What is
Eco-Friendly Fabric and Clothing?
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There’s no doubt
about it, green is the “in” color these days. But
with so many claims circulating the marketplace,
how does one know that he is really purchasing
eco-friendly fabric or clothing? The answer lays
in quality assurance companies such as
greensafemark.com
or eco-tex. These third-party quality assurance
companies ensure that a fabric with an
eco-friendly claim truly follows eco-friendly
practices. So what is eco-friendly fabric and
clothing?
Eco-friendly
fabric is tested for chemical residue by
eco-labeling companies. In order to keep the
fabric free of chemicals, organic clothing
companies follow certain guidelines in order to
manufacture their textiles. It is a process that
cares for the environment and values human
dignity. This process begins with the farming
practices of those who grow the plant fiber, and
rigorously follows fair practices all the way
through to the people who sew that fabric into
clothing.
Organic fabric
companies prepare their soil through historic
farming practices such as crop rotation and
organic fertilizers. They control weeds through
insects and trap crops, rather than pesticides.
They wait for a natural harvest caused by freezing
temperatures or water management, rather than
forcing a harvest with chemicals. They use
natural corn starch to stabilize warp fibers. If
the fibers need to be whitened, they use peroxide
instead of chlorine. For finishing, the material
is soft scoured in warm water and soda ash.
Dyeing is done with natural materials rather than
harsh chemicals. They ensure that our waterways
stay clean by refraining from the use of heavy
metals for their printing processes. They have
strict criteria for how their fabric is
assembled. Sweat shops are not used. Human life
is valued not only by those who make eco-friendly
fabric and clothing, but also by all of the
consumers who pay for the clothing. While the
initial cost of organic material is more
expensive, the lifelong investment is priceless.
This is why organic consumers are willing to pay
more for that peace of mind.
With so many
companies claiming to be organic, it is difficult
to know whether or not a claim is backed by true
eco-friendly practices. You can know that a
fabric you buy is eco-friendly by looking for an
eco-label such as Greensafe Mark, Ecoproof, or
NATURTEXTIL just to name a few. Be cautious of
those who claim their fabric is eco-friendly, but
won’t submit to a third party for quality
assurance. An eco-label is the only way that you
can know without a doubt that the fabric or
clothing that you buy was manufactured using
eco-friendly practices. Eco-friendly material is
more expensive, and those who buy the products are
willing to pay the initial outlay because they
know that the long-term benefits are worth it.
However, there are those who may take shortcuts in
order to make more of a profit. This is why the
eco-label is so important. When you see an
eco-label, you know that the product you are
buying was produced without taking advantage of
those who would work for mere pennies a day in a
sweat shop. You also know that the environment
was not harmed to produce the fabric you wear.
Knowing that makes an
eco-label
worth its weight in gold.
