Originally Published April 10, 2012 Current awareness of the importance of reducing
our carbon footprint finds more designers and manufacturers producing ‘Green’ products. Today’s advertisements are laden with terms such as Organic, Natural and Sustainable. So what is the difference between each of these?
Organic pertains to something that is derived from living organisms. Organic Cotton then refers to cotton produced without the use of synthetic fertilizers or pesticides. Production may include the use of fertilizers or pesticides that are plant or animal in origin. Organic Wool, as another example, must follow federal standards for Organic livestock production. These standards include use of certified organic feeds, use of good management practices to maintain livestock health and adherence to the natural carrying capacity of grazing lands. Synthetic hormones, genetic engineering, synthetic pesticides, whether internal, external or on pastures, is prohibited.
Natural, as the opposite of artificial, means existing in or formed by nature. As an example lanolin, a greasy yellow substance, is a Natural product found on wool. Natural lanolin serves as a base for cosmetic products such as ointments and hand creams. Another example is Natural Dyes. The majority of Natural Dyes are vegetable in nature made from plant sources such as roots, berries, bark, leaves and wood but can also be derived from clays and minerals.
Sustainable refers to something that can maintain its own viability in a short amount of time allowing for its continual use. Hemp is a quick growing robust plant that grows in diverse soil conditions. As one of the fastest growing plants in the world Hemp also has a high yield ratio- about ten tons a year per acre-and it requires no herbicides or pesticides to grow. Hemp Clothing has become very popular especially with recent eco-friendly processes that soften the fibers. Another popular Sustainable material is Bamboo. Bamboo is a highly renewable grass used for anything from Clothing to Furniture to Kitchenware.
Do your part to reduce our carbon footprint by finding Clothing made from Organic Cotton or Organic Wool, Personal Care products comprised of Natural ingredients like Essential Oils, Aloe Vera or Chamomile and Furniture made from Sustainable materials such as Bamboo.
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