It’s kind of ironic that healthcare professionals—people who dedicate their lives to healing and protecting others—spend most of their days in scrubs that are made of plastic and often treated with questionable chemicals.
Polyester and other synthetics dominate the market, and many scrubs come with added finishes like antimicrobials and water-resistant treatments, which can introduce more concerns than benefits.
If you’ve ever tried to find scrubs made from organic cotton or other safer fabrics, you’ve probably noticed how few options actually exist.
I went looking for medical scrubs made from all-natural materials, and unfortunately, the search didn’t go well.
That said, I did come across a handful of brands worth mentioning, which I’ll share below. There are also a few brands in the works, so I hope we get some more options in the near future!
What this guide covers:
The Problem with Conventional Scrubs: Toxic Finishes & Plastic Fabrics
Most scrubs on the market are made with polyester or other synthetic fibers like nylon, elastane, etc.
These are plastics, which means they don’t breathe as well, shed microplastics in the wash, and potentially even act as “carriers” for other toxic chemicals that may be absorbed into our skin.
They also stick around in the environment long after we’re done wearing them, contributing to microplastic pollution in our soil, water, air, and food.
On top of that, almost all of the scrubs I looked at were treated with special finishes that made them “antimicrobial,” “wrinkle-resistant,” or “water-resistant.”
These treatments usually indicate that potentially toxic chemicals such as triclosan, formaldehyde, or PFAS have been added to the fabric.
The worst part? Companies are not required to tell you what is or is not added to their fabric (and most of the time they won’t).
So, for example, you could see “100% cotton” on the tag, but that doesn’t tell the whole story. If that 100% cotton is given a chemical treatment, then it could still be exposing you to endocrine-disruptors, carcinogens, skin irritants, or other chemicals not suitable for folks with chemical sensitivities.
Here’s an example from Figs’ website. They don’t tell you what’s added to their scrubs to give them all of these ‘performance’ features.
Here’s another example from Fabletics scrubs. Wrinkle-resist, Anti-Fade, Anti-Shrink, Durable Water Repellent—these all indicate undisclosed chemical treatments.
Unfortunately, these chemical treatments are even more common in medical scrubs (and other uniforms such as airline pilots and military service people) than they are in regular everyday clothing.
That leaves you with a work uniform that’s marketed as “practical” but can actually introduce problems for both personal health and the planet.
The Best Cotton Medical Scrubs On the Market
I looked at a lot of brands that make medical scrubs. This included many of the ‘go-to’ brands like Figs, up-and-coming trendy brands like Hypothesis, and brands like Mandala, which literally advertises itself as “Scrubs Without Harmful Toxins.”
As I mentioned, I didn’t have much luck finding good options from all of the brands I looked into. Here are the best options I’ve found so far:
Percent Apparel
The only organic cotton scrubs on the market at this time!
These are made of 100% GOTS certified organic cotton and are not treated with anything to make them wrinkle-resistant, water-resistant, etc.
They currently come in unisex sizing, which some reviews say is not ideal. At the time of publication, they’re available in two colors: black or blue.
I will say that the reviews are mixed on these, so you may want to shop with caution. Some say the fit is not great, so there seems to be room for improvement when it comes to providing different styles/fits for different body types.
They also only have a 7-day return policy (and that’s only for US customers).
That said, a lot of customers seem generally happy with them and are glad to have a plastic-free option!
Cottonique
These are not scrubs, but if you have chemical sensitivities and you really need something truly non-toxic, then you might be able to wear them as scrubs.
They have a women’s allergy-free oversized top that comes in pink, green, taupe, and natural (undyed). Then they have a few options for pants that match (colored joggers, colored wide-legged pants, undyed joggers, and undyed wide-legged).
Unfortunately, they don’t have an equivalent in men’s fit/sizes right now. Although, maybe some guys could make them work since it’s a loose fit.
Cottonique is literally made for people with chemical and skin sensitivities, so you don’t have to worry about weird treatments being added to their fabrics. These garments are made with 100% GOTS certified organic cotton and are free from things like synthetics dyes, latex, or spandex.
Review from a Filtery reader:
- “I have a pair of Cottonique pants. They’re not as soft as advertised and they shrink a TON. I can’t put them in the dryer and they stretch out weird as you wear them (while not feeling very stretchy while wearing them 🤔).”
P.S. You can use the code THEFILTERY10% for 10% off.
Second Best Options for Low-Tox Medical Uniforms
As you can see, it’s slim-pickings!
So let’s talk about some second-best options:
Mediclo: They have a “plant-based” collection, which is made of 67% TENCEL™, 30% recycled polyester, and 3% spandex. TENCEL is a semi-synthetic that’s sourced from eucalyptus. It’s my favorite semi-synthetic in terms of safety and sustainability, so I do recommend it as a good option.
- Review from a Filtery reader: “I do have some Mediclo scrubs and they’re pretty good but run kind of short (and I’m only 5’2” saying that!)”
Januu: They have a “Regen” collection, which is made out of regenerative organic cotton, but it’s only for long-sleeved underscrubs. Also, several of their other (synthetic) options come with “a PFC-free water repellent finish.” (PFC-free is the same thing as PFAS-free in this context.) So it’s not plastic-free, but it’s better at least!
Welles: They use synthetic fabrics, but they are at least OEKO-TEX certified. Better than nothing for sure!
Scrubletic: This brand is based in Canada. Like Welles, their scrubs are made from synthetic fabrics, but they are at least OEKO-TEX certified.
SmartScrubs does have a 100% cotton scrubs option, but they are wrinkle-resistant and antimicrobial. I reached out to them to ask what gives their fabrics their features and they said “We order our scrubs from various manufacturers.” I followed up with them to ask specifically about the 100% cotton collection, and they told me: “The 100% cotton scrubs are treated with an environmentally safe, plant-based solution, which is non-irritating to the skin, and makes the scrubs wrinkle free.” This is not a good answer for me, sorry.
Dickies, AllHeart, Scrubs & Beyond, Cherokee: All of these brands have some scrubs that are partially cotton. (For example: 65% polyester and 35% cotton.) But unfortunately, many of them do have ‘performance’ treatments like ‘wrinkle-resistant.’
Organic Scrubs In the Works
I found two brands that are currently working towards launch. It may be worth following them on social media so that you can stay updated when their organic cotton scrubs are finally available to purchase!
If you know of any other natural or non-toxic medical scrubs, please let us know in the comments!
