Talking About Green

Going green is really about making small changes that have a positive impact on the environment, whether it is switching to glass water bottles or installing solar panels in your home for reduced energy use. Cloth products, such as unpaper towels, are one option that every family has, that can significantly reduce the waste that you produce each and every year.  Two of the best, and most popular, options today are organic cotton and bamboo fabrics.

Cotton is one of the easiest to find, most affordable types of fabric available. Organic cotton is made from cotton that is grown without the use of fertilizers and pesticides, but is also grown in a way that supports nature through the use of crop rotation and other natural methods. Organic cotton is readily available in clothing of all sizes, but bamboo is often a more budget-friendly choice. Bamboo is quickly becoming a common material in clothing, diapers, and other cloth products.

If you have been considering bamboo as an alternative to cotton, then you should consider the manufacturing process.  Bamboo is often treated with many chemicals, which creates the soft bamboo viscose that is found inside many cloth diapers, and is used in making hundreds of different types of clothing.

Bamboo is one of the fastest growing and most sustainable products on Earth, and can fill the need for textiles to make clothing, cloth diapers, and other products easily. The actual company that you are buying from is the best source of information on the fabrics and how they are manufactured, so that you can be sure the company is using an environmentally friendly process that meets your personal standards for organic clothing.

Look for companies with a clear statement on the manufacturing process of their organic cotton and bamboo clothing. If you are purchasing from a local company, or buying from an individual who makes artisan products, then you can simply ask them about the fabrics that they use in their products. Most large companies will have information about where their raw materials come from, and how they were harvested if they are selling organic bamboo or organic cotton products.

You can also check their manufacturing process to ensure there are no harmful chemicals used at any time during the process. Don’t rely on statements that imply the company confirms to the Oeko Tex 100 Standard, however. This standard is used at only one point during the manufacturing process, and doesn’t mean that no harmful chemicals were used later in the process.

Caustic soda is the main ingredient in processing for both of these fabrics, and is a chemical that most companies consider to be safe when used properly. When choosing the type of fabric that you prefer, it is often best to consider many factors including your personal preferences. It may be slightly more beneficial to purchase one type of fabric, but if you aren’t going to actually use the fabric and feel comfortable in it, then it is actually a waste that you can avoid.

Both organic cotton and bamboo have unique benefits. Bamboo is a great product that can be used for a diverse range of products, including flooring, clothing and fabric, and house wares. Cotton is durable and easy to care for, and is often more readily available than bamboo fabrics and clothing, however. The ultimate goal of using an organic, sustainable source for your clothing and cloth diapers is reducing the impact that you have on the Earth. Taking the time to check out the companies that you buy from is an easy way to do just that.

This was a guest post by Sandra Stevens. Sandra, aside from being someone who cares about her carbon footprint a little more than normal, also writes about being a nurse on her blog over at CNA Training Help