The Worst Offenders
These specific products earned an F or D grade — ranked by how dangerous their plastic content is to your health based on use case, skin contact, and documented chemical risks. Many are sold by brands that market themselves as premium, wellness-focused, or even sustainable.
Why activewear dominates this list
Exposure risk is not just about how much plastic a product contains — it is about how that plastic reaches your body. Activewear scores maximum risk because: (1) it is worn skin-tight against your entire body, (2) exercise opens your pores and dramatically increases transdermal absorption, (3) sweating creates a warm, moist environment that accelerates chemical leaching from synthetic fibers, and (4) most activewear is 80–100% synthetic plastic. The combination of these factors makes gym clothes one of the most significant sources of daily plastic exposure.
Specific Product Rankings
These are ratings of specific named products — not entire companies. Other products from these brands may score differently.
All ratings are based on published peer-reviewed research from the NIH, WHO, IARC, and journals including Nature Food, Environment International, and Environmental Science & Technology. These are ratings of specific products only — not entire companies. Brands cannot pay for higher scores.
Share this list. It could change someone's health.
Most people wearing synthetic activewear to the gym have no idea they are absorbing plastic chemicals through their skin during every workout. This information should be public knowledge.