Greener Closet
Non-toxic clothing guide

Non-toxic underwear: PFAS-aware, microplastic-aware picks

Underwear has the most direct, all-day skin contact of anything in your closet. We surface the highest-scoring underwear in our catalog and explain which fibers and finishes to avoid.

Materials to be cautious with

Independent testing has flagged PFAS and other chemical residues in some performance and stain-resistant underwear. Shedding synthetics also release microplastics each wash. Natural fibers without performance finishes are the safer default.

Materials to look for

These score better on microplastics, biodegradability, or shedding for underwear. Tap into a material guide for the full breakdown.

Top-scoring underwear we have analyzed

112 visible scored products match this category.

View all top-scored products
Everyday Trunk 4-Pack

Everyday Trunk 4-Pack

Brand: PACT

97/100
Men'sUnderwear
100% Plastic-Free Organic Cotton Boxers - Hybrid Fit

100% Plastic-Free Organic Cotton Boxers - Hybrid Fit

Brand: MARO

97/100
Men'sUnderwear
Organic Everyday Knit Boxer 4-Pack

Organic Everyday Knit Boxer 4-Pack

Brand: Pact

95/100
Men'sUnderwear
Everyday High Rise Brief 5-Pack

Everyday High Rise Brief 5-Pack

Brand: Pact

95/100
Women'sUnderwear
Organic Everyday High Rise Brief 5-Pack

Organic Everyday High Rise Brief 5-Pack

Brand: Pact

95/100
Women'sUnderwear
Organic Everyday Boxer Brief 4-Pack

Organic Everyday Boxer Brief 4-Pack

Brand: Pact

95/100
Men'sUnderwear
Organic Lace Waist Thong

Organic Lace Waist Thong

Brand: Pact

95/100
Women'sUnderwear
Organic Everyday High Rise Brief

Organic Everyday High Rise Brief

Brand: Pact

95/100
Women'sUnderwear
Organic Everyday Extended Boxer Brief

Organic Everyday Extended Boxer Brief

Brand: Pact

95/100
Men'sUnderwear
Men's Organic Cotton 'Breather' Brief

Men's Organic Cotton 'Breather' Brief

Brand: KENT

95/100
Men'sUnderwear
Dahlia Brief White

Dahlia Brief White

Brand: TEMPLE

95/100
Women'sUnderwear
Organic Cotton Basics Ribbed Girls Briefs Underwear (2 Pack)

Organic Cotton Basics Ribbed Girls Briefs Underwear (2 Pack)

Brand: Nest

95/100
KidsUnderwear
The Titan

The Titan

Brand: Ryker

95/100
Men'sUnderwear
Organic Comfort High Waist Brief 3 Pack

Organic Comfort High Waist Brief 3 Pack

Brand: MATE the Label

93/100
Women'sUnderwear
Organic Everyday Boxer Brief

Organic Everyday Boxer Brief

Brand: Pact

93/100
Men'sUnderwearBoxers and Briefs
Everyday Mid Rise Hipster

Everyday Mid Rise Hipster

Brand: Pact

93/100
Women'sUnderwear
Men's Organic Cotton Soft Breathable Boxer Briefs, Pack of 2

Men's Organic Cotton Soft Breathable Boxer Briefs, Pack of 2

Brand: ORGANICKID

93/100
Men'sUnderwear
BIKINI BRIEF

BIKINI BRIEF

Brand: Mighty Good Basics

93/100
Women'sUnderwear
Mid Rise Thong

Mid Rise Thong

Brand: La Coochie

93/100
Women'sUnderwear
Women's Hip Brief

Women's Hip Brief

Brand: IOAN

93/100
Women'sUnderwear
Printed boxers

Printed boxers

Brand: J.Crew

93/100
Men'sUnderwear
Clearance Maternity Foldover Hipster 4-Pack

Clearance Maternity Foldover Hipster 4-Pack

Brand: PACT

91/100
Women'sUnderwear
Organic Comfort Mid Rise Bikini 3 Pack

Organic Comfort Mid Rise Bikini 3 Pack

Brand: MATE the Label

91/100
Women'sUnderwear
Organic Cotton Low-Rise Thong

Organic Cotton Low-Rise Thong

Brand: Subset

91/100
Women'sUnderwear

Shopping for a specific brand?

See how popular underwear brands stack up and find higher-scoring picks.

Best next step

Have a specific underwear item in mind? Paste the product URL into the analyzer or paste the fabric label into the homepage checker. Both work without an account.

Common questions

What makes underwear non-toxic?

Greener Closet treats underwear as non-toxic when the fiber composition avoids high-shedding synthetics, when there is no evidence of PFAS-based water- or stain-repellent finishes, and when the manufacturing inputs score reasonably on microplastics, half-life, shedding, and energy. Independent testing has flagged PFAS and other chemical residues in some performance and stain-resistant underwear. Shedding synthetics also release microplastics each wash. Natural fibers without performance finishes are the safer default.

Which materials should I look for in underwear?

Look for Organic Cotton, Modal, Tencel Lyocell. These score better on microplastics, biodegradability, or shedding compared with the petroleum-based synthetics that dominate this category.

Which materials should I avoid in underwear?

Be cautious with Polyester, Nylon, Elastane, especially when they appear with stain- or water-resistant finishes. These materials drive most of the score pressure for underwear.

How do you score underwear?

Each product is scored from the full material label and any available certifications. The scoring weights microplastics at 45%, PFAS at 15%, half-life and biodegradability at 15%, energy at 10%, azo dyes at 10%, and fiber shedding at 5%.