CLOTHING – THE CHOICES WE MAKE

NOT ONLY HOW WE WASH AND DRY OUR CLOTHES BUT WHAT MATERIALS THEY ARE MADE FROM IMPACTS ON THE EARTH

Sustainable clothing and green eco fashion have entered mainstream consumer consciousness with a barrage of recent media attention. But what really is sustainable clothing and is it different from organic clothing?

The sustainable approach is the emphasis placed on production, reuse and recycling of manufactured products.

• All energy, material, and process inputs come from renewable or recycled sources;

• All materials are capable of returning safely to either natural (biological nutrient) or industrial (technical nutrient) systems;

• All stages in the product lifecycle actively support the reuse or recycling of these materials at the highest possible level of quality;

All product lifecycle stages enhance social well being and support the principals of Free Trade

ECOSPUN

EcoSpun is a high-quality polyester fibre which is made from recycled plastic soda bottles. Many different fabrics are made using EcoSpun, including fleece fabrics which are warm, durable, weather resistant, lightweight and comfortable. They are very soft to the touch.
EcoSpun can also be blended with other fibres, such as wool.

these fabrics which typically contain between 70% to 90% recycled plastics might qualify as being sustainable

BAMBOO fabric is made from bamboo plants which are the fastest growing woody plants, and one of the most sustainable and renewable resources in the world.

Bamboo requires no pesticides or chemicals to grow, does not use excessive water and can actually help reduce global warming.

Bamboo fiber is a type of regenerated cellulose, that is produced from refined bamboo pulp through a patented technology. Bamboo fabric is naturally anti-microbial, cooler and has the ability to wick moisture away from the body. Bamboo fibre is 100% biodegradable. Bamboo thrives naturally without using any pesticides or fertilizers 

• As the fastest growing plant in the world, bamboo grows to its maximum height in about 3 months and reaches maturity in 3-4 years.  It spreads rapidly across large areas. Because of this, bamboo is known to improve soil quality in degraded and eroded areas of land. Bamboo is 100% sustainable

LYOCELL
A cellulosic fiber made from wood pulp, also known as tencel®. It is produced by a special spinning process that uses recyclable non-toxic slovents. This process makes it ecologically sound. Lyocell is also very fashionable due to its luxurious hand, drape, and comfortable feel on the body B8_s4_3

HEMP

Hemp is a very eco-friendly crop. It requires no pesticides and needs little water, yet it renews the soil with each growth cycle.

It's long roots prevent erosion and help retain topsoil.

Strong: Clothing made of hemp fiber is lightweight, absorbant and, with three times the tensile strength of cotton, strong and longlasting.

• Weather Resistant: UV and mold-resistant, hemp is excellent for outdoor wear.

• Versatile: Hemp can be blended with other fibers for different qualities in the garment. Hemp/silk and hemp/cotton garments are now available.

• Cost-Effective: Hemp is less expensive to farm because of its minimal growth requirements.

• Easy on the Environment: Hemp farming uses very little water, does not require the use of chemical pesticides or fertilizers, and is a readily renewable resource.

• Hemp is the most durable of natural fibers.

The cellulose fiber from hemp is used to make many products, including jeans, shirts, dresses, hats, bags, ropes and canvas, skin care products, building materials, paper and many food products. Until the 1920's, 80% of clothing was made from hemp textiles.

Nothing is wasted in the production process: seeds are used to make oil and food supplements, while the stalks are used for fiber. Hemp also produces more fiber per acre than trees, and can be renewed two to three times per year! Ensure your Hemp clothing is made from naturally grown Hemp (Most of China’s hemp production uses chemical fertilizers (defeats the purpose of sustainablitily)

Hemp is resistant to insects, making pesticides unnecessary for cultivation.

In addition, hemp grows so vigorously that no fertilizers are needed

hemp enables sustainability and prevents erosion on the farmed land.

hemp produces at least three times more fiber per acre than cotton plants and produces the most per acre of any other fiber source.
Each year, the energy used

to run an average clothes washer produces about 90 kilograms of greenhouse gas

to supply warm water for washing adds another 475 kilograms http://www.greenhouse.gov.au/gwci/clothes.html

Dry clothes efficiently

• Drying a load of clothes in a dryer generates more than 3 kilograms of greenhouse gases.

• Put them on the line or over a clothes rack!

• Some dryers automatically sense when clothes are dry. These generally save more greenhouse gases than those controlled by a timer, which often over-dry clothes.

• Spin-dry your clothes (on a highspin speed) to remove as much water as possible before you put them in the dryer – IF YOU MUST.

• Save up to 2 kilograms of greenhouse gas per load by hanging clothes on a rack B8_s4_4

Using the washing machine effectively

• Choose a washing machine size that suits your household.

• Wash clothes in cold water: you will generate less than a third of a kilogram of greenhouse gas per wash. Heating the water for a hot wash generates up to 4 kilograms of greenhouse gas.

• Avoid washing more loads than necessary: washing a full load or a few socks generates almost the same amount of greenhouse gas.

• Don’t waste detergent: it is expensive and making it generates about a third of a kilogram of greenhouse gas per wash for top-loaders—front-loaders use half as much.

• Using hot water for washers is more expensive and has more impact on the environment

• Using cold water will save 80 - 90% of the energy costs in washing.

• Use Biodegradable laundry detergents ~ they are inexpensive, effective , readily available.

Avoid "Wash Separately" Clothes

• Many new styles on the market have "wash separately" instructions on the care label.

• Too much time, water and energy is spent maintaining these garments, and add to their cost. Consumer rejection can discourage their manufacture.

Permanent-Press Clothing
Permanent-press clothing and no-iron bed linens are treated with formaldehyde resin which becomes a permanent part of the fiber. These impregnated fabrics "out-gas" toxic formaldehyde fumes throughout the life of the garment.

Style One of the main reasons we buy new clothing is 'style' WHY?

• new styles are often short-lived and the garment is discarded long before it wears out.

• Logo is style, and usually that style costs more. To offset the high marketing costs, workers' rights and environmental concerns are often compromised.

Recycled Thrift Shop Chic

• Shopping for clothes at your local thrift shop can be fun, cheap-cheap-cheap, and often yields a fabulous discovery to add to your wardrobe.

• buying second-hand clothing comes at no cost to the environment.

• Children usually grow out of, rather than wear out their clothes, and thrift shops can often have a good selection of children's clothes.

• And bring the kids to the thrift shop.....it's a good opportunity to teach them why you value used clothing. Teach them about the real costs of new clothing, and let them decide.

• Remember to donate your own used clothing too.

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