42 replies to this topic

[SpiroFlo]

thordylan, on 05 December 2011 - 04:41 AM, said:

Do you consider disposable underwear as eco-friendly?

Edible yes, disposable no.

[yoder]

Don, on 09 October 2011 - 11:33 AM, said:

Does eco-friendly count if you shop at Goodwill? I've been finding great deals on my blue jeans at Goodwill the last few years. Seems that they're already produced, I'll wear them till their rags, and it doesn't necessarily add to the corporate demand for the product. Sounds eco to me!

Goodwill, Savers, Plato's Closet are all very good sustainable choices.

Edited by Hayden, 09 December 2011 - 11:31 AM.
Quote has spam link in it/removed per admin-no other text changed.

[yoder]

Joe Parker, on 01 December 2011 - 09:55 PM, said:

Environmental pollution is a big issue world over. Use of organic clothing is one big way to decrease the use of pesticides and harmful chemicals.With pollution making lives miserable, it is the need of the moment.

One of the things I've been wondering about is bamboo clothing.  Bamboo has been touted as a sustainable flooring, which depends on a lot of things, but I've also seen quite a lot of bamboo clothing lately.  I've also read that the processing of the bamboo to make the fiber for the clothing is very unsustainable, with toxic by products and a significant amount of energy needed to make the fibers.

I always go for the organic cotton whenever possible though, just because it means not putting more petroleum based fertilizer in the ground.

Edited by Hayden, 09 December 2011 - 11:32 AM.
Quote has spam link in it/removed per admin-no other text changed.

[Pushhyarag2000]

I am a bit confused by the use of terms 'Eco-friendly clothing' and 'recycled clothing' almost too interchangeably! Semantics apart, what I thought at first was use in the first place, of alternatives to synthetic fabric for clothing. Linen, for example is not synthetic [produced from nylon or polyester] and is therefore to be considered Eco-friendly. From a lean environment concern perspective, clothing perse especially cottons and other cellulose fabrics are biodegradable even if a lot of material is dumped as waste. But then, generally old clothing doesn't so much end up as garbage posing disposal problems as other non degradable stuff.

[jasserEnv]

The definition of eco-friendly is rather open to interpretation. This is especially the case with clothing. If you wear synthetics that can be recycled, is that better or worse than buying cotton which is a water hungry plant that take a significant amount of land area? In either case, unfortunately, recycling is not common and this is key in deciding whether or not clothing is eco-friendly. I tried to arrange a fabric recycling truck to come to an community event one time but after a number of days, I could not find anyone who recycled fabric. The closest thing that the companies I contacted could think of was Good Will and their clothing reuse programs. I looked at 3 major cities in my area too and found nothing.

[artistry]

Some time ago I saw a website that offered these type of items, but lately I have not seen any others. I am going to investigate the website you mentioned and see whst strikes my fancy. Thank you for the information.

[aruby1977]

The trend towards eco-friendliness is fascinating. There are limited carriers of biodegradable products in my area. I will keep watch more about clothing and accessories.

[Babyobesity]

I'm not an avid eco-friendly clothing buyer, but I have purchased some Hemp/Recycled Material shirts. The hemp allows the shirts to properly decompose, while mixing it with old torn up tires, and plastic bottles. It's unfortunate however that eco-friendly clothing is extremely expensive.

[jasserEnv]

Babyobesity, on 20 December 2011 - 07:02 PM, said:

I'm not an avid eco-friendly clothing buyer, but I have purchased some Hemp/Recycled Material shirts. The hemp allows the shirts to properly decompose, while mixing it with old torn up tires, and plastic bottles. It's unfortunate however that eco-friendly clothing is extremely expensive.

Part of the expense comes from the additional requirements associated with eco-friendly clothing and it being a new market. Ensuring sustainable sources, lack of pesticides in growing the materials and low pollution in the product manufacturing process adds costs in comparison to shipping product creation to somewhere like China where environmental standards are not enforced. As with any new industry, it will take time for the costs to be reduced as efficiencies are gained. In the mean time a choice to spend in this area is a decision to support those trying to move businesses in this direction.

[Shortpoet-GTD]

Babyobesity, on 20 December 2011 - 07:02 PM, said:

The hemp allows the shirts to properly decompose, while mixing it with old torn up tires, and plastic bottles.

WHAT?

[hatteubanal]

amylisa1127, on 24 September 2011 - 04:19 PM, said:

I find Eco-friendly facinating! You can buy a recycled handbag made from tires, or an organic blanket. There are so many great clothing and accessory options out there. I don't know about you all, but the area I live in does not offer many of these options for clothing so I have to drive or order them on-line. My favorite store online is whiteapricot. Any of you opt for green clothing?

I bookmarked whiteapricot. I will check it out later.

Monkey Doctor, on 28 September 2011 - 11:53 AM, said:

I know there is still a bit of a taboo about this but wherever possible I buy second hand clothes. this isn't because I am poor, it is because I think that we live in a culture where clothes in particular are seen as disposable items when they are most definately not disposable. I give my clothes to charity and wouldn't look down my nose on somebody who bought my clothes. This is becoming more fashionable though and the prices of second hand clothes has shot up in the last few years.

I am a frequenter of second hand clothes shops as well and I don't care about all the talks of it being unsanitary and all. Of course you should wash it thoroughly before wearing it. The upside on this is that you won't see anyone else wearing the same clothes as yours. :)

jliles6, on 12 November 2011 - 02:39 PM, said:

I must admit. I can't afford organic clothing, usually,

I too can't afford organic clothing because they are very expensive. I think they are great investments though and would like to own at least a few.

A Filipina designer has an eco-friendly clothing brand called EAIRTH. I know I can't afford them though. :( Their website is on the works. You might want to look it up.

[greenking]

Green clothing is the logical future of the green movement. Organic cotton can change our future. Why cloth yourself in products that will kill the planet we live on? =)

[greenking]

What is the greatest brand of green maternity clothes?

[rbaker_59]

Monkey Doctor, on 28 September 2011 - 11:53 AM, said:

I know there is still a bit of a taboo about this but wherever possible I buy second hand clothes. this isn't because I am poor, it is because I think that we live in a culture where clothes in particular are seen as disposable items when they are most definately not disposable. I give my clothes to charity and wouldn't look down my nose on somebody who bought my clothes. This is becoming more fashionable though and the prices of second hand clothes has shot up in the last few years.

I spent a lot of time around my grandmother growing up who believed that everything should be used until it fell apart and was not longer usable.  With this idea drilled in me, I feel the same way.  I also buy most of our clothes from thrift stores.  You are right about the cost going up, but it is still cheaper in the long run.  We, my daughter and I, have actually found new clothes with original price tags for thrift store prices.  I also take the clothes we no longer use and donate to the thrift store as long as it can be resold to help out the charities.  Clothes that are no longer wearable, I look for other uses, such as making quilts, cleaning, etc.  I don't feel it matters how much money you can afford to pay for the clothes, it is the idea of protecting the environment.  People tend to waste alot that goes back to damage the environment.

[hunysukle]

I've heard that cotton is eco-friendly, but I don't know. Hemp clothing may be eco-friendly, as well. I suppose clothing that is dyed with vegetable dyes are considered eco-friendly.  would like to find out more information about eco-friendly clothing.

[btatro]

Yes! I can't say I make it a point, but if I do come upon something I am likely to buy the Eco fiendly product vs others. I recently found organic leggings made from bamboo at a local boutique. I bought a few pairs for my daughter as she loves leggings. Slightly more expensive, but the benefits make up for that.

[redstarr]

I would love to see more clothing made out of Hemp. Back in the day, all clothes made out of hemp were so scratchy and uncomfortable. These days, they are able to make some really comfortable and soft clothing. I wish more companies would realize how much sense it makes to use hemp.

[4leafclover]

thordylan, on 05 December 2011 - 04:41 AM, said:

Do you consider disposable underwear as eco-friendly?

I can say yes because disposable undies are made up of biodegradable materials. They may add up to the waste count, however, once disposed, their entity as a garbage doesn't end there. They are a part of the ecological balance since their decomposition helps the environment.

Anyways, back to the topic. I had 5 handbags that are made up of milk pouches. You wouldn't really recognize that they are made out of trash because they really looked good and of strong quality. I was enticed to buy such materials because this saves waste, they're useful and proceeds of the income is given to support environmental campaigns. :)

[Anna T]

I think donating your clothes is a great way to recycle them. I donate absolutely everything we get rid of unless it's just so stained or ripped that I would be ashamed to.

I also buy second-hand clothing myself (but I admit not all the time). I have no issues with wearing used clothing and also no problem giving mine away.

[MyDigitalpoint]

In my city the actual trend is wearing t-shirts made of recycled PET bottles, a campaign by Coca Cola's Ciel bottled water brand.

I'm actually trying to switch to eco-friendly clothing but there are not much options in local stores yet.