about our Primark Cares commitments here.

Primark Preferred Fibres

When we talk about our preferred fibres, we mean fibres or raw materials sourced via methods that aim to reduce the impact on and/or increase the benefits for the environment when compared to their conventional equivalent.

Primark Preferred Cotton

Preferred cotton sources for Primark means methods that aim to reduce the negative impact on, and/or aim to increase the benefits to, the environment where the cotton is grown and/or the people who grow the cotton*, when compared to their conventional equivalent.

The preferred cotton sources currently used by Primark are the Primark Cotton Project, Recycled Cotton, Organic Cotton and the Cotton made in Africa® Standard. We may identify other preferred cotton sources in the future. Read more about these below.

*With the exclusion of Recycled Cotton as this sourcing method has no impact on the people who grow the cotton.

Cotton made in Africa© (CmiA)

The Cotton made in Africa® (CmiA) standard is an independently verified standard for cotton produced by African smallholder farmers. The CmiA standard promotes methods of raw material production that aim to foster decent and improved working conditions for farmers and ginnery workers, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, regenerate soil health, preserve water resources, and enhance biodiversity.

You can read more about the Cotton made in Africa (CmiA) standard here.

Organic Cotton

Cotton is a fibre grown on cotton plants. Organic cotton is grown using methods which have a lower environmental impact than growing conventional cotton with a focus on maintaining the health of soils, ecosystems and people. It is verified by an independent Certification Body to a universally recognised standard, either Organic Content Standard (OCS) or Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS).

For more information on the Organic Content Standard (OCS) please visit here.

For more information on the Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS) please visit here.

For more information on Certification Bodies please visit here.

Recycled Cotton

Recycled cotton is made using cotton waste which is spun into new fibres. It is verified by an independent Certification Body to an independent and universally recognised standard, either the Recycled Claim Standard (RCS) or the Global Recycled Standard (GRS).

For more information on the Recycled Claim Standard (RCS) or the Global Recycled Standard (GRS) please visit here.

For more information on Certification Bodies please visit here.

Recover™ Recycled Cotton

Recover™ Recycled Cotton is made from reclaimed cotton fibers sourced from post-industrial waste. The process involves collecting garment manufacturing cotton waste and breaking it down into recycled cotton fiber.

The recycled cotton fibres are blended with cotton from the Primark Cotton Project and spun into new yarn. This method reduces the need for virgin cotton, and reduces environmental impact by diverting garment manufacturing waste from landfills.

Recover™ Recycled Cotton is verified by an independent Certification Body to an independent and universally recognised standard, either the Recycled Claim Standard (RCS) or the Global Recycled Standard (GRS).

For more information on the Recycled Claim Standard (RCS) or the Global Recycled Standard (GRS) please visit here.

For more information on Certification Bodies please visit here.

Cotton from the Primark Cotton Project (formerly the Primark Sustainable Cotton Programme)

The Primark Cotton Project supports smallholder farmers across India, Pakistan, and Bangladesh by training them in the use of more regenerative farming practices, aimed at enhancing soil health and biodiversity, and thereby improving environmental outcomes and supporting the farmers' livelihoods.

For more information on the Primark Cotton Project please visit here.

Organic Linen

Linen is a fibre grown from flax plants. Organic linen is grown using methods that have a lower environmental impact compared to conventional linen. These methods include the use of natural fertilisers and pest control, crop rotation, and reduced water usage, which help maintain soil health and biodiversity. Organic linen is verified by an independent Certification Body to a universally recognised standard, either Organic Content Standard (OCS) or Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS).

For more information on the Organic Content Standard (OCS) please visit here.

For more information on the Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS) please visit here.

For more information on Certification Bodies please visit here.

Modal, lyocell and sustainable viscose (also known as Man-made Cellulostic Fibres (MMCF)

Sustainable Viscose is a type of regenerated man-made cellulose fiber ('MMCF') made from wood pulp sourced from responsibly managed forests [FSC or PEFC verified forests]. It is produced using processes that aim to reduce environmental impact by minimising carbon emissions, reducing water usage, and avoiding deforestation. The raw materials for making Sustainable Viscose are sourced from forests that are managed to prevent deforestation and protect ancient and endangered forests.

Sustainable Viscose at Primark is verified by a recognised forest management certification scheme. Our Sustainable Viscose is only sourced from producers that are 'green shirt' rated by Canopy’s Hot Button ranking, which assesses MMCF producers' forest sourcing.

For more information on the Canopy Hot Button ranking visit here.

We are currently exploring a more specific way to describe the Sustainable Viscose fibres we use in our products and will update our glossary to reflect this in due course.

Modal is a type of regenerated MMCF made from wood pulp sourced from responsibly managed forests [FSC or PEFC verified forests]. It is produced using processes that aim to reduce environmental impact by minimising carbon emissions, reducing water usage, and avoiding deforestation. Modal features traceability through unique molecular tracers.

Lyocell is a type of regenerated MMCF made from wood pulp sourced from responsibly managed forests [FSC or PEFC verified forests]. It is produced using a closed-loop process that recycles water and solvents, resulting in reduced environmental impact.

Modal, lyocell and sustainable viscose are fibres made using the cellulose found in wood. To protect ancient forests and their biodiversity, the wood used to make these fibres is sourced from responsibly managed forests. Our Wood and Wood-Derived Fibre Policy sets out our approach to responsibly sourcing the materials used to make these fibres.

Recycled Acrylic

Acrylic is a man-made fibre. Recycled acrylic is made using fabric waste which is spun into new fibres. Is it verified by an independent Certification Body to an independent and universally recognised standard, either the Recycled Claim Standard (RCS) or the Global Recycled Standard (GRS).

For more information on the Recycled Claim Standard (RCS) or the Global Recycled Standard (GRS) please visit here.

For more information on Certification Bodies please visit here.

Recycled nylon

Recycled Nylon is a man-made fibre, made from plastic waste which is spun into new fibres. It is verified by an independent Certification Body to an independent and universally recognised standard, either the Recycled Claim Standard (RCS) or the Global Recycled Standard (GRS).

For more information on the Recycled Claim Standard (RCS) or the Global Recycled Standard (GRS) please visit here.

For more information on Certification Bodies please visit here.

Recycled polyamide

Recycled Polyamide is a man-made fibre, made from plastic waste which is spun into new fibres. It is verified by an independent Certification Body to an independent and universally recognised standard, either the Recycled Claim Standard (RCS) or the Global Recycled Standard (GRS).

For more information on the Recycled Claim Standard (RCS) or the Global Recycled Standard (GRS) please visit here.

For more information on Certification Bodies please visit here.

Recycled polyester

Recycled Polyester is a man-made fibre made from plastic waste which is spun into new fibres. It is verified by an independent Certification Body to an independent and universally recognised standard, either the Recycled Content Standard (RCS) or the Global Recycled Standard (GRS).

For more information on the Recycled Claim Standard (RCS) or the Global Recycled Standard (GRS) please visit here.

For more information on Certification Bodies please visit here.

Recycled metal

Recycled metals used at Primark include zinc, steel, brass and iron. These are verified by an independent Certification Body to a universally recognised standard; either the Recycled Content Standard (RCS) or the Global Recycled Standard (GRS).

For more information on the Recycled Claim Standard (RCS) or the Global Recycled Standard (GRS) please visit here.

For more information on Certification Bodies please visit here.

Recycled Glass

Recycled glass has been repurposed from waste glass materials. The process involves collecting and cleaning used glass products which are then crushed into small pieces called cullet, and then melting the cullet to form new glass products. These are verified by an independent Certification Body to a universally recognised standard; either the Recycled Content Standard (RCS) or the Global Recycled Standard (GRS).

For more information on the Recycled Claim Standard (RCS) or the Global Recycled Standard (GRS) please visit here.

For more information on Certification Bodies please visit here.

Recycled Cashmere

Recycled cashmere has been repurposed from pre-consumer or post-consumer waste. The fibres are cleaned, shredded and spun into new yarn. These are verified by an independent Certification Body to a universally recognised standard; either the Recycled Content Standard (RCS) or the Global Recycled Standard (GRS).

For more information on the Recycled Claim Standard (RCS) or the Global Recycled Standard (GRS) please visit here.

For more information on Certification Bodies please visit here.

Recycled Wool

Recycled wool is made from pre-consumer or post-consumer waste. The fibres are cleaned, shredded and spun into new yarn. These are verified by an independant Certification Body to a universally recognised standard; either the Recycled Content Standard (RCS) or the Global Recycled Standard (GRS).

For more information on the Recycled Claim Standard (RCS) or the Global Recycled Standard (GRS) please visit here.

For more information on Certification Bodies please visit here.

Recycled Thermoplastic Rubber (TPR)

Recycled TPR (Thermoplastic Rubber) refers to TPR material that has been recovered and reprocessed from pre-consumer or post-consumer waste to be reused in new applications. TPR is a flexible, rubber-like material that combines the properties of rubber and plastic. These are verified by an independent Certification Body to a universally recognised standard; either the Recycled Content Standard (RCS) or the Global Recycled Standard (GRS).

For more information on the Recycled Claim Standard (RCS) or the Global Recycled Standard (GRS) please visit here.

For more information on Certification Bodies please visit here.

Recycled Ethylene Vinyl Acetate (EVA)

Recycled EVA (Ethylene Vinyl Acetate) refers to EVA material that has been recovered and reprocessed pre-consumer or post-consumer waste to be reused in new applications. EVA is a soft, flexible, rubber-like plastic commonly used in footwear, packaging, sports gear, and foam products. These are verified by an independent Certification Body to a universally recognised standard; either the Recycled Content Standard (RCS) or the Global Recycled Standard (GRS).

For more information on the Recycled Claim Standard (RCS) or the Global Recycled Standard (GRS) please visit here.

For more information on Certification Bodies please visit here.

Solvent Free PU Coating

Water-based PU (polyurethane) coating is a type of coating that uses water as its main component instead of traditional chemical solvents. It offers strong performance, including excellent adhesion, flexibility, and durability.

All our water-based PU is DMFa free.

More complex product categories such as lingerie, swimwear, outerwear, homeware, shoes and toys may include trims, embellishments and/or non-fabric materials. In these cases, the fibre composition claim on the product label will only relate to the part of the product that contains the recycled or more sustainably sourced material. This is to allow the product to meet our durability requirements, or because there are currently no preferred fibre alternatives available for trims, embellishments and/or non-fabric materials.

This fibre glossary reflects the majority of the preferred fibres used in our products, and it is regularly updated. There may be instances where our product labels differ to this glossary as updates to our product labelling can take some time.