unfriendly fabrics
Although fabrics such as cotton, wool, and silk are all from natural sources, they do not necessarily have a positive impact on the earth's environment. The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) reports that cotton uses the third most amounts of pesticides to grow in the world. These pesticides are extremely hazardous, with the potential to harm famers, contaminate ground and surface water, and kill crucial insects and organisms in the soil. The cultivation of cotton requires chemicals like organophosphates and carbamats that harm human health, while contaminating the soil and groundwater in which other crops are grown. Cotton growing also requires methyl parathion and trifluralin, two pesticides that are highly toxic to aquatic organisms and harmful to the reproductive systems of wildlife organisms. Hence, avoid purchasing clothing made of conventional cotton. Purchase clothing made from organic cotton from stores such as American Apparel and theultimategreenstore.com. Cotton farmers, whose cotton is certified as organic, have not used synthetic pesticides or fertilizers for a minimum of three years.
Chemicals used in wool production are not much better than cotton. Animal farmers, like cotton farmers, use organophosphate pesticides on their livestock in order to kill lice, ticks, and mites. They contaminate the welfare not only of animals and farm workers, but also of the groundwater. Farm animals are also given hormones and antibiotics to increase their size and yield, eventually forming bacterial resistance, the process in which a medical drug is used incorrectly, creating a super germ that has developed to become resistant to the initial drug. However, a consumer does not have to sacrifice warm, cozy wool sweaters for the winter because there is certified organic wool and Pure Grown wool, two alternatives to conventional wool. Organic wool farmers do not use synthetic pesticides on their livestock. Pure Grown wool is made in Sonoma County, California and is a company that not only forbids the use of chemical pesticides, but also enforces strict rules concerning the handling of wool once it is shorn. When purchasing wool clothing, look for two labels: certified organic wool or Pure Grown.
Producing silk, although many may not believe so, also requires many harsh chemicals. The process of raising silkworms involves harmful chemicals, pesticides, and hormones. The pesticide methoprene and the hormone phytoecdysone are used together to slow the speed at which the worms grow, extending their silk producing growth period, and therefore increasing silk production. Since silk comes from moth larvae, the silkworms are killed before they metamorphose out of their cocoons, preserving the long, silk fibers they produce. For those who dislike the process of killing the larvae or the emission of more damaging chemicals into the environment but still enjoy the feel of silk can purchase wildcrafted silk. This company produces its silk without pesticides, hormones, and the process of killing larvae.
Although from organic matter, semi-synthetics such as rayon, tencel, and acetate are not environmentally friendly. These fibers are produced from the cellulose from the pulp of softwood trees, like beech and eucalyptus. The cellulose is the polysaccharide, or sugar, that makes up the structure of the plant cell wall. Rayon and acetate production necessitates the use of chemicals such as sodium hydroxide and carbon disulfide, as well as a lot of water. Tencel uses less water and chemicals than rayon and acetate, so it is better for the environment. When making rayon and acetate, only one third of the pulp from a tree will be used in the final fabric product, while the rest is wasted.
Chemicals used in wool production are not much better than cotton. Animal farmers, like cotton farmers, use organophosphate pesticides on their livestock in order to kill lice, ticks, and mites. They contaminate the welfare not only of animals and farm workers, but also of the groundwater. Farm animals are also given hormones and antibiotics to increase their size and yield, eventually forming bacterial resistance, the process in which a medical drug is used incorrectly, creating a super germ that has developed to become resistant to the initial drug. However, a consumer does not have to sacrifice warm, cozy wool sweaters for the winter because there is certified organic wool and Pure Grown wool, two alternatives to conventional wool. Organic wool farmers do not use synthetic pesticides on their livestock. Pure Grown wool is made in Sonoma County, California and is a company that not only forbids the use of chemical pesticides, but also enforces strict rules concerning the handling of wool once it is shorn. When purchasing wool clothing, look for two labels: certified organic wool or Pure Grown.
Producing silk, although many may not believe so, also requires many harsh chemicals. The process of raising silkworms involves harmful chemicals, pesticides, and hormones. The pesticide methoprene and the hormone phytoecdysone are used together to slow the speed at which the worms grow, extending their silk producing growth period, and therefore increasing silk production. Since silk comes from moth larvae, the silkworms are killed before they metamorphose out of their cocoons, preserving the long, silk fibers they produce. For those who dislike the process of killing the larvae or the emission of more damaging chemicals into the environment but still enjoy the feel of silk can purchase wildcrafted silk. This company produces its silk without pesticides, hormones, and the process of killing larvae.
Although from organic matter, semi-synthetics such as rayon, tencel, and acetate are not environmentally friendly. These fibers are produced from the cellulose from the pulp of softwood trees, like beech and eucalyptus. The cellulose is the polysaccharide, or sugar, that makes up the structure of the plant cell wall. Rayon and acetate production necessitates the use of chemicals such as sodium hydroxide and carbon disulfide, as well as a lot of water. Tencel uses less water and chemicals than rayon and acetate, so it is better for the environment. When making rayon and acetate, only one third of the pulp from a tree will be used in the final fabric product, while the rest is wasted.
eco-friendly fabrics
Linen is an environmentally friendly alternative to all of the mentioned fabrics, as it is made of fibers of the flax plant, a resourceful, sturdy, and breathable fabric. The best pest about the flax plant is that it is easily produced organically and is naturally pest-resistant. However, the United States does not grow its own flax plant, so all flax fiber is imported from other countries, requiring money and energy to ship.
Although linen is a reasonably good alternative for conventional cotton, wool, and silk, fabrics such as bamboo, soy, and hemp are far better ones. Bamboo requires very few, or no pesticides to grow. It is soft, lustrous, fast drying, absorbent, and has natural antibacterial assets, making it the perfect fabric for athletic wear. Soy fabric is used in socks, sheets, and yoga clothing. The process for making soy fabric involves recycling leftover proteins from tofu production and combining them together with organic compounds, creating a fiber that is durable enough to be spun into thread. Hemp is made from hemp bark, which holds the strongest and longest fibers on the planet that provide better breathability than cotton. Hemp, like bamboo, naturally needs very little, or no pesticides for production. However, hemp is from the same species as marijuana. Although hemp has little tetrahydrocannabinol, the factor in marijuana that makes people high, it is still illegal to grow in the U.S., so there are no USDA organic hemp products in stores yet.
In addition to these alternative, eco-friendly fabrics, there are recycled fabrics. EcoSpun is considered polyester, but it is actually made from post-consumer materials such as plastic soda bottles. EcoSpun fabrics can help keep billions of pounds of plastic out of landfills every year! Numerous companies have begun to use EcoSpun in jackets, hats, and gloves, so look for items labeled as EcoSpun, Recycled Plastic, or Recycled Polyester.
Although linen is a reasonably good alternative for conventional cotton, wool, and silk, fabrics such as bamboo, soy, and hemp are far better ones. Bamboo requires very few, or no pesticides to grow. It is soft, lustrous, fast drying, absorbent, and has natural antibacterial assets, making it the perfect fabric for athletic wear. Soy fabric is used in socks, sheets, and yoga clothing. The process for making soy fabric involves recycling leftover proteins from tofu production and combining them together with organic compounds, creating a fiber that is durable enough to be spun into thread. Hemp is made from hemp bark, which holds the strongest and longest fibers on the planet that provide better breathability than cotton. Hemp, like bamboo, naturally needs very little, or no pesticides for production. However, hemp is from the same species as marijuana. Although hemp has little tetrahydrocannabinol, the factor in marijuana that makes people high, it is still illegal to grow in the U.S., so there are no USDA organic hemp products in stores yet.
In addition to these alternative, eco-friendly fabrics, there are recycled fabrics. EcoSpun is considered polyester, but it is actually made from post-consumer materials such as plastic soda bottles. EcoSpun fabrics can help keep billions of pounds of plastic out of landfills every year! Numerous companies have begun to use EcoSpun in jackets, hats, and gloves, so look for items labeled as EcoSpun, Recycled Plastic, or Recycled Polyester.
shopping for school supplies: Paper
When shopping for school supplies, one who purchases environmentally friendly paper, office supplies, and pencils and pens, while reducing, reusing, and recycling, significantly helps reduce the amount of negative chemicals that harm the environment. Making paper requires the deforestation of forests. Deforestation is the clearing of forests for agriculture, lumber, or the production of paper. By cutting down forests, humans are also demolishing the homes of organisms that live in these forests and disturbing the water and carbon cycles. Trees, as plants, do a very important process in the water cycle called transpiration, the process in which plants release water in the form of gas through small holes under their leaves, called stomatas. The water released by plants through transpiration then condenses into clouds in the process of condensation. After precipitation, the process when the water from the clouds becomes rain, the cycle reprocesses. In the carbon cycle, plants most crucial function is to intake carbon dioxide, a greenhouse gas, and release oxygen into the air. But since trees are being cut down for paper, there is less oxygen and more greenhouse gases, causing the greenhouse effect. Greenhouse gases are the gases that are released from the burning of fossil fuels like coal, oil, and gasoline. The greenhouse effect is the process by which atmospheric gases trap heat close to earth's surface and prevent it from escaping into space. As more greenhouse gases are emitted and more trees are destroyed, the greenhouse effect intensifies, causing an overall warming in the earth, also known as global warming. Cutting down forests impacts life cycles and intensifies the greenhouse effect, but it also causes biological magnification, the process in which the concentration of toxins accumulate through the levels of the food chain; the process of turning wood pulp into white sheets of paper is the culprit.
Chemicals needed in the whitening process, such as bleach, create organochlorine chemicals that pollute the air and water. Most organochlorines are dioxins, highly toxic and environmentally harmful compounds that are produced in manufacturing processes, especially in paper production. Through biological magnification, these dangerous dioxins can get into the plants and water that animals and humans digest. Additionally, paper waste takes up 40% of the landfill area in America. When paper that is infested with chemicals decomposes in landfills, dioxins leak into the ground, as more carbon dioxide is releases into the air. The solution to this massive problem is to recycle all paper and to purchase recycled paper.
In order to support more sustainable methods of paper production, one should buy recycled paper. Recycled paper saves 60% of the energy that new, non-recycled paper requires during production. It also leaves 3.3 cubic yards free in American landfills. Although recycled paper is more expensive, an increase in demand for it will decrease its cost. There is also paper made with post-consumer waste (PCW) and recycled materials that help save forests, decrease the emission of chemicals into the environment, and open landfill space. Although more difficult to find, paper made from fibers like hemp, kenaf, cotton, flax, and linen are other alternatives. When shopping for recycled paper, look for paper with the highest percentage of PCW.
Chemicals needed in the whitening process, such as bleach, create organochlorine chemicals that pollute the air and water. Most organochlorines are dioxins, highly toxic and environmentally harmful compounds that are produced in manufacturing processes, especially in paper production. Through biological magnification, these dangerous dioxins can get into the plants and water that animals and humans digest. Additionally, paper waste takes up 40% of the landfill area in America. When paper that is infested with chemicals decomposes in landfills, dioxins leak into the ground, as more carbon dioxide is releases into the air. The solution to this massive problem is to recycle all paper and to purchase recycled paper.
In order to support more sustainable methods of paper production, one should buy recycled paper. Recycled paper saves 60% of the energy that new, non-recycled paper requires during production. It also leaves 3.3 cubic yards free in American landfills. Although recycled paper is more expensive, an increase in demand for it will decrease its cost. There is also paper made with post-consumer waste (PCW) and recycled materials that help save forests, decrease the emission of chemicals into the environment, and open landfill space. Although more difficult to find, paper made from fibers like hemp, kenaf, cotton, flax, and linen are other alternatives. When shopping for recycled paper, look for paper with the highest percentage of PCW.
Shopping for school supplies: extras
Another way one can reduce her consumer impact on the earth is to buy sustainable pens, pencils, and desk accessories. Look for pencils that use graphite, not lead and that are made with recycled materials such as recycled newspapers or denim. One can also buy biodegradable (recyclable) or refillable pens to reduce the quantity of solid material in landfills. Now there are also staple-free staplers that save energy in the recycling process, so that the facility does not need to remove staples before processing paper. There are even rulers made from recycled materials like plastic bags and biodegradable corn-based plastic. All recycled school supplies can be purchased at http://www.recycledproducts.org/.
One does not need to buy recycled items to reduce her impact; rather she can reuse her trash to make useful supplies for school. For example, one can make her reusable lunch bag, pencil bag, and notebooks.
One does not need to buy recycled items to reduce her impact; rather she can reuse her trash to make useful supplies for school. For example, one can make her reusable lunch bag, pencil bag, and notebooks.
