In the professional world, the morning routine often revolves around looking sharp. For decades, the “wrinkle-free” or “non-iron” business shirt has been the gold standard of convenience. You pull it out of the tumble dryer, put it on, and head to the office looking pristine.
But at Vertex, we have decided to take a different path. When it came time to select the shirts our team wears, we asked ourselves: What creates that wrinkle-free magic?
The answer usually involves harsh chemistry or hidden plastics. We chose natural materials instead, avoiding synthetics where possible and accepting a few natural creases in exchange for a cleaner planet. Here is why we made that choice, and why we believe those wrinkles are a badge of honour.
The Hidden Cost of “Wrinkle-Free”
Natural fibres, such as cotton, are naturally prone to wrinkling. To force a shirt to stay artificially flat, manufacturers typically rely on two methods, neither of which aligns with our values regarding the environment.
The Chemical Bath
Many “non-iron” shirts made from natural fibres are treated with resin-based chemicals to cross-link the fibres. While this stiffens the fabric structure so it resists bending, it means you are essentially wearing a chemical coating against your skin all day. These treatments often release formaldehyde, a substance we prefer to avoid.
The Plastic Blend
The other common shortcut is blending natural fibres with synthetics like polyester.
- What it is: Polyester is a plastic derived from fossil fuels. It is durable and resists wrinkling, but it transforms a piece of clothing into a piece of plastic.
- The issue: Unlike natural fibres, these synthetic blends do not let your skin breathe effectively, and they introduce plastic into a cycle where it does not belong.
The Environmental Ripple Effect
The chemicals and plastics that keep a shirt crisp do not just stay on your back; they interact with the world around us in two critical ways.
Water Pollution
When synthetic blends are washed, they shed thousands of tiny microplastic fibres. These pass through filtration systems and end up in our oceans and waterways, harming aquatic life. Furthermore, when chemically treated shirts are washed, toxic residues can wash into the water system.
Land Degradation
Natural fibres are biodegradable, meaning they eventually return to the earth. However, synthetic polyester blends can take hundreds of years to break down in a landfill. Even chemically treated natural fibres struggle to decompose naturally due to the resins bonding the fibres together.
The Vertex Standard: Protecting Computers and the Planet
At Vertex, our business is protection. We spend our days ensuring computers and systems are secure, efficient, and running smoothly. But we realised that our responsibility should not stop at the server room door.
We cannot claim to protect the future of technology while ignoring the future of the earth. This is why we prioritise natural materials for our company wear.
- Free from synthetic plastics: Avoiding polyester and microplastics helps keep our waterways cleaner.
- Biodegradable: Leaving no trace behind when the shirt’s life is over.
- Breathable: Natural materials provide better comfort and health for our team.
Embracing the Wrinkle
Does a natural, plastic-free shirt wrinkle? Yes.
If you see a Vertex team member with a slightly lived-in look to their collar or a crease in their sleeve, know that it is not a lack of care. It is a conscious decision.
We believe that a few wrinkles are a small price to pay for cleaner water and a reduction in plastic waste. We are protecting more than just computers; we are doing our small part to protect the earth for future generations.
So, the next time you see a wrinkle, do not see it as an imperfection. See it as proof that we care about the big picture.
Just as we carefully select the materials for our team, we carefully select the security measures for your business. If you are looking for a team that pays attention to every detail, contact the experts at Vertex Cyber Security today.