Boiling of silkworm pupae is standard practice.
Silk
materialAnimal-derivedSource: Silkworm
Fabric woven from silkworm cocoons.
Ethical alternatives
Lower-impact substitutes that formulators reach for when replacing silk.
CuproTencelPeace silk (Ahimsa)
Related materials
LeatherAnimal
Animal hide processed with chromium and other chemicals.
Piñatex
A plant-based leather alternative made from pineapple leaf fibers.
WoolAnimal
Fiber sheared from sheep, alpacas or goats.
DownAnimal
Insulating feathers from ducks or geese.
Tencel (Lyocell)
A cellulose fiber made from wood pulp in a closed-loop process.
Conventional cotton
Cotton grown with heavy pesticide and water use.