Lighten Your Carbon Footprint

It’s widely recognized that organic cotton serves as a basis for some of the softest, most luxurious bedding materials, but the appeal of organics extends far beyond the aesthetic and tactile. Unfortunately, much of the world’s mass-produced cotton is subjected to harsh treatment even before it’s harvested. The use of pesticides, insecticides, chemical fertilizers and even genetically modified seeds has cast a pall over the industry as a whole.

Organic cotton is guaranteed to be free of artificial fertilizers, pesticides and the like. The farmers responsible for organic cotton practice the time-honored technique of crop rotation, which ensures the success of their crop by allowing nitrogen to permeate the soil. After the cotton is harvested and turned into fabric, it is kept free of harsh bleach and other artificial additives. By the time the crop becomes fine organic cotton bedding, it has maintained natural character and integrity.

1. Buying organic will help to ensure that your children and grandchildren have a friendly environment in the future.

2. Buying organic promotes a better market for the farmer and better  prices for the consumer.

3. Buying organic encourages more farmers to turn to organic farming methods.

4. Buying organic ensure that less synthetic fertilizers and insecticides end up in our water tables.

5. Buying organic supports the contributions made by organic farmers.

6.. Buying organic reduces your carbon footprint.

7. Buying organic means a smaller amount of toxic substances go into the air

8. Buying organic helps the soil to regenerate.

9. Buying organic is body friendly.

10. Buying organic sends a message to the large corporate commercial farmers that we want change.

11. Buying organic will help bring our eco-systems back into balance.

12. Buying organic makes a statement that you care for the environment.

Be proactive! Start buying organic today.

Some suggestions: Organic cotton t-shirts, bamboo linen, organic food stuffs like fresh fruits and vegetables, nuts and seeds, organic cotton baby clothes.

In case there are some folks out there that just aren’t sure what eco-friendly clothing is, I thought I would give you some tips.

Firstly, eco-friendly is anything that is not harmful to the environment. When it comes to qualifying clothing as eco-friendly we consider the fibers, the growing habit(sustainability), the farming, the processing, the dyes, the construction and sometimes the shipping. Some of the most eco-friendly fibers my be processed with harsh environmentally damaging chemicals rendering them less eco-friendly.

One of the most eco-friendly fibers is hemp. Hemp is a highly renewable resource with a process that is safe for the environment.

100% organically grown cotton is an eco-friendly fiber that maintains it’s status when the processing avoids bleaching and uses natural vegetable dyes. Locally farmed and manufactured 100% organic cotton is more eco-friendly than imported 100% organic cotton.

Organic bamboo another eco-friendly fiber gets it’s status mostly by the fact that it is highly sustainably, very fast growing and has many properties desirable in clothing, however some bamboo today is still processed in non earth-friendly ways using toxic chemicals.

Recycled polyester is considered eco-friendly because it re-uses plastic water bottles as a portion of the material for the fibers, saving the earth from this ecological danger. Since the amount of these empty used bottles is staggering this fabric could really help clean up the environment.

Soy fabric is made from the waste product in the production of tofu. These waste soy-proteins are spun into fibers and turned into fabric like other yarns. Once again this is a fiber that is very sustainable and eco-friendly. It is said to be so biodegradable that when the garment is worn out you can just throw it into your home compost pile and it will disappear in about 28 days.

The above fibers are the most common eco-friendly ones to date but with growing technology and experimentation more fibers are discovered all the time. Here are some new ones to look for in the coming months or years…seacell(seaweed) , Lenpur(corn), and Stingplus Nettle fabric (stinging nettle).

Over the years, conscientious shoppers have developed a list of criteria that make up quality bedding linens. For example, the “thread count” of a set of sheets is often touted as being a primary indicator of comfort and durability. This is true to an extent. Thread count merely refers to the number of threads in a given square inch of cotton. It’s also important to factor in the staple length of cotton bedding.

Organic cotton sheets feature long-staple cotton, which is soft and luxurious to the touch. In contrast, short-staple cotton is rough and scratchy like a prickly beard. The lack of harsh chemicals and genetically modified materials also characterizes organic cotton sheets and sets them apart from the pack. No bleaches or potentially harmful dyes are used in the process of creating these linens.

That’s right, today people are treading lightly upon the earth in footwear made from garbage. Well, discarded products that contain valuable resources in the green market.

Shoe manufactures are getting on the band wagon these days to help slow down global warming. They are making use of some old materials to create stylish eco-friendly footwear.

Today you can even find fashionable vegan footwear . As a vegan, I appreciate the fact that no animal has to give up their life for my feet.

I have thought hard against leather but there are some companies that offer products made of leather from recycled car seats and other Pre-used leather items. Although it originally came from animals this leather has already had a previous life and now can take the place of new leather eliminating the tanning process and once again saving animals from being sacrificed for our luxury. This leather, made into purses and shoes, has become earth-friendly and fashionable.

Often the soles of eco-friendly shoes and boots are made of the rubber from used tires. This also cuts down the need to use new leather plus the need for making new rubber. The number of tires that are replaced every year in the U.S. alone offers an abundance of re-usable rubber for the making of soles. An excellent way to help clean up some environmental pollution.

Plastic water bottles are being recycled and processed with recycled polyester to be used in the uppers. Other materials being used in the shoes’ uppers are earth friendly fabrics like bamboo, hemp and organic cotton, soy, silk and wool. Each of these offer their own properties and appeal.

So, get into step and lighten your carbon footprint with garbage.

For most people, bamboo is synonymous with exotic furniture and panda food. While it’s true that bamboo can be used as a sturdy building material and to satisfy the appetites of rare animals, it has many other uses as well. The crop is often processed into fabric fiber, which is then transformed into soft, delightful bamboo sheets. The process by which this is accomplished is similar to that of hemp or flax.

Cotton has long been considered king of the bedding industry, but bamboo has given that popular fabric a run for its money in recent years. Bamboo is just as soft as cotton, and its structural durability is such that it lasts longer. In addition, bamboo crops are so versatile that they can grow without the use of pesticides or other harsh chemicals. All of those factors make a huge difference when you’re sleeping on the material.