Microplastics
Material-class model assumption
Nylon is recorded as Synthetic and tied to Polyamide, which drives the material's microplastics score pressure.
Synthetic
Polyamide
Nylon clothing: health and sustainability score
Nylon is a synthetic polyamide. The label tells you the disclosed nylon share. It does not prove water-repellent chemistry, dye identity, or a shedding rate for that garment.
Where it shows up
Hosiery, swim, wind shells, and high-abrasion activewear. Those uses explain why nylon shows up; they do not establish chemical safety.
What the evidence supports
As a synthetic textile, nylon can shed plastic microfibers during washing. PFAS, if present, would come from a finish or membrane, not from the word nylon by itself.
What remains unknown
Blends with elastane, coatings, and laminated membranes change both performance and what a shopper cannot see on the fiber label.
Primary sources
- Textile Fiber Rule (U.S. Federal Trade Commission)
- Release of synthetic microplastic plastic fibres from domestic washing machines: Effects of fabric type and washing conditions (Marine Pollution Bulletin)
- Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS) in Textile Mills (U.S. Environmental Protection Agency)
Reviewed 2026-09-05.
How the model interprets this fiber
MaterialsDB records nylon as a synthetic microplastic source with default persistence and shedding pressure. These are model assumptions rather than product measurements.
Very high concern
PFAS uncertainty
Material-class model assumption
Nylon receives a PFAS uncertainty penalty because performance synthetics and finish-dependent uses can make PFAS claims harder to verify from a label alone.
Half-life and biodegradability
Material-class model assumption
Nylon is treated as slow to break down, so half-life and biodegradability are major sustainability concerns.
Fiber shedding
Material-class model assumption
Nylon can shed fibers during wear and washing; the MaterialsDB shedding penalty captures that release risk.
Manufacturing energy
Material-class model assumption
Nylon carries a manufacturing-energy penalty, so production impacts remain part of the score even when microplastic risk is low.
Other fibers to compare
Best next step
Paste the full fabric label into the homepage checker. A 95% cotton, 5% elastane garment will not score the same as 100% cotton, and the checker handles those percentages.
Use the material-label checkerRelated scored products
255 visible scored products include Nylon.
Men's Organic Cotton Socks Brown Crew
Brand: Harvest & Mill
88/100
Men'sSocks
High-Rise Brief
Brand: Subset
85/100
Women'sUnderwear
Men's Organic Cotton Socks Tan-Green Ankle
Brand: Harvest & Mill
84/100
Men'sSocks
Men's Organic Cotton Socks Brown Ankle
Brand: Harvest & Mill
84/100
Men'sSocks
Women's Organic Cotton Socks Tan-Green Ankle
Brand: Harvest & Mill
84/100
Women'sSocks
Men's Organic Cotton Socks Tan-Green Crew
Brand: Harvest & Mill
84/100
Men'sSocks
Men's Organic Cotton Socks Natural-White Ankle
Brand: Harvest & Mill
84/100
Men'sSocks
Low-Rise Thong
Brand: Subset
83/100
Women'sUnderwear
Category guides where Nylon shows up
Nylon is on the look-for or watch-out list for these categories. Each guide ranks scored products and explains what the fiber label can tell you.
Common questions
Does Nylon clothing shed microplastics?
Nylon is listed in MaterialsDB with Polyamide. That is a default scoring input for microplastic shedding, not a lab result for every finished garment.
Is Nylon biodegradable?
Nylon carries a half-life penalty in MaterialsDB, meaning persistence and biodegradability are important concerns.
How should I check a Nylon blend?
Use the Greener Closet material-label checker with the full percentage label, because blends can change the final score even when Nylon is only one part of the garment.