Clergy joins war against waste with plastic cassocks

THE Church of England has joined the war on plastic waste, with vicars buying cassocks made from recycled bottles.

A clerical clothing manufacturer has launched the first-ever plastic cassock in an attempt to make priestly clothing more eco-friendly. Butler & Butler has begun selling a men’s cassock made from 100 per cent recycled polyester from reclaimed PET bottles.

The company, which specialises in fairtrade and organic clerical outfits, began selling the clothing a fortnight ago and the Rev Simon Butler, director of the company, says it has been popular with ethically minded clergy.

He said the company had come up with the idea following the “huge swell of interest” in reducing plastic waste following the Blue Planet II series. A mill in India is producing the material for the £189 cassock, which the Rev Butler said was closer to a “softer wool feel” than traditional polyester.

The Church of England has regularly spoken out on environmental issues, with its pensions fund divesting from some fossil fuels in 2015 following a vote in General Synod.