Heidi Mark is wearing a bamboo jumper by Carilyn Vaile
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
If you have a question that's not answered here, just contact us!
What are eco-friendly clothes?
Eco-friendly clothes are made from environmentally sensitive fabrics and responsible production techniques. The nonprofit Sustainable Technology Education Project (STEP) defines eco-fashions as clothes "that take into account the environment, the health of consumers and the working conditions of people in the fashion industry."" Clothes and accessories that meet such criteria are usually made using organic raw materials, such as cotton grown without pesticides, hemp, bamboo or re-used materials such as recycled plastic or re-purposed fabrics (like using vintage silk scarves and sewing them together to make a skirt). Eco-friendly clothes don't involve the use of harmful chemicals and bleaches to color fabrics - and are made by people earning fair wages in healthy working conditions. Clothing bought from vintage (second-hand) clothing stores are also considered eco-friendly.
What Fabrics Should I avoid and why?
The top six fabrics to avoid are:
- 1. Polyester
- 2. Acrylics
- 3. Rayon
- 4. Acetate and Triacetate
- 5. Nylon
- 6. Anything static resistant, stain resistant, permanent press, wrinkle free, stain proof or moth repellant.
These fabrics are chemically treated and are a source of toxins that adversely affect your health. Not only can they can cause cancer, but also the additives are often toxic to the human body because they contain heavy metals and other harmful additives. If you must buy any of these fabrics, wash them in hot water with a non-toxic detergent.
I already have a lot of clothes made from these materials. Do I throw them away?
No! That would be un-eco! The last thing we want to do is promote throwing anything away. Keeping as much out of landfills as possible is part of being green. We also want to conserve energy so we want to reduce more textile production of any kind. Keep what you have if you wear it. If you don't, then donate it or sell it to a second-hand store. Next time you shop, you'll be more informed so you can and make more eco-friendly wardrobe choices.
Why should I go green with my cosmetics and personal care products?
What you put on yourself eventually goes back to the earth. Green personal care products are better for your health, thus better for the planet. If you are a person who cares about your health, the wildlife, the oceans, and the quality of the food you eat, and the air your breath, your family, your friends, or just your dog...if you care about anything on this planet...you should go green. We feel happy just getting out of the shower knowing that the suds that went down the drain didn't harm the eco-system or us and so can you! With so many great products available, there so reason not too.
How do I shop for green or non-toxic cosmetics?
1. Read Labels
Be suspicious of meaning less words like "hypoallergenic" and "natural", the FDA has no control over these labels. Avoid fragrance. Even the term "fragrance free" means nothing other there is no perceptible odor- synthetic ingredients could have been used to cover odors.
2. Avoid Petrochemicals.
Petrochemicals are chemicals made from petroleum (crude oil) and natural gas.
These are petrolatum-derived ingredients like mineral oil, toluene and propylene. These are alarmingly common on labels. They make up household staples like Vaseline and rubbing alcohol. Not only are these toxic but also the contributing to petrolatum product consumption hikes up our oil/gas prices. Petrochemicals are bad for your health, the planet and the economy!
3. Go Organic
Stick to plant-derived ingredients that are organically farmed. Look for products that are certified organic. And always check the labels carefully to avoid the many the mislead consumers into thinking they are getting something natural. For instance, you may think that a product is safe because you bought it at a high-end health food store...not the case. Always check to make sure there are no petrochemicals or harmful preservatives like parabens (methylparaben, propylparaben).
4. Be a product detective!
Look up products that have been tested by the Environmental Working Group for safety.
Go to the Cosmetics Safety data Base (www.ewg.org/reports/skindeep). Notice which the companies the have signed the Compact for Safe cosmetics.
5. Recycle Look for recyclable packaging, and recycle it! Notice which companies offer incentives for returning their containers for recycling. If you want to buy a safe product but it's not in recyclable packaging, be creative and re-purpose that jar or container for something else.
Why don't I read articles about safe cosmetics in my favorite fashion magazines?
Look at all their ads and you have your answer. These magazines are funded by major cosmetic companies. They pay for the advertising space, so the magazines won't expose them...the magazine can't bite the hand that feeds them, so to speak.
What makes Steven James May a green photographer?
1.Though he has film capability from 35mm to 8x10, he uses all digital and has not shot film in over 5 years. And that means no chemicals, no paper waste, no plastic waste, no canister waste.
2. Instead of expended film canisters and excess plastic film tossed in the landfills, memory cards are reused. Over its lifetime, any given single memory card can potentially replace 15,000 rolls of 35mm film.
3. OS virtualization is used eliminating the need for dedicated hardware to run niche operating systems.
4. Most computer systems are 'headless', with no attached monitors, thus conserving power, heat and space.
5. Monitors are low power LCDs.
6. When time to be retired from active duty, most equipement used in the business is either put into storage, recycled or donated to charities that can use older equipment. Used CDs, DVDs, broken monitors and computers - any electronics no longer viable are all sent to recycling companies.
7. Active Power management on all systems are in place.
8. Marketing is internet based. Print marketing materials (Promo pieces, business cards) are printed only as needed as opposed to the traditional method of lithographically printing thousands at a time.
9. Most business is conducted over the Internet using a combination of eMail and teleconferencing. Monitor calibration and softproofing eliminates potentially thousands of matchprints and inkjet proofs over the year.
10. Recycled paper and soy ink are used when possible.
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