A lot has been done in an effort to get rid of plastic bags. Many corporate organizations and governments have attempted to them. But at the end of the day it boils down to the individual, not regulations, that will solve this problem (or any other for that matter, but that’s another topic for another day!)   As an individual you have the sole right to choose.  And your decisions can make the difference to the planet, one bag at a time.

So what’s the alternative?  What constitutes an “eco bag”?  Eco bags have always been around in the form of cloth and other sustainable materials that were used in ancient times. In the past, however,  they struggled to be cool.  While everyone would LIKE to do the right thing, not everyone looks good in Birkenstocks, carrying macrame shopping bags!   Fortunately,  a number of hip, fashionable and earth-friendly totes have come on strong to save our lands and oceans without compromising our cool factor.

Here are a few websites we’ve found that sell some trendy bags as well as other great stuff:

• Canby.co.uk – An environmentally focused company that has been selling carbon-neutral bags made from different recyclable materials since 2002. Jute bags are one of the most popular bags on this website. Most jute bags are colorful and come with trendy designs. These jute bags are perfect for users who like to throw their bag around. These rugged bags can carry up to 20 kgs of weight. The other options are cotton bags. Also, if you have a specific design in mind this website caters to custom orders.

• Reusablebags.com – Go to their website and you’ll see a number that keeps increasing, that’s a count of the number of plastic bags used around the world in this year. Since 2002 reusablebags.com has been trying to change the “use and toss” attitude by producing eco bags that can be used over and over again. They sell a variety of shopping bags such as canvas bags, thermal bags, heavy duty bags and a large variety of lunch bags. Apart from bags you can buy reusable water bottles, lunch boxes and home products. They also have a section for eco friendly people looking for a gift for someone.

• Envirosax.com – Envirosax is one of the biggest brand names in the environment friendly market. Started by an Australian couple in 2004 this company has been extremely creative in designing their products and using a number of different recyclable items to make their products. Their graphic series bags are some of the most fashionable ways in which you can help save the planet. These colorfully designed bags are made of lightweight polyester and are waterproof. Other varieties offered by them are organic series bags that are made with bamboo, linen or hemp; kids series bags and greengrocer series bags.

Technorati Tags: canby, eco bags, envirosax, greengrocer, jute, recycle, reusable bags, reusablebags

In today’s fashion era, designers all over the world are making a marked statement with Eco-fashion or Green fashion, making clothes that best suit the environment. These 100% organic fabrics are grown without pesticides or herbicides made from synthetic products. Not only this, these 100% organic fabrics are treated without chemical dyes or bleaches. Today clothing made from organic fibers such as organic cotton, hemp, soy silk, or bamboo are largely in fashion and widely used.

Not only this, dresses such as skirts, T-shirts, scarves, and matching accessories made from these organic fabrics are included in almost every fashion show and works of different designers including Marc Jacobs, Stella McCartney, Jil Sander, and Versace. And one such organic fiber is Hemp.

Used for making hemp curtains, valance, clothing, bags, jewelry, paper, and many more items, the stuff made from hemp material is stronger, durable, insulating and absorbent in nature. Primarily coarse in nature, the fabric was traditionally used for making ropes and canvas. After passing through the technological advancements in breeding the plant, the fabric available these days is much softer and finer and can be weaved into cloth.

Mainly processed in Romania, the European Hemp used for manufacturing home products and clothing is 100% organic in nature and is free from any kind of pesticides or chemicals. What’s more you can even dye in different shades too. You can select from a variety of products including hemp twines, ropes, fiber or fabrics to produce different products made from hemp which are not only comfortable but stylish and durable too.

But why hemp plant only? Well produced without any insecticides, this plant requires very little water to grow. The plant also doesn’t require any artificial fertilizers or synthetic herbs to grow quickly and densely. Not only this, the long and sturdy fibers of the plant make it last much longer and durable in nature.

The organic hemp plant has another characteristic too. It absorbs equal amounts of CO2 during its growing phase that will be released later when the plant is burnt for fuel or other purposes, and does not contribute to the green effect. However, due to organic properties of this plant, it is possible to substitute hemp for other material, thus reducing the effect of water pollution to a large extent. A non-combustible and non-toxic product in nature, hemp if cultivated in large quantities helps in conservation of natural resources.

However, growing of this product has been prohibited in the United States, since the report published by U.S Drug Enforcement Agency where all varieties of hemp have been classified as ‘marijuana’. The product, popularly produced as industrial hemp, is blended with organic cotton.

But this product is grown without any restrictions in other parts of the world, including Russia, England, France, Holland, Hungary, and China. This has led to manifold increase in cultivation of hemp from 50,000 tons in 90,000 tons in just a period of 4 years. However, this non-vegetable fiber is an unpopular product in US which will be grown only after the framers are reassured of not facing any prosecution from the Government’s side.

Technorati Tags: hemp, Jil Sander, Marc Jacobs, organic cotton, organic fabric, sustainable, Verace

And one such name is BrooklyNYC a renowned green, eco-friendly brand of clothes selling 100% cotton T-shirts. All the clothes manufactured and sold at BrooklyNYC that was launched in the year 2006, are 100% environment friendly or eco-friendly in nature. Reputed as the first Green Urban Clothing Brand, BrooklyNYC uses only non-PVC water based inks for Printing. These inks are environmentally safe and totally organic in nature. Not only this, the company uses recycled material too, such as the fabric made from soda bottles and a new synthetic material made of corn.

First, let’s understand the concept of eco-friendly in the context of garment industry. Well, this term implies to the garments made from 100% natural textiles such as soy, bamboo and organic cotton grown without the use of insecticides or bug killers. The company also trades in garments made of Lycocell or wood-pulp cellulose, Ingeo, and hump making the fabric extremely soft to touch. Not only this, at BrooklyNYC they believe in crafting fair-trade garments paying workers their reasonable dues.

As already mentioned, at BrooklyNYC all the inks used for printing T-Shirts are non-PVC based plastisol inks. The inks normally used to print most synthetic garments are highly toxic in nature. The PVC ink harm humans, especially babies if they even happen to lick the T-Shirts printed in this ink. Also, if this ink is not disposed off properly, it is equally destructive for the environment too. Because of this reason, it is officially banned in most of the environment-conscious places. However, the use of the T-shirts printed with Normal” PVC Plastisol ink is very common in the US, because they are far-more economical than non-PVC inks. Also, these inks suitable for screen printing can be used for mass production of T-shirts, unlike the clothing printed with non-PVC inks, which cost a lot more, but is gaining popularity with time.

The BrooklyNYC green clothing line makes use of non-toxic water-based ink for printing. It is more expensive, both in terms of resources and time, to produce water-based inks. Not only this, it is pretty difficult using these inks to print T-shirts too, However, these inks along with being soft, can be ironed over too. Therefore, at BrooklyNYC they only use water-based inks to make their line of clothing totally Green in true respect. Their clothing line for both men and women consists of unique creative tops for men and women in eye-pleasing styles and vivid colors, produced organically using safe printing methods.

Technorati Tags: BrooklynNYC, green clothes, non-toxic, organic, plastisol, urban clothing

You probably already know that cotton is most widely used crop in the worldwide textiles industry. Among the largest producers of cotton are China, the United States, India, and Turkey. However, along with the increasing demand for this crop come many heavy environmental consequences. A huge portion of these eco problems arise from the farming and harvesting of cotton as well as the manufacturing of cotton fabrics. In line with these growing global concerns, a healthier and greener alternative to clothing is making waves today – organic cotton!

What is organic cotton, anyway? If you have heard about organic veggies and meats at your local grocery store, then the same environmental principle applies with organic cotton. It has been a reported trend that farms today are going “green” with their agricultural practices, and in a way, giving the environment a break from all the toxins it’s been taking in over the years. Organic cotton is farmed in the most ecological way, without the use of harmful pesticides, genetically modified varieties, or synthetic chemical fertilizers.

Why should people opt to go “green” and choose organic cotton? Because cotton is a very in-demand crop worldwide, there is a huge dependency for farmers to use newer irrigation methods, diesel fueled machinery, as well as unnatural chemicals, herbicides, and pesticides to keep their cotton crops growing. Even in the tilling method for cotton farming, a significant percentage of land is eroded into the water systems, as reported by the Journal of Environmental Quality. The loss of soils poses a huge problem for many ecosystems. In Australia, environmental reports also mention that the massive amounts of synthetic nitrogen fertilizers used in cotton farms contribute highly to greenhouse gases. With the farming of organic cotton, however, these issues are avoided.

Organic cotton farms do not use artificial irrigation systems, and their crops are rain-fed. This greatly aids the efforts to conserve water, as well as reduces the risk of chemical leaching from irrigation systems to rivers and lakes. Also, organic cotton is harvested by hand, thereby removing the need for heavy machinery that use petroleum and that emit tons of carbon dioxide.

Another plus side of organic cotton is the issue of health safety. Since these fibers are all-natural, they are the best choice for baby’s clothing. As a matter of fact, even the farmers who work with organic cotton are kept away from health risks, as they are not exposed to toxic chemicals and noxious gases in their work place. I’ve said it before, but it bears repeating here: The cotton needed to make just one regular (non-organic) cotton t-shirt requires almost 5 ounces of carcinogenic pesticides! That’s what you’re putting on your kids’ backs each morning!

There are alternatives now. There are many shops that sell organic cotton shirts, pants, linens, and other products. Some people would admit that the emerging fashion trends of today are leaning towards the “green” side. This can be seen from major global brand names promoting organic cotton such as Nike, Nordstrom, Wal-Mart, Patagonia, Marks and Spencer and many more. Reports claim that the demand for organic cotton is expected to drastically increase over the next few years. One can only begin to imagine how good this will be for the “green” movement.

So you see, cotton can do more than just be a soft material that feels good when worn. All around the world, massive environmental efforts in terms of farming for cotton and other crops are underway. Organic cotton, and green clothing will not only make you look good, but will also make the earth feel good, too. When you make a move to support organic cotton, you also give the environment more room to breathe, today, and for many generations to come. That, probably, is the best thing about wearing “green”!

Technorati Tags: eco friendly, encironment, green, green clothing, greenhouse gases, Journal of Environmental Quality, natural fibers, Nike, Oprah, organic cotton, orgnanic clothing store, Patagonia, Wal-Mart

While organic clothing evolved from the movement of organically developed materials, sustainable clothing is more of an environmental consciousness that is slowly gaining momentum. Sustainable clothing also emphasizes upon the recycling of goods in our daily use. Essentials for a clothing material to be considered suited for ecological purposes, i.e. being sustainable:

• Clothing material is derived from renewable/recycled raw materials
• Efficient use of production resources such as energy, manpower and water with preference for using renewable inputs for manufacturing
• Creating absolutely safe clothing material with regards to consumer health and the environment

Some Of The Most Noteworthy Materials Used In Sustainable Clothing

1. Bamboo

Bamboo is best suited for clothing meant for the hotter temperatures. It can absorb the sweat and lets it evaporate within seconds. This creates a natural mechanism of dispelling heat and maintaining fabric breathability. New fabrics being created from bamboo are equally adept for keeping you warmer in colder conditions. Bamboo-created clothing is naturally anti-bacterial and odor free.

How is it sustainable?

• Bamboo grows without any artificial assistance, i.e. it is totally natural and sustainable as it doesn’t need pesticides and fertilizers
• Bamboo plant is not uprooted like other plants. This helps to maintain the soil’s stability.
• Bamboo yield in terms of per acre is nearly 10 times more than that for cotton
• More bamboo plantations will mean more neutralization of greenhouse gases

2. Lyocell

This is produced from the cellulose found in wood. This makes Lyocell one of the purest forms of sustainable clothing. The fabric adheres to all quality demands meant for medical or technical compatibility.

How is it sustainable?

• Its production is extremely eco-friendly and doesn’t use harmful dyes and chemicals and the Lyocell fiber is 100% bio-degradable
• The end product is strikingly similar to cotton and hence, this makes it a very useful substitute for current manufacturing demands
• Since, it is derived from wood, it can be regarded as the most replenishable and hence, the most sustainable form of clothing
• Cellulose extraction uses nearly negligible artificially-produced extraction agents

3. Hemp

It is famous for being the most durable among all natural fibers and is often called the miracle fiber. It is lightweight, long-lasting, highly-absorbent and much stronger than other fibers. It is best suited for outdoor wear being weather resistant.

How is it sustainable?

• Hemp crop does not need pesticides and uses a very little amount of water
• It is known for enriching the soil where it is grown since it has an exhaustive root system which also helps to prevent soil-erosion
• Extremely cost-effective to grow and has minimal agricultural requirements

4. Soy Fiber

Soy blended or pure soy fiber clothing has some excellent qualities like having a luster that is similar to silk and absorbs moisture like cotton. However, it offers the best of ventilation when compared with these two conventional fabrics.

How is it sustainable?

• Its manufacturing is an example of bioengineering and proteins are extracted from sources like soybean oil and soymilk
• This makes it a recycled product, since it is akin to creating something useful from a conventional manufacturing process
• It is highly sustainable since by-products like soybean dregs are further used as fodder or natural fertilizer

5. Organic Cotton

Organic cotton is a huge improvement over the traditionally-grown cotton. For starters, it is grown following strict regulations that prevent the use of chemicals that can enter the fiber. Even its harvesting is less automated to ensure that the soil isn’t being drained. Perhaps, the only natural resource it does drain to a certain extent is water.

How is it sustainable?

• Organic cotton is grown in a manner that actually replenishes the ecosystem rather than exhausting its nutrients
• It is grown without using conventional chemical/toxic pesticides or synthetic fertilizers
• Only certified or organic facilities are allowed to procure/manufacture organic clothing and they use only low-impact dyes or mineral-based shades that don’t affect the consumers or the environment

Technorati Tags: bamboo, eco fashion, eco friendly, hemp, lyocell, organic clothing, organic cotton, renewable, soy, sustainable clothing

Okay, so I like me a little soy sauce, soy milk and edamame. I even like the occasional soy burger. But who would guess that my latest soy passion is my soybean SWEATER!? Before you create images of tofu cardigans, let me tell you why I’ve left behind my old love, cashmere, for my new love, soy!

In the first place, there are no humiliated, bald, Kashmir goats running around anywhere devouring precious crops to support my addiction. Soy has for over 5,000 years been a healthy and sustainable crop used in the production of consumables such as food and drugs, valued as an affordable source of oil and protein. But recently (relatively speaking) some clever chap figured out to take the spent fibers that remained as “waste” after the production of milk and tofu, and spin it into a fabulous fiber that can be woven into sensuous fabric with the elegant luster and drape of silk! I’ve gotta meet this guy!

Woven soy fabrics have a soft smooth hand, comparable to that of a silk and cashmere blend. And they are stronger than wool, cotton and silk. It is the only natural fiber that is resistant to both fungus and moths! I’ll save a fortune from moth destruction alone! Soy is more fade resistant, pill resistant, wrinkle resistant, shrink resistant than cotton and silk. It absorbs moisture like cotton, yet vents even better, not to mention that it is anti-bacterial while providing great UV protection. What better fabric for outdoor-wear can you imagine. And those precious little goats get to keep their winter coats!

So even if you aren’t on the Sierra Club‘s mailing list and never plan to be, you still have to try out this amazing new fabric because everyone looks better wearing Green Clothes!

Technorati Tags: Cashmere, green clothing, Sierra Club, soy, soy sweater, soybean, sustainable fabrics