Should Campers Be Concerned About Nano-Technology in Outdoors Wear?

• 24th Sep 2015

We who love camping know that it is important to have the right gear for the occasion. But when we make decisions about what outdoors wear to buy for our camping holidays, hikes and cycles, how many of us consider the impact that those purchases could have on the nature that we all go out there to enjoy in the first place? How green are the companies and how ecologically friendly and sustainable are the items themselves?

There are several different environmental issues surrounding the manufacture and provision of outdoors gear, many of which you might already have considered. Many outdoor clothing items are of course made of oil-based synthetics and take energy to manufacture and we all know what the effects of continuing our reliance on fossil fuels and the problems of non-biodegradable plastics and composites for our planet. Even natural materials are not problem free – GMOs, labour issues and more make cotton a controversial crop and it is not always easy to know where cotton in outdoor wear comes from.

What you might be less aware of are the nano-technologies frequently included in our outdoors wear and the potential environmental and health hazards. The fact is, when asked the question of whether or not nano-technologies in clothing pose any danger to human health or to that of the planet, scientists and manufacturers alike would have to admit that we simply do not have enough information to tell. This is very worrying for those of us concerned about sustainability and living a green and eco friendly life. We are releasing nano-particles into the environment willy nilly without knowing what the effects might be. Also worrying, there is currently no requirement to label items to tell consumers about the nano-technology they contain.

Nano-particles are used as a coating on fabrics to improve their performance. They are used for waterproofing, sun-protection, microbe and odour elimination and more. The European Commission has already expressed an intention to review policies and regulations related to nano-particles and many experts are agreed that technological development has outstripped regulation. Studies into the technology have thus far been surprisingly few and far between.

One study conducted by a Swiss University showed that nanosilver, the most commonly used nanoparticle in the world, is shed from fabrics in sweat. While silver does not pose much of a risk directly to human health, it could be extremely deleterious to aquatic life. This could just be the tip of the iceberg when it comes to the potential hazards involved in nano technology, in all spheres of life.

So, should campers be concerned about nano-technology in outdoors clothing? I would argue that until we have more information, we certainly should be. Nano-technology is a wonderful thing in many ways – proof of the skill of humanity and a development that could bring great things for our future. But as we progress, we should also be sure we fully understand and control all the risks. Only then can we all continue to enjoy camping out in the wonderful natural world on this planet.