Lighten Your Carbon Footprint

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.

In my attempt to understand how organic cotton clothing is eco-friendly, I researched into the earth friendliness of both conventionally grown cotton and organically grown cotton and this is what I discovered.

Below are the methods used by the conventional cotton growers. I’ve included the processes from planting, to cultivation to harvesting.

• Genetically modified seeds used for approximately 70% of the U.S. cotton crop
• Seed are treated with fungicides and pesticides
• The ground is treated with herbicides before planting and repeatedly throughout the growing season
• It is planted in the same fields year after year which impacts as soil loss
• Massive irrigation is used
• Takes up 2.5% of the world’s cultivated land and uses 16% of the worlds insecticide
• Uses massive amounts of synthetic fertilizers
• Uses highly toxic pesticides 5 of which are know carcinogens
• Frequently uses Aerial spraying leaving a possibility for the dust to drifts onto farm workers local wildlife and surrounding communities
• Chemicals are used to defoliate for picking
• Harvest depends on a high level of forced child labor
• Harmful residue may remain in the fibers to irritate sensitive skin

On the other side of the comparison we have organic cotton. Below are the methods used by organic cotton growers again from planting to cultivation to harvest.

• The seeds are totally untreated
• Genetically modified seeds are never used
• Crop Rotation keeps the soil in place by adding to the organic matter in the soil which is then used as fertilizer by the cotton plants
• This additional organic matter serves to retain the water more efficiently cutting down on the need for massive irrigation
• Physical removal rather than chemical destruction is the order of the day. Hand hoeing and cultivating is used to remove unwanted weed
• Through healthy soil a balance between pest and their predator is maintain
• The introduction of beneficial insects help to control pests
• Trap crops are planted to lure insects away from the cotton
• Farmers rely on seasonal frost to defoliate the plants for picking
• May withhold water to stimulate defoliation
• Never used forced child labor

As you can see I have discovered that growing cotton with the conventional methods is very damaging to the environment, to humans and to wildlife.

I totally advocate supporting our organic cotton growers by investing in their products.

1. Mosa Bamboo grass is one of the earths fastest growing plants. Growing at a rate of approximately 1 meter a day, it can be harvested in 3-5 years

2. It is a fast spreading grass and is therefore excellent to prevent soil erosion

3. It is naturally organic needing no pesticides, herbicides or chemical fertilizers.

4. Bamboo is not genetically modified

5. Bamboo grows very densely producing higher yields per acre than cotton

6. Bamboo absorbs 35% more carbon dioxide than a stand of trees the same size. If we grow more bamboo it will effectively help reduce greenhouse gases and slow down global warming.

7. It is 100% biodegradable and there is no risk of chemical contamination.

As you can see from above; Bamboo is eco-friendly in many ways.

Below is a list of the properties of the bamboo fibers:

1. Lightweight

2. Strong

3. Antibacterial to some extent

4. Antimicrobial.

5. Thermal regulating

6. Hypoallergenic

7. Won’t hold odor

8. Resistant to mold and mildew

9. Absorbent -holds 60% more than Cotton

10. Breathable

11. Wicks moisture and fast drying

12. Luxuriously soft like silky cashmere, comfortable against the skin

Because of all these properties many designers are choosing bamboo to create their lines of eco-friendly bamboo clothing for women, men and the entire family. The fabric that loves your skin.

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.

In today’s world you would find it hard to locate any one who hasn’t stepped on the green bandwagon even in some small way or at least who hasn’t heard about the green movement. In fact, most people have adopted some form of earth conscious practice whether it be recycling through your local municipality or composting in your own backyard or perhaps even carrying your drinking water in an earth friendly reusable bottle. There is so much you can do to help preserve our beautiful planet that sometimes it just looks like there is too much to be done. Have heart and don’t get lost amidst all the options. It only takes one little thing done consistently to make a difference.

Here’s a suggestion, one that will make your body feel great and your mind know that you have taken a step to save the planet: treat yourself to a new 100% organic cotton t-shirt then find a way to recycle an old t-shirt that you are replacing. (give it away or turn it into a rag or cut it into strips and braid it into a small rug or a set of coasters)

With this one action you are helping to sustain an organic cotton farmer, helping to maintain the fresh water supply, saying no to chemicals (pesticides, herbicides or fertilizers) that leach into the soil, and helping to decrease the amount of toxins going into the air and earth. Go ahead, start to lighten your carbon foot print .

Having a baby can be the most joyous time of our lives and at the same time the most scary . It is a huge responsibility raising a child and knowing that we are making the right choices for our little ones. We all know that life is full of decisions and often we are left questioning ourselves about whether the decisions we have made have set us on the right track for our baby’s well-being. We always want to do what is the best, what is the safest, what is the most nourishing , and what is the most gentle, anything that will make our baby healthy, happy and safe. Raising a baby can be hard enough without introducing anything into their world that can cause them discomfort in the form of allergies, skin rashes, breathing problems or sleeping issues. We as parents always want to protect our infants and help them to thrive and to grow strong into responsible, healthy, happy, loving adults, capable of nurturing the next generation.

Today our youngster’s have more challenges in their lives than ever before with one of the major ones being the environment. Our air is full of toxins that did not even exist when our grandparents were having their children. The rivers and lakes were cleaner, the air was pure and fresh, the sun wasn’t as damaging and drugs weren’t the order of the day. We, as intelligent humans should begin to think of our environment as we do our babies, wanting to protect and nourish it, to watch it flourish and grow, to allow it to sustain it’s beauty and resources so that we then in return can enjoy it’s richness, allowing us to sustain life for all living things. However, if we continue damaging our planet at the present rate, those precious babies that we so lovingly nurture today will not have a safe and viable place to thrive and raise their babies in the future.

One wise choice that makes us winners on both fronts; for baby and the environment, is to use eco-friendly clothing for baby. Choices like bamboo and organic cotton are soft and comfortable on baby’s delicate skin. They have no toxic residue so they don’t introduce allergens to your wee one. The fabrics are breathable which also adds to your baby’s comfort. They are grown with no herbicides, pesticides or chemical fertilizers all of which endanger the planet. The seeds are not genetically modified and large amounts of fresh water is not wasted with irrigation or being polluted by run-off. By using these types of products we become more proactive in nurturing our little ones and in saving the planet .

For thousands of years, and for many cultures, hemp has been an important agricultural crop. The earliest record of its cultivation is of a piece of hemp clothing found in Mesopotamia region from around 8000 B.C.

Hemp’s value has rapidly increased over the past decades because it is a renewable resource that is capable of being grown quickly all over the earth in varying climates and soil conditions. It can be grown for textiles & fabrics, fuel, fiber, food, paper, medicine and more.

For better or worse, public perception of hemp has been inextricably tied to marijuana over the years. Despite its status as a viable cash crop, hemp hasn’t been able to shake the stigma of drug culture that surrounds it like a hazy, green cloud. That’s a real shame because hemp can be used to fashion any number of high-quality goods and accessories. Hemp t-shirts are eminently comfortable, and hemp twine is among the strongest available.

Canada, France and China are the primary producers of industrial hemp, and the United States leads the world in importing the material. The difference between hemp and marijuana is not immediately apparent to the naked eye, but there is one crucial distinction. The active ingredient in cannabis, THC, is almost entirely absent in hemp.

Knock, knock. Who there? It’s Mother Earth here to say, “Please take care of me.” Not such a funny joke is it? Well neither is the idea of humans destroying the natural wonder and innocence of our planet.

As an environmental activist, I know it’s important to speak out against people who promote harmful lifestyles like smokers or those who drive SUVs. Green living is more than an idea or a movement; it’s become a way of life. People need to open their eyes and see that our existence will only continue to sustain life as long as we have a planet to call home. The rapid and current destruction of earth is no laugher matter; it’s about as funny as it would be to get kicked in the privates. In addition to keeping our planet safe and clean, it’s up to every individual, who wants to do their share to protect our environment, to preach the word of protection and harmony to the outsiders.