It’s not necessarily that the new “eco-fabrics” are better suited to activewear than traditional fabrics (cotton, nylon, rayon and spandex). Nor are they cheaper; in fact, they tend to cost about 20 percent more. “But by choosing an alternative garment that’s been produced with fewer chemicals or no chemicals, you’re making a better choice for the environment,” says Jason Finnis, chief operating officer and founder of Naturally Advanced Technologies (NAT), a Vancouver-based company that is developing technologies to process natural fibres in an environmentally sustainable manner.