With all the talk of eco-friendly this, and go-green that, is it any wonder why being politically correct with our green living jargon is becoming seemingly more and more difficult? When it comes to the world of textile goods, this confusion doesn’t cease to exist, but hopefully with a little help from our Top 10 Eco-Friendly Textile Terms, it will make your next purchase of Earth friendly fabric just a little easier.
1. Biodegradable: fabric fibers that break down naturally with the assistance of microorganisms (ie cotton, linen, wool, silk)
2. Organic: free from harmful chemical pesticides and fertilizers; involving only natural animal and/or vegetable based ingredients.
3. Sustainable: of or relating to a method of harvesting or using resources so that the resource is not depleted or permanently damaged.
4. Eco-friendly: used to describe fabrics, goods and services that cause very little, if any, harm to the environment.
5. Recycled: fabric that has been extracted and reused instead of put to waste.
6. Chemically Optimized: fabric whose content has been optimized to eliminate toxicity to human health and the environment. (ie chemicals and dyestuffs like carcinogens and mutagens)
7. Compatible for End of Life: fabric made up of one or more fiber types with no contaminants as so to maximize biodegradability or recycling value.
8. Solution Dyed fiber: means that color is added to the whole of the fibers while they are in a liquid state during the manufacturing process. the color is integrated into the fiber itself allowing it to be cleaned with bleach yet still retain its color. this dye stuff is of a natural base.
9. Oeko-Tex Standard 100 Certification Seal: globally uniform testing and certification system for textile raw materials, intermediate and end products at all stages of production. the system tests for harmful substances that are prohibited or regulated by law, chemicals that are known to be harmful to health, and other health safeguarding parameters.
10. National Organic Program (NOP) Seal: develops, implements, and administers national production, handling, and labeling standards for organic agricultural products, including textiles and clothing.
Organic Kona Cotton Fabric
Natural Bamboo Fabric
Innovative Sea-Tiva Cotton
It’s been nice to see movement in the commercial textile industry as far as chemically optimized, or bioactive, fabrics. I wonder, have they made the jump into residential use, or are they just too costly right now?