Marks & Spencer has created the ‘world’s most sustainable suit,’ a men’s suit made from the most sustainable materials possible. M&S experts have been developing the suit for several years. As a result all the garments’ details—from buttons to the lining were attentively chosen to be ‘green.’ 

Photo: the most sustainable suit, from social.marksandspencer.com

So what kinds of materials were used to create the suit? It’s organically produced wool, which is fully traceable back to the farms from where it is produced. The lining is made from recycled plastic bottles, while the canvas, which is used inside the main body of the suit, as well as all labels, is made from recycled polyester. The buttons, pockets and waistband are made of reclaimed materials. The suit features a ‘QR’ code on its label for customers to scan it with a mobile and download information on the suit and the materials it is made from.

M&S has made this suit as part of its Plan A commitment to be the world’s most sustainable retailer. By 2020, M& plans to ensure the world that all of its products are sustainable. There are only 500 such suits and it will launch online and in stores in September as part of the M&S ‘Saville Row’ suit range. The suit priced at £349 is the first in a new series of sustainable clothing that M&S will be launching during 2012.

Mark Sumner, M&S Plan A Sustainable Raw Material Expert, said: “This a huge step forwards for the industry; it is the first time such an intricate garment has been made of sustainable materials, and as well as being one of the greenest garments available on the high street, it is incredibly stylish and something we hope our customers will be proud to wear.”

UK citizens can now win one of the suits by visiting the M&S web site and answering the question about how many sheep need to be sheared to create a suit.

This spring, M&S was running a Sustainable Fashion Lab in London, which served as a debating platform for designers and stylists to discuss the future of more sustainable clothes.