Do you love the idea of a diamond engagement ring but cringe at how most diamonds are mined? We’ve partnered with Clean Origin to introduce you to “lab-grown diamonds,” diamonds that are just as beautiful as mined diamonds but much better for people and the planet. Read on to learn more about these beautiful gemstones and why they’re such a good match for your values as well as your special day.

What Are Lab-Grown Diamonds?

Lab-grown diamonds are identical to mined diamonds both visually and chemically. In fact, the only way to differentiate between lab-grown and mined diamonds is through the microscopic laser inscription on the bottom of the stone (mined diamonds have these, as well). Jewelry experts can’t tell them apart without it, and neither can consumers!

The labs where the diamonds are made use advanced technology to mimic the natural processes that cause diamonds to form from carbon underground. So, they are not cubic zirconias or other “fake” diamonds.The main difference between lab-grown and mined diamonds is the time they took to form and where they come from.

Why Are Lab-Grown Diamonds Better Than Mined Diamonds?

Diamonds are notorious for being mined by underpaid, overworked men, women and children who are subject to dangerous working conditions. Mined diamonds result in one injury for every 1,000 workers annually, reports Clean Origin. “Blood” or “conflict” diamonds may also be used to fuel civil wars and purchase weapons.

Diamond mines take a terrible environmental toll, as well.

Says Clean Origin, “for every carat of diamond that is mined, nearly 100 sq ft of land is disturbed, while almost 6000 pounds of mineral waste are created.”

How Do You Choose a Lab-Grown Diamond?

You choose a lab-grown diamond the same way you’d buy any diamond: according to budget, design and aesthetics, and ring size.

As far as budget is concerned, Clean Origin recommends you get a good idea of what your budget is, or could be if you wanted to save for your purchase. Keep in mind that, due to the shorter supply chain and lack of mining, lab-grown diamonds can be “anywhere from 20-30% less expensive than mined diamonds,” the company says.

“Don’t make the mistake of going over the budget,” the company recommends. “It’s easy to convince yourself to spring for the giant sparkler” but instead, aim to get a great deal on a gorgeous ring.”

Of course, purchase a beautiful ring you’ll love wearing. Lab-grown diamonds come in the sizes and shapes you’d expect to find in settings featuring mined diamonds, including round, cushion, heart, oval, emerald, pear, princess, radiant, and marquise,

Last but not least, make sure it fits! If it’s a surprise, to determine your partner’s ring size you might have to do a little sleuthing and be a little sneaky. One of the most common ways to learn your partner’s ring size is to discretely measure their ring finger with a piece of string. However, if you aren’t able to do that, simply check out your partner’s current ring collection.

If your partner wears rings, pick out a ring that they have comfortably worn on their ring finger and take it into a jeweler to have it measured. If you’re unable to get it out of the house without suspicion, mark where it falls on one of your fingers and show that to the experts.

One Other Benefit With Clean Origin: Recycled Precious Metals

In addition to producing ethical, eco lab-grown diamonds, Clean Origin sets them in gold and platinum that have been recycled. Why?

“Similar to diamond mines, gold mines have their own dark secrets, environmental impact, and unethical practices,” declares the company. “At Clean Origin, we are doing everything we can to stay away from supporting these types of activities.”

“All of our precious metal is certified by the Responsible Jewelry Council to be recycled. This ensures that the quality behind our metal is just as high as what would be originally sourced from the earth — just without the negative impact.”

With lab-grown diamonds, you can celebrate your engagement (or any special event) with the beautiful ring you want that’s also produced in the way that stays true to your values.Take a look at Clean Origin’s virtual showroom today.

FAQ’s (answers provided by Clean Origin)

Are there any stores where people can go to try on Clean Origin diamonds, or does it all have to happen online?
All shopping takes place online, which has been especially helpful for couples during COVID!

What if someone orders a diamond ring from you, it arrives, and they don’t like it?
We have an extremely generous 100-day return policy.

How long does it take from ordering to receiving the order?
All of our rings are made to order, so from placing your order to receiving it at your front door, it usually averages about 10 days. However, with COVID, we are adding some cushion to that promise and looking at closer to a month.

How long will a Clean Origin diamond last?
Lab-grown diamonds are exactly the same as mined diamonds. “Our Diamonds Are Forever”.

Can people buy Clean Origin diamonds separate from a setting if they want to come up with their own design?
Yes! Any diamond can be purchased on its own.

The post Lab-Grown Diamonds Help You Buy An Engagement Ring That Matches Your Values appeared first on Big Green Purse.

                  SAYA DESIGNS RECYCLED WOOD HAIR PINS

Looking for a beautiful eco stocking stuffer? These recycled wood hairpins from SAYA designs are pretty sweet. The How-To Tutorials they come with offer lots of styling tips so you can take full advantage of the pin. Plus, they’re the perfect size for a holiday stocking stuffer. Just sayin’!

SAYA sponsored this post so we could tell you all about them.

What’s So Special About SAYA?

SAYA Designs was created by Victoria, who was motivated by her “deep love of nature, a growing awareness of environmental issues, and a desire to create things with a real story to tell.”

She got the idea while working on the Indonesian island of Bali. As she began looking for a more purposeful career, she visited multiple forestry projects, attended sustainability conferences with local artisans and came to understand the bigger picture around deforestation.

She decided to start her own business after her boyfriend inspired her with a gift of a beautiful Chinese hairpin. She used her graphic design skills as well as her passion for Nature to take Bali’s waste forest material – in this case, the roots from wonderful tropical trees that had been cut down – and turn it into something beautiful and purposeful, while giving back to those dedicated to protecting our planet.

Benefits of SAYA Recycled Wood Hairpins

For each hairpin purchased, SAYA plants up to 10 endangered trees.

“Planting trees is one of the best ways to fight climate change,” Victoria says. “Trees not only absorb carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. They also provide a habitat for a diverse range of species in the rainforest.”

Plus, harvesting the roots to convert into hairpins helps restore forest health. Tropical hardwoods grow very slowly and regenerate poorly after logging. They’re often taken from forests in non-sustainable numbers and illegally. The roots can take hundreds of years to decompose. Recovering the roots helps prepare the soil for new trees.

SAYA’s beautiful stick designs are made from rosewood, teak, or tamarind. Because they’re individually handcrafted, no piece is exactly like any other. Each is also unique based on the grain in the wood. The item arrives in recycled packaging with a protective fabric sleeve to keep it safe while traveling.

Sticks work for hair of all lengths: short, medium, and long. Tutorials show you how to work with each design to achieve beautiful hair fashion, like how to use the Banana Leaf hairpin (pictured below) to make a beautiful high plait, what you might also call a French braid.

The Barrette hair fork (below) is able to hold large amounts of hair in place. It works wonders for long, thick hair.

The Moonflower (below) is an eco alternative to a synthetic scrunchy. It also suits longer, thicker hair.

You can get more information about SAYA Designs and their exquisite recycled wood hairpins right here! (When you get yours, please send us a picture!)

The post Recycled Wood Hairpins Make Beautiful Stocking Stuffers appeared first on Big Green Purse.

1) Shop at vintage and value outlets before you buy new. Plastic-free guru Beth Terry told me that when she wants new clothes, she just means “new to her,” not necessarily bought new at the store. I’m right there with her. I needed a dress for a friend’s wedding recently. I found a gorgeous beaded gown at our local vintage shop, and it only cost me $30.

2) Shop at online consignment shops. Online consignment stores like thredUp offer thousands of brands, styles, and sizes at a highly discounted price. Plus, you can ship your own clothes off to them and make a little money back that you can either use to purchase other clothes on ThredUP or redeem them for cash on PayPal.

3) Borrow or exchange. That’s what girlfriends are for, right? And sisters, neighbors, people in your social network…you get the idea. Going skiing but don’t have ski pants? Surely someone you know does. Need an ugly sweater for a holiday party? Put out the word. Especially think about borrowing accessories like purses, belts, scarves, gloves, shawls, and other items that can work regardless of size.

4) Buy clothes made from recycled materials. I’ve stopped recommending clothes made from recycled plastic bottles. Micro plastic pollution in the ocean has become a huge environmental problem, and tiny clothing fibers are one factor. But other materials are being recycled into couture, including rubber tires and even coffee.

5) Look for ethically made, Fair Trade Certified clothing. There are so many benefits to buying Fair Trade clothes, we did an entire post about it here. Some of the best reasons: it’s better for people, since no little kids are allowed to work their fingers to the bone making you a pair of shoes or knitting you a scarf. It’s very stylish and trendy. And it’s increasingly available, especially online at stores like Nomad, where this dress comes from.

6) Make it vegan. Shoes, coats, jackets, belts, purses, jewelry, they’re all made without using animal products, either leather or animal tissue products. I have shoes made with hemp uppers and rubber soles, sweaters made from hemp rather than wool, and purses made from cotton and hemp rather than leather.

7) Order organic. Twenty-five percent (25%) of the world’s insecticides are used to grow cotton, though not all of the insecticides sprayed stay on the crop. A lot of it drifts for miles and lands on other food crops and residential areas. Still, it takes one pound of chemical fertilizers and pesticides to conventionally grow the three pounds of cotton needed to make a T-shirt and a pair of jeans. When you buy clothes made from organic fabrics, you take pesticides out of the equation.

8) Learn to sew. Sewing your own dress, pants or shirt will give you a new appreciation for what it takes to produce a garment. But if that sounds like it will require too much skill, talent or time, at least learn how to sew a seam, put back a button, or patch a tear. These are very easy repairs to make and will extend the life of your clothing significantly. If you really don’t feel like you can tackle something like sewing back on a button or repairing a seam, your local dry cleaners can probably do it for you. But before you give up, check out these Easy Sewing for Beginners videos.

9) Set your own style. The fashion industry has developed so that it moves fashion trends in and out of stores faster than the seasons change. This practice has led to clothes that are made poorly, often by people working in sweat shops, because it’s expected that they’ll quickly be replaced by whatever the newest fashion trend is. You’ll be an eco fashion queen if you set your own style, based on a look distinctive to you and well-made clothes you can dress up or down depending on your mood, event, season, and style.

Want to recycle your own clothes? Check out our post, “It’s Easier Than You Think!”

GD Environmental: Wales’ Leading Waste Management Company, GD Environmental, plays a vital role in helping larger companies achieve their green missions by operating an environmentally friendly waste management company which recycles 96% of waste and diverts 100% of waste from landfill to recycling. If you’re based in Wales, and looking to improve the sustainable performance of your business call GD Environmental today on 01633 277755 or visit www.gd-environmental.co.uk.

NOTE: Sponsorships help us bring you important information and expertise at no cost to you. Our editorial opinions remain our own. Thank you.

The post The 9 Best Ways to Dress Like an Eco Fashion Queen appeared first on Big Green Purse.

1) It’s Better for People – That’s where the “fair trade” part comes in. In the case of Nomads’ operations, no children under the age of 16 make their products. Men and women receive equal pay and opportunity within the workplace. The company pays men and women the same pay plus pays a fair wage to all workers that is either at or above the national average. And to ensure safe working conditions, workers receive regular breaks and holidays.

2) It’s Better for the Planet – That’s where the “organic” part comes in. Cotton has the second largest agricultural use of pesticides in the world. Twenty-five percent (25%) of the world’s insecticides and more than 10% of the world’s pesticides are used on cotton. The worst part is, not all of those pesticides stay on cotton fields. It is estimated that only 25% of pesticides sprayed from a crop duster actually hit the crop. The rest drifts for miles and lands on other food crops and residential areas. Make no mistake: these pesticides are harmful. Four of the top nine pesticides used on cotton are classified as cancer-causing chemicals (cyanide, dicofol, naled, propargite). According to a 1997 study by the International Labor Organization, 14% of all occupational injuries in the agricultural sector and 10% of all fatal injuries can be attributed to pesticides. It takes one pound of chemical fertilizers and pesticides to conventionally grow the three pounds of cotton needed to make a T-shirt and a pair of jeans.

3) It’s Stylish and Trendy – Designers who are creating fair trade organic fashion seem to be way ahead of the curve when it comes to creating hip and flattering styles that don’t look like what every other person is wearing. They’re distinct without being outrageous (unless you WANT to be outrageous – you can find that, too.).

4) It’s Affordable – Fair trade organic fashion won’t break the bank. In fact, prices are very comparable to what you’d expect to pay for a product that is quality made, unique, and beneficial to the people who made it.

5) It’s Available – An increasing number of retailers are carrying fair trade organic fashion on their racks. But you’ll find an even greater selection online. Blouses, dresses, coats, scarves, pants, and more are easily available.

6) It’s a Great Way to Use the Power of Your Purse – At Big Green Purse, we’re big advocates of shifting the way we spend our money to products that offer the greatest environmental benefit. We also like using our spending power to inspire corporations to be more responsible environmental citizens. Whey you buy fair trade organic fashion, you’re not just doing something for yourself, the people who made your clothes, and the world we all live in. You’re sending a direct message to companies that they need to clean up their act if they want your business (and believe me – they definitely want your business!).

Don’t believe me? According to Nomads, in 1997, large apparel companies purchased 2.15million lbs of organic cotton, which eliminated an estimated 43,000 lbs of pesticides and 485,190 lbs of synthetic nitrogen fertilizer. Over the years there has been a gradual increase in developing and executing products manufactured by using organic cotton. As a result of consumer interest, organic cotton fibre is used today in everything from personal care products (sanitary products, make-up removal pads, cotton puffs and ear swabs) to home furnishings (towels, bathrobes, sheets, blankets, bedding), child accessories (toys, diapers), clothes of all kinds and styles (whether for lounging, sports or the workplace) and even stationery and note cards. In addition, organic cottonseed is used for animal feed and organic cottonseed oil is used in a variety of food products, including cookies and chips. More organic products are being developed with less environmental impact, thanks to the power of the purse.

What to Look for When You Buy Fair Trade Organic Fashion

Documentation – The most reputable companies back up their claims with third-party certification or independent verification. For example, in the case of Nomads, their factory in India meets the guidelines laid down both by Skal, an organic certifying agency based in the Netherlands, and by the American Organic Trade Association. The company also abides by requirements that keep organic cotton separate from conventionally grown cotton at all production stages. Care is taken to protect the organic integrity of the fiber. The fabric is processed with low impact dyes and finished with prescribed agents only. Organic fiber products are stored such that contamination from environmental sources and prohibited substances is avoided.

Waste Handling – Also consider how a producer handles its waste. In the case of Nomads, waste fabric from their garments is recycled to make bags and rugs, and saris are recycled to make new garments, as well.

Philanthropy – Finally, look for companies that give back some of their profits to help support the communities they care about. Nomads supports charities in India that encourage the education of rural children, provide community health services, and support shifts to an agricultural economy based on growing herbs, which are less susceptible to the impacts of climate change.

Whether you’ve never bought fair trade organic clothing before or your closet is full of it, take a look at what Nomads has to offer to get an idea of what’s available. While you’re on their website, make sure you read the inspiring story of Duncan and Vicky, the company’s founders. They met in India in the late 1980s, pretty much broke but enthralled with the people they met their and the clothing they made. A shared love of India and its culture inspired them to start up the company that is Nomads.

Like I said, fair trade organic fashion rocks!

RELATED:

Green Shopping Guide Principles

Organic Clothing, Hemp and Bamboo

The post Top 6 Reasons Why Fair Trade Organic Fashion Rocks appeared first on Big Green Purse.

CHOOSE SAFE AND HUMANELY PRODUCED WOOL

The trick is to find wool that is not just eco friendly but humanely produced. Many people feel like wool is the ultimate natural fiber. But remember – it comes from sheep, which may be brutally injured during the shearing process. In fact, popular merino wool has been particularly singled out because it can be so cruel to the animals. Why? Merino sheep have wrinkly skin. That allows them to produce more wool, but it also means that the sheep may suffer from greater infestations of flies. Many farmers employ a painful technique called mulesing: without using painkillers, they cut chunks of skin from the sheep to discourage flies from laying their eggs in the skin or wool. Ouch!

Plus, many farmers spray toxic chemicals directly on to sheep to kill other pests. Those chemicals may do more harm to the sheep than kill pests; they may also get into the surrounding environment and threaten the farm workers who are managing the sheep.

If the sheep are farmed in Australia or New Zealand, they may be exported to the U.S. or other countries before they’re shorn. According to Hearts.com, about 1% of those sheep die during the journey due to crowded, disease-infested ships and inhumane conditions. (In comparison, here’s how one Maine farmer raises his sheep organically and humanely.)

THRIFTING, SHOPPING & KNITTING YOUR OWN

Given how wonderfully warm and cozy wool is, many folks (including me) don’t want to give it up if we can find it made by a producer that makes the animal’s welfare a priority. Here are three options to consider:

Thrifting: Before buying new, head over to your local thrift or vintage store and check the sweater racks. Chances are you’ll find a gently used, warm woolen sweater at a bargain price. The advantage of buying used is that you don’t create a market for new, painfully produced wool. Plus, by extending the life of a gently used sweater, you maximize the value of all the resources used to produce it. It doesn’t hurt to save money buying used or vintage, either!

Shopping: If it’s a new sweater you want, check out these shops. All produce their products without mulesing their sheep or spraying or dipping them in pesticides. Look for labels that indicate the wool is both cruelty-free and organic.

Rambler’s Way – Makes women’s and men’s pullovers, long sleeve shirts, dresses, scarves and more.

Wool Works – Find short scarves, classic wraps and hand and leg warmers (they call them “spats.”)

LunaPortenia – An Etsy shop specializing in 100% organic wool that is hand spun and dyed with vegetables, leaves and roots. (see coat pictured above left)

Smart Wool – You can find their socks and tights in many boutiques and in outdoors stores. Online, shop for sweaters, jackets, scarves and underwear.

Knit Your Own: It may be easier to find ethical yarn and make your own hat, socks or sweater than to buy them. If so, you can get high quality, humanely produced, eco-friendly yarn and patterns from The Green Mountain Spinnery, The New Lanark Organic Wool Spinners, and O Wool, in addition to many other options.

Do you have a favorite humane and organic wool company? Or have you found another fabric you prefer to wool? Please let us know either way.

WHAT ELSE DO YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT THE POLAR VORTEX?

Is there a connection between the polar vortex and climate change? Here’s what I think.

The post Fight the Polar Vortex With Warm Wool Sweaters and Socks appeared first on Big Green Purse.

First, “Jane’s” shoes are fashionable and fun. They’ve been designed by hipsters who took a couple of years to create a collection that’s both practical and trend-setting. Janes come in neutral shades for maximum wardrobe appeal – but the bright, bold insoles (with arch support) will make their own snazzy statement when you slip them off the next time you go through airport security.

They can fold up flat into a sleek carrying case if you travel a lot, or want
to keep a spare set in your purse so you have something stylish to slide into
when you can’t stand to wear your heels another second. They’ll work as well with leggings or jeans as with skirts or capris. I can imagine wearing them shopping, to work, to the movies, or out to dinner with family and friends.

But you know me. Style without substance just ain’t enough for those of us who care about people and the planet as well as products. What sets I Know Jane apart from other shoes is that they are both eco-friendly and empower the women who make them. How? They’re animal-free: no leather or wool here. The upper is made from 70% recycled cotton and 30% PET that comes from recycled plastic bottles.

The outsoles are biodegradable. Water-based glues are used in assembly to
reduce use of conventional adhesives that contain more toxic chemicals.

But there’s more. Most shoes are made in sweatshops by women who could be as young
as 15 years old. These women often lack a voice to stop abuse from shop owners,
abuse that may even include torture and death.
Through its socially responsible business model, I Know
Jane seeks to raise awareness about these women and does not use exploitive labor to assemble their shoes. In fact, I Know Jane’s shoes are made in a small, woman-owned, unionized factory in Brazil.

 I Know Jane is taking pre-orders on their new flats for spring 2013 delivery. You can place your order over at Kickstarter, where I Know Jane’sfounders, Jared (pictured right) and Simon, are selling their shoes and raising $35,000 in investment capital to ramp up production. (In case you don’t know about it,
Kickstarter is a grassroots online tool that lets people like you and me
pre-buy products like Jane’s shoes as a way of investing in companies we believe
in and products we want to support.) You can get a gift certificate if you want
to order a pair of Janes as a holiday gift.

Even if you don’t want to order shoes today, I hope you’ll consider giving I Know Jane a
start with a small contribution. Say Jared and Simon “…whether it’s $10 or $90, any bit
helps!”

One last point: Big Green Purse advocates shifting spending to greener products and
services as a way to protect our health and the health of our world. Investing
in new products like I Know Jane shoes is a perfect example of how we can make
our money matter.

The post These “Green” Shoes Will Fight Sweat Shops with Fashion – If You Give Them a Kick Start appeared first on Big Green Purse.

It’s actually a toxic solvent called perchloroethylene, or PERC. I get an instant headache if I’m exposed to it after as little as ten minutes; I don’t know how the cleaners themselves can tolerate it.  It’s also known to cause nausea and dizziness, has been linked to reproductive problems, including miscarriage and male infertility, and been blamed for disorders of the central nervous system. Bringing clothes that exude PERC into homes and cars can leave behind a residue that can rise above levels that are considered safe to breathe. How “clean” is that?

PERC poses an environmental threat, too. According to the Natural Resources Defense Council, the chemical generates toxic air pollution and hazardous waste in many of the communities where it’s used. In fact, says NRDC, three-quarters of PERC-using dry cleaners in the U.S. are estimated to have contaminated soil and groundwater where they’re located.

CLEANER, GREENER DRY CLEANING ALTERNATIVES

If you’d prefer not to bring PERC into your home, beware of cleaners that claim to be “organic” or green but aren’t. “GreenEarth” is the brand name for siloxane D5, a silicone-based chemical the manufacturer says degrades into sand, water and carbon dioxide. However, the EPA is still assessing whether siloxane could cause cancer. A 2003 study showed an increase in uterine tumors among female rats that were exposed to very high levels of these chemicals.

Also avoid petroleum-based solvents, sometimes marketed as Stoddard, DF-2000, PureDry, EcoSolve, and Shell Solution 140 HT. Yes, they contain organic chemicals, but they’re the “volatile organic chemicals” or VOCs that cause some of the same problems attributed to PERC.

The good alternatives?

“Wet” cleaning: This method uses water and specially formulated, nontoxic, biodegradable detergents to clean sensitive fabrics such as wool, silk, linen, and rayon. It is one of two processes considered environmentally preferable by the Environmental Protection Agency. It does not create toxic air or water pollution, nor does it appear to have negative health effects.  Just be sure that, before you turn your special fabrics over to shops that offer wet cleaning, you discuss the fabric with them to make sure wet cleaning is appropriate.

* Liquid carbon dioxide (CO2): EPA also considers this method preferable to dry cleaning, but it’s more difficult to find because the equipment it uses is expensive. Some CO2 cleaners also use a Solvair machine, which adds the toxic solvent glycol ether to the process; ask the cleaning company to explain their entire process before you do business with them.

* Find safer cleaning companies. Go to www.nodryclean.com to find the safest dry cleaners near you.

* Do it yourself? The Laundress has developed non-toxic and biodegradable cleaning agents you can use at home to launder your own fine and sensitive fabrics.

What else can you do to avoid PERC?

* Buy “wash and wear” clothes you can launder at home. Before you buy new clothes, check the label on the inside seam for laundry directions. If it says “dry clean only,” you might want to reconsider.

* Treat stains and dirt when they occur. For most fabrics other than silk, you can treat stains with soda water and a little gentle liquid soap, saving you the trouble of having to wash the entire garment.

* Wear cotton camisoles and t-shirts under hard-to-launder fashions. The underwear will absorb sweat and body odor and help extend the life of your more delicate sweaters and blouses.

* If you do need to go to a traditional dry cleaners, expose your clothes to the fresh air. Put the windows down if you’re driving home with the clothes in the car. Once home, take the clothes out of the plastic bag they came in and hang them outside.

Related Posts:

Dry Your Clothes for Free

For more great ideas on how to keep toxins out of your house, don’t miss this month’s Green Moms Carnival, hosted by Lori Popkewitz Alper at Groovy Green Livin.

The post Clean and Green Dry Cleaning Methods Reduce Your Exposure to Toxic Chemicals appeared first on Big Green Purse.

Because it’s botanically related to marijuana, many people believe that hemp is completely illegal to grow in the U.S. This is not the case, though it is not grown as widely as it should be. Industrial hemp is legal to produce, trade and possess in Oregon, Maine, Montana, New Mexico, North Dakota and Vermont, though the federal Drug Enforcement Agency has imposed some restrictions. To be absolutely clear, hemp does not have any of marijuana’s psychoactive properties. You can grow it, process it, eat it, and wear it, but you sure can’t smoke it, even if you set it on fire! Meanwhile, Americans spend $360 million every year on imported hemp, and that number is growing. Wouldn’t it make more sense to develop the industrial hemp market here in the U.S.?

WHAT’S SO GOOD ABOUT HEMP?

Hemp grows very well in North America with no artificial fertilizers and pesticides required. The entire plant can be used, from seed to foliage:   as a diet supplement, for biomass fuels,  to make paper, boxes and bags,  even as home insulation.

Hemp is also wonderfully durable. I have a hemp sweater that never seems to wrinkle or lose its shape, and hemp shoes I don’t think will ever wear out. If allowed to flourish, hemp could become the foundation for an amazingly sustainable industry

So…what are the downsides? 

Hemp loses some of its appeal depending on how it’s harvested and processed.

The preferable harvesting process is called “field” or “dew” retting: plant stems are cut or pulled up and essentially left in the field to rot, which will naturally separate the bast fibers from the woody core. This is the process used in countries that have stronger environmental regulations.

The alternative “water retting process” is not so eco-friendly. Instead of letting the plant stems rot naturally, they’re immersed in fresh water, which then needs to be treated and disposed of.

Either way, once the fibers are separated from their woody core, then need to be put through a mechanical finishing process. In China, where water retting is common, chemical methods are sometimes used to make cottonized or flock hemp. These chemicals also strip hemp of its naturally strong characteristics. Like most other fabrics, including bamboo and cotton, hemp is sometimes cleaned and softened with caustic sodas. This is not an eco friendly practice as it releases harmful chemicals into the environment.

Hemp can be produced organically, just as cotton can be produced organically. Unfortunately, the hemp industry lacks precise consumer guidelines and it is difficult to tell whether hemp clothing was produced in the most eco friendly way or if harsh chemicals were used.

ECOLUTION® is a European company that is producing hemp in exactly the right way, as you can see on their website where they posted a visual of their processing steps.

Another company to consider is Sweet Grass Natural Fibers , an one online store that makes all of its clothing in the U.S., uses no plastic packaging in shipping, and invests in renewable wind power.

SHOP OUR STORE

In addition to the retailers listed above, we hope you’ll browse our store. We’ve found t-shirts, dresses, shorts, skirts, and even shoes, made mostly with a combination of hemp and organic cotton. At the least, you’ll get an idea of the variety of fashions you can now buy that are made from hemp.

 RELATED POSTS

How to Shop for Eco-Friendly Clothing, Part 1: Read the Label

How to Shop for Eco-Friendly Clothing, Part 2: Try Tencel or Lyocell

Clothing: What’s Eco, and What’s Not

Bamboo: Green, or Green Washed?

Dry Your Clothes for Free

The post Shopping for Eco-Friendly Clothes, Part 3: Choose Hemp appeared first on Big Green Purse.

Lyocell, which is also sold under the trade name TENCEL® or Lenzing Lyocell, offers several advantages over conventional cotton and even rayon, another fiber made from cellulose. The trees Lyocell is made from are grown without pesticides, often in sustainably managed forests on land that’s not suitable for other crops. Though harsh chemicals are needed to soften the wood pulp so it can be converted into fiber, the chemicals are captured in a “closed loop” processing system so they can be reused rather than discharged into local water supplies. (NOTE: The Organic Clothing blog cautions people who are highly chemically sensitive to be alert to possible allergic reactions to TENCEL.)

Lyocell also offers advantages over cotton when it comes to water. According to this excellent analysis by the Natural Resources Defense Council, unless the cotton is only grown using rain water, Lyocell can end up using far less water to produce than either conventional or organic cotton. Sustainable textiles expert Coral Rose notes, “I strongly believe Lenzing’s products are a key component to any sustainable fiber strategy, when considering all the environmental impacts associated with fiber growing and production.”

New Innovations in TENCEL® are giving way to several variations of the fabric. TENCEL® MICRO is a very smooth silky fiber, while TENCEL® with Multitouch can be used to make heavier fabrics like denim.

Shopping for TENCEL®

TENCEL® products are widely available, some at very reasonable prices. Forever 21, for example, offers a severl TENCEL-based garments like this blazer.

You can also find a huge selection of TENCEL® clothing at Tianello.

To try out a TENCEL® sheet set, check out Downlite  or even your local Bed Bath and Beyond Store.

Use Your Purse!

The U.S. has an extremely high average fiber consumption per capita, approximately 41.8 kg per year compared to the international average of 10.5 kg per year. Clearly, how we choose to spend our money on clothing directly affects the environment. The next time you are faced with a choice between TENCEL® and cotton, choose the most eco-friendly option: TENCEL®.

For More Information…

Don’t miss Part 1 of our series, “How to Shop for Eco-Friendly Clothing”

You can learn more about Tencel if you read this interview with Coral Rose, who has been a featured speaker at events such as The ECO-SHOW, All Things Organic (ATO), and Texworld-New York, to name a few. In this article Coral points out how rare it is to find a company that answers the questions “what is the source of our raw materials? [and] Where were the materials harvested, processed, produced?” Her opinion on the environmental impact of fiber growing and production is that Lenzing Modal and Tencel come out on top.

Modal
Modal, which is also manufactured by Lenzing, is made from beech trees. Modal is highly absorbent and, like Tencel, resists fading.  100% Modal  is most often made into towels or bedding, though it blends very well with cotton and is another great choice for clothing.

The post How to Shop for Eco-Friendly Clothes – Part 2: Try TENCEL or Lyocell appeared first on Big Green Purse.

When that time comes, what should you look for? We’ve previously tackled the problems with buying apparel made from bamboo, even if it claims to be “eco friendly.” Organic cotton is among the most reliable options to choose; it’s gotten pretty easy to find socks, t-shirts, maybe even some lingerie made from this “green” fiber. But beyond that, the choices are pretty slim, especially if we still do most of our clothes shopping at the mall.

So if bamboo is out and organic cotton is hard to find, what does that leave? We’ll attempt to answer that question and more with this primer on how to shop for eco-friendly clothes.

Here’s Part #1 – Read the label.

When shopping for “greener” clothes, ignore words like “environmentally friendly,” “nature safe,” and “eco.” Instead, look for third-party certifications  for claims that mean the shirt or shoes or pajamas were predominantly made from sustainable fibers by adults, not kids, in a Fair Trade process that minimizes its environmental impact. The following companies certify companies that meet these criteria.

GOTS – The Global Organic Textile Standard

The raw materials that GOTS certifies must first be approved organic by a trusted company such as The Institute for Marketecology.GOTS will then review every step in the manufacturing process, from the harvesting of raw materials right through to proper product labeling. GOTS pays special attention to the dyeing process, as this can be extremely harmful to the health of workers as well as the environment. GOTS will not certify any manufacturer that uses any heavy metals, formaldehyde, GMO enzymes or carcinogenics.

GOTS is also very strict about environmental discharge during production and chemical residues in the finished product. GOTS will grade a product as an “Organic Textile” if it has at least a 95% organic origin. They will grade a product as “Textile containing organic fibers” if it has at least 70% organic origin. Several companies partner with GOTS and share their standards, including ICEA, based in Italy, ECOCERT, based in France , the Organic Trade Association in the U.S., Soil Association, based in the UK , and the Japan Organic Cotton Association.

Global Enfant sells baby and children s products that are both COTS and SA8000 (see below) certified.
Recycle a Tee also uses GOTS certified materials.

Oeko-Tex® Standard 100

Oeko-Tex is also recognized globally as a reliable and independent 3rd party eco-certification. The company will test and if applicable, certify textile raw materials, as well as intermediate and end products at all stages of production.  Oeko-Tex will allocate a product into one of four classes based on how much contact it has with skin. Products intended for babies, for example, must meet more stringent requirements than those woven into a woman’s blouse.

Eden Home and Green Earth Bamboo  both offer Oeko-Tex-certified clothing for the whole family.

SA8000
If a company states that it is SA8000-certified, it means it has passed a globally recognized social accountability standard for fair and humane working conditions. Specifically, products must meet the following criteria to be considered for SA8000 certification: No Child Labor, No Forced Labor, Proper Health and Safety, Workers’ Freedom of Association and Right to Collective Bargaining, No Discrimination, Reasonable Working Hours, and Fair Wages.

Fair Trade Certified You may already be purchasing Fair Trade coffee or chocolate. This certifying group now also certifying apparel and linens. If you are buying apparel that has been Fair Trade Certified, you can feel good about your purchase knowing that you are helping fight poverty and develop sustainability for some of the world’s most indigent cotton farmers and factory workers.

In the US, HAE NOW and Tompkins Point Apparel are among a handful of companies that have been Fair Trade Certified.

Read more about sustainable and eco-friendly clothing here. And check back soon for Parts 2 and 3 of our eco-friendly clothing series.

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