Continental Clothing Is Now Earth Positive: Organic and Sustainable Clothing Printing in the UK

We have printed Continental Clothing for years, and its Earth Positive range became a regular choice for clients whose merchandise has to match their sustainability commitments. Since January 2024, the whole brand has gone by that name.

We screen print, direct to garment print and embroider Earth Positive organic t-shirts, hoodies, sweatshirts and tote bags in house. Below we explain what the name change means for your order, why the range is such a strong sustainable choice, which styles we print most and what affects the price.

In this guide

• Organic and sustainable t-shirt printing in the UK
• Continental Clothing is now Earth Positive
• What the change means for your order
• Why Earth Positive is one of the most sustainable brands we print
• Organic, recycled or bamboo: choosing a sustainable fabric
• Earth Positive garments at a glance
• EP01 Jersey T-Shirt, including our Sam Ryder merch
• EP301 Pullover Hoodie
• EP302 Sweatshirt
• EP70 Shopper Tote Bag
• Which print method suits organic cotton
• Eco friendly screen printing inks: water based and discharge
• Start a sustainable clothing brand on Earth Positive
• Why choose 1WorldPrint for sustainable clothing printing
• Trustpilot reviews from our customers
• How much does organic t-shirt printing cost?
• Ordering printed organic and sustainable clothing
• Earth Positive and organic t-shirt printing FAQs

Organic and Sustainable T-Shirt Printing in the UK

Sustainability is at the front of many of our clients' minds. Customers, staff and supporters notice what a business puts its logo on and lends its name to, and certified organic clothing shows them that your brand takes the environment and the people who make its clothes seriously.

The important word is certified. The Competition and Markets Authority's Green Claims Code says environmental claims must be truthful, clear and backed up, so vague words such as green or eco are not enough on their own. Sustainable clothing that carries independent certification, such as GOTS organic cotton, gives you something real to say on your label, your website and your social media. That is why Earth Positive is one of our top recommendations for sustainable branded clothing.

We print sustainable clothing for:

• Businesses and staff uniforms. Organic t-shirts, hoodies and sweatshirts that back up your sustainability goals, such as work hoodies for teams.
• Clothing brands. Ethical, organic clothing sold under your own label, as covered in starting a sustainable clothing brand.
• Charities and schools. Sustainable t-shirts and hoodies for charities, fundraising events, schools, colleges and universities.
• Events and promotions. Organic t-shirts and tote bags as sustainable promotional merchandise.

Here is what that looks like in practice: a 5 colour screen print we produced for Sam Ryder on the white EP01 Earth Positive Jersey T-Shirt, with every colour crisp and bright on the smooth organic cotton.

Continental Clothing Is Now Earth Positive

Continental Clothing has long been one of the pioneers of ethical and sustainable clothing, and for many years Earth Positive was its organic, low carbon range. Today the clothing is sold as Earth Positive, with its own website at earthpositiveonline.com. The company behind it has not changed: Earth Positive® is a registered trademark of Continental Clothing Co. Ltd, and the brand now presents itself as Earth Positive by Continental Clothing Co.

With everything now under the Earth Positive name, Continental's other ranges have changed too. Salvage, the recycled range, and Fair Share, the living wage range, no longer appear in the Earth Positive range, and the Continental Collection is down to a single style, the N02 Continental Original Women's Fitted T-shirt. The fair pay commitment behind Fair Share carries on through Earth Positive's Living Wage contributions.

Sustainability has always been at the heart of the business. Back in January 2008 it was the first company in the world to calculate the carbon footprint of textile products and place the Carbon Reduction Label on them, and the Earth Positive name now puts that work front and centre.

What the Change Means for Your Order

For almost all of our clients, very little changes, apart from the name on the label.

• The same organic garments. Earth Positive t-shirts, hoodies, sweatshirts and tote bags are made from 100% GOTS certified organic cotton and carry the Earth Positive name.
• Easy reorders. If you have ordered a Continental Clothing style from us before, send us the code and we will find it, or the closest match, in the Earth Positive range.
• The same printing and minimums. Screen printing from 20 units per design, and direct to garment, direct to film and embroidery from 8, all done in house.

Get an Earth Positive quoteor call 0208 064 1315

Why Earth Positive Is One of the Most Sustainable Brands We Print

Plenty of brands make green claims. You know who you are! Earth Positive backs its claims with independent certification, which is exactly what you need if sustainability is going on your label, your website or your marketing.

• Certified organic cotton. The cotton in Earth Positive garments is 100% organic, certified to the Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS).
• A 90% lower carbon footprint. Earth Positive announced it has cut its carbon footprint by 90% since 2008, verified by the Carbon Trust, and that a single Earth Positive t-shirt saves around 7kg of CO2e compared with a conventional t-shirt.
• Renewable energy. Its factory in Tamil Nadu, southern India, is powered only by clean renewable energy from wind turbines and solar panels.
• Clean water. Water is kept in closed loop systems with zero polluting discharge, as part of its Detox to Zero wastewater scheme.
• Fair wages. Earth Positive has been a member of the Fair Wear Foundation since 2006, with 100% of production audited every year, and has paid Living Wage contributions for over ten years, which is where the Fair Share approach to fair pay now lives.
• Independent standards. The range also carries OEKO-TEX Standard 100 Class I, the Organic Content Standard, the Global Recycled Standard and REACH compliance.
• No microplastics. Styles such as the EP301 Pullover Hoodie are made with zero polyester, so there are no synthetic fibres shedding in the wash.

Organic, Recycled or Bamboo: Choosing a Sustainable Fabric

Sustainable clothing usually falls into three groups, and each has its place in a branded range.

• Organic cotton. Grown without synthetic pesticides or fertilisers, from non genetically modified seed. GOTS certification checks the whole supply chain, from the fibre to the finished garment, against environmental and social criteria. Every Earth Positive garment in this guide is 100% GOTS organic cotton.
• Recycled fabrics. Made from waste materials, such as plastic bottles turned into recycled polyester or cotton offcuts spun into new yarn, and usually certified under the Global Recycled Standard. They reduce the need for new raw materials, although blends containing recycled polyester can still shed synthetic fibres in the wash.
• Bamboo. A soft, breathable jersey. The Earth Positive range includes bamboo jersey t-shirts and a bamboo polo, and our guide explains why bamboo is one of the most sustainable plants on Earth. You will notice the difference when touching and wearing it.

For most branded clothing we recommend certified organic cotton. It is a natural fibre, it takes screen printing, direct to garment printing and embroidery well, and the certification backs up the claims you make about your merchandise. Recycled blends make sense where durability or a lower price matters more, and bamboo where softness is the selling point.

Earth Positive Garments at a Glance

These are the Earth Positive garments we print most, what they are made from and how we decorate them. Each one is covered in more detail below.

Earth Positive garment	Fabric	How we decorate it
EP01 Jersey T-Shirt	155g, 100% GOTS organic cotton, compact spun, unisex XS to 5XL	Screen printing, DTG and DTF
EP301 Pullover Hoodie	300g brushed 3-ply, 100% GOTS organic cotton, zero polyester, XS to 3XL	Screen printing, DTG and embroidery
EP302 Sweatshirt	300g brushed 3-ply, 100% GOTS organic cotton, XS to 3XL, 30 colourways	Screen printing, DTG and embroidery
EP70 Shopper Tote Bag	120g, 100% GOTS organic cotton, plain weave, 38cm x 42cm	Screen printing, DTG and DTF

EP01 Jersey T-Shirt: The Organic Tee Most Brands Start With

The EP01 is the classic Earth Positive t-shirt and the one most brands start with. It is 155g, 100% GOTS organic cotton, compact spun for a smooth, strong surface, with a unisex fit in sizes XS to 5XL and an Earth Positive logo size tab at the centre back.

The smooth organic cotton is perfect for screen printing bold designs and for full colour direct to garment printing. If you want a sustainable t-shirt with your logo on it, this is the one we recommend first, for band merch, charity t-shirts, events and clothing brands alike. At 155g it is a mid weight tee, so we wouldn't recommend embroidery. If you want a heavier, boxier shape for streetwear, ask us about the heavier Earth Positive styles or see our guide to oversized t-shirts for screen printing.

Sam Ryder Tour Merchandise

As well as the 5 colour portrait t-shirt on the white EP01, we screen printed Sam Ryder's United Kingdom and Ireland Tour t-shirt, which shows how much detail a photographic screen print can hold.

Organic t-shirts give fans quality merch with a sustainable story behind it. If you are planning tour merch, we can help you choose the right Earth Positive style and printing technique for your artwork.

EP301 Pullover Hoodie: Organic Cotton With Zero Polyester

The EP301 is the Earth Positive hoodie we print most. It is 300g brushed 3-ply fleece in 100% GOTS organic cotton, compact spun, and it is made with zero polyester, so it sheds no synthetic fibres in production or in the wash. It has a self fabric lined hood, flat drawcords with metal bullet tips, clean metal eyelets, a reinforced kangaroo pocket, twin needle stitching and an Earth Positive neck label, in sizes XS to 3XL and over 30 colourways, including faded and stonewashed finishes.

Earth Positive describes the all natural surface as engineered for clean ink absorption and vintage style printing. We screen print, direct to garment print and embroider it, and it is a favourite for team hoodies and for brands that want an organic hoodie. It also features in our list of the 10 top hoodies for printing and embroidery.

Looking for a zip? The EP303 Full Zip Hoodie is the zip version, and other Earth Positive styles include the EP304 Half Zip Hoodie, EP309 Sleeveless Full Zip Hoodie, EP313 Super High Neck Hoodie, EP312 Short Sleeve Sweatshirt and EP306 Bomber Jacket Hoodie. For a heavyweight organic hoodie, look at the EP31P Heavy Pullover Hoodie and the EP540 Super Heavy Hoodie.

EP302 Sweatshirt: The Matching Organic Crew

The EP302 is the crew neck partner to the EP301. It is 300g brushed 3-ply fleece in 100% GOTS organic cotton, compact spun, in sizes XS to 3XL and 30 colourways, and like the hoodie it sheds no microplastics.

It suits screen printing, including discharge and vintage style inks, direct to garment printing and embroidery, so you can build a matching organic range of hoodies and sweatshirts with the same artwork on both.

EP70 Shopper Tote: Organic Tote Bag Printing

The EP70 Shopper Tote Bag is made from 100% GOTS organic cotton, compact spun in a plain weave, weighing 120g, with an Earth Positive flag in the side seam. It measures 38cm wide by 42cm long, comes in black, white, natural (undyed) and French navy, and is one of the most popular organic tote bags for printing.

We screen print the EP70, direct to garment print it and print it with direct to film transfers, for shops, events, conferences and charities, and it is a simple way to add a certified organic product to your eco friendly merchandise. Printed tote bags start from 10 units, and our guide to custom tote bags covers the other styles we print.

Which Print Method Suits Organic Cotton

We decorate Earth Positive garments in house using four main techniques. The right one depends on your design, the quantity and the garment colour.

• Screen printing. The best choice for bold designs and larger orders, with an exact Pantone colour match, from 20 units.
• Direct to garment printing. Full colour, detailed designs printed straight onto the organic cotton, from 8 units.
• Direct to film. Full colour transfers from 8 units, a flexible option for smaller runs and for tote bags from 10 units.
• Embroidery. A premium, long lasting finish that suits the heavier EP301 hoodie and EP302 sweatshirt, from 8 units.

Not sure which suits your design? Our guide to DTF vs DTG printing explains the difference between the two full colour methods.

Eco Friendly Screen Printing Inks: Water Based and Discharge

The garment is only half of sustainable printing. The ink matters too, and we screen print with water based and discharge inks.

• Water based inks. Water is the main carrier, rather than the PVC and plasticisers used in plastisol inks. The ink soaks into the fibres instead of sitting on top, so the print is soft, breathable and barely there to the touch. It is ideal on white, natural and lighter colours of organic cotton.
• Discharge inks. Discharge printing removes the dye from the cotton and replaces it with your colour, so you get bright prints on dark garments with the same soft feel and a vintage look. It works best on 100% cotton, and Earth Positive rates styles such as the EP302 sweatshirt and the core colours of the EP70 tote bag as suitable for discharge printing.

Because Earth Positive garments are 100% organic cotton, they are a natural match for water based and discharge printing. Tell us about your artwork and we will recommend the right ink for your design and garment colour.

Start a Sustainable Clothing Brand on Earth Positive

Earth Positive is a strong base for a sustainable clothing brand, because your customers get certified organic, ethically made clothing with your name on it. Our t-shirt relabelling service replaces the neck label with your own printed or sewn in label, carrying your logo, size, care instructions and garment composition, and our garment finishing service adds hem tags, swing tags, folding, bagging and barcode stickers, so your range arrives ready to sell.

Comparing organic brands? See our guide to Stanley/Stella and sustainable custom printing, and the other clothing brands worth personalising.

Why Choose 1WorldPrint for Sustainable Clothing Printing

• Years of printing Continental and Earth Positive. From Sam Ryder tour merch to staff uniforms, we know how these organic garments print, wash and wear, and we can source any style in the Earth Positive range.
• Every main technique, made in the UK. Screen printing, direct to garment printing, direct to film and embroidery, all printed and finished in house.
• Low minimums and quick turnaround. 8 units for embroidery, direct to garment and direct to film, 20 for screen printing, six to seven business days from artwork approval as standard and a free visual proof within 30 minutes.
• Business accounts. 30/60 day credit terms are available, with a dedicated Account Manager on every order. Register as a client to get started.

Get an Earth Positive quoteor call 0208 064 1315

Trustpilot Reviews From Our Customers

A few of the reviews customers have left for us on Trustpilot.

How Much Does Organic T-Shirt Printing Cost?

Every order is priced individually, because the cost of organic t-shirt printing depends on a few things:

• The garment. A 155g EP01 t-shirt, a 300g EP301 hoodie and an EP70 tote bag are all priced differently.
• The quantity. Larger runs cost less per unit, particularly with screen printing.
• The number of print colours. Each colour in a screen print needs its own screen, so a one or two colour logo costs less per garment than a six colour illustration.
• The number of print positions. A front print, back print and sleeve print are each set up separately.
• The technique and garment colour. Screen printing, direct to garment printing, direct to film and embroidery each suit different designs and quantities, and a dark garment can add to the cost of a screen print because the design needs a white base layer or discharge ink to stay bright.

Tell us about your order and your dedicated Account Manager will come back to you within 15 minutes with pricing. Our guide to keeping t-shirt printing costs as low as possible has more tips.

Ordering Printed Organic and Sustainable Clothing

This is a selection of the main Earth Positive garments, and we can source the full range, including bamboo t-shirts, babywear, kidswear, polos, shorts and sweatpants, so please get in touch if there is something you don't see here. Tell us the garments, quantities and your deadline, and your dedicated Account Manager will come back to you within 15 minutes with pricing.

Screen printing starts at 20 units, and direct to garment, direct to film and embroidery start at 8 units. Our standard turnaround is six to seven business days from artwork approval, express turnaround is available on request, and you get a free visual proof within 30 minutes of your order being confirmed. You can get a quote using the button below, email hello@1worldprint.co.uk or call us on 0208 064 1315.

We print and finish every order in the UK and deliver nationwide with tracked couriers, with shipping into Europe and worldwide when you need it.

Earth Positive and Organic T-Shirt Printing FAQs

Is Continental Clothing now Earth Positive?

Yes. The clothing is now sold under the Earth Positive name, and the company behind it is still Continental Clothing Co. Ltd, which owns the Earth Positive trademark. If you have ordered a Continental, Salvage or Fair Share style from us before, send us the code and we will find it, or the closest match, in the Earth Positive range.

Are Earth Positive t-shirts organic?

Yes. The EP01 t-shirt, EP301 hoodie, EP302 sweatshirt and EP70 tote bag are made from 100% organic cotton certified to GOTS, the Global Organic Textile Standard, which checks the supply chain from the fibre to the finished garment against environmental and social criteria.

How sustainable is Earth Positive clothing?

Earth Positive says it has cut its carbon footprint by 90% since 2008, verified by the Carbon Trust. Its factory in Tamil Nadu, southern India, runs only on wind and solar energy, water is kept in closed loop systems with zero polluting discharge, and it has been a Fair Wear Foundation member since 2006.

Do you use eco friendly inks?

Yes. We screen print with water based and discharge inks, which soak into the cotton for a soft, breathable print and avoid the PVC used in plastisol inks.

How much does organic t-shirt printing cost?

It depends on the garment, the quantity, the number of print colours and positions, the garment colour and the printing technique. Tell us about your order and your dedicated Account Manager will come back to you within 15 minutes with pricing.

What is the minimum order for organic t-shirt printing?

Screen printing is recommended from 20 units per design, and direct to garment, direct to film and embroidery start at 8 units. Printed organic tote bags start from 10 units.

How long does organic t-shirt printing take?

Organic t-shirts are printed in six to seven business days once the artwork is approved, and express is available if your date is tight. A free visual proof comes back within 30 minutes of your order confirmation.

How should I wash printed organic clothing?

Wash it inside out on a low temperature, dry it naturally rather than in a tumble dryer, and iron it inside out on a low setting. Our wash care guide explains why each step helps the print last.