After last week’s discussion, I think you understand why it’s important to remember that whether one uses natural or synthetic dyes a major concern is not only what type of dye the dyer uses, but whether the dyer has water treatment in place! That’s because neither natural dyes nor synthetic dyes (plus the associated mordants, …
OK, I know it sounds self-serving to begin talking about the price of something when we’re in the selling business. But how many times have you bought something because of the low price? A new book by Ellen Ruppel Shell, called “Cheap: The High Cost of Discount Culture”, examines the price, value and cost of …
Last week we talked about the importance of livestock management in the battle against climate change. It came as a real revelation to this city girl that large grazing animals are a vital and necessary part of the solution to climate change. Sheep can actually help to improve soils, which improves the soil’s ability to …
The debate over sustainable agriculture has gone beyond the health and environmental benefits that it could bring in place of conventional industrial agriculture. For one thing, conventional industrial agriculture is heavily dependent on oil, which is running out; and it is getting increasingly unproductive as the soil is eroded and depleted. Climate change will force …
Synthetic fibers are the most popular fibers in the world – it’s estimated that synthetics account for about 65% of world production versus 35% for natural fibers.[1] Most synthetic fibers (approximately 70%) are made from polyester, and the polyester most often used in textiles is polyethylene terephthalate (PET). Used in a fabric, it’s most …
We just had a spectacularly beautiful July 4th weekend here in Seattle – temperatures were actually above 80, it was sunny and sparkling. It was just too much to post yet another bog about the dire state of our environment. So I was floundering around looking for some great new environmental news to share. I …
Shortly after noon on July 8 comes the moment when it will be, precisely, 12:34:56 7/8/9!
The mass of debris in the photo is, apparently, a tiny part of what the Wall Street Journal reports is afloat in the Pacific. Nobody really knows how big it is: “Some say it is about the size of Quebec, or 600,000 square miles — also described as twice the size of Texas. Others …
I just found the web site for Green Air (www.greenairradio.com) which bills itself as “a nationally syndicated news radio feature and multi-platform interactive hub for Green and environmentally significant news, stories and entertainment. It is comprised of a broad network of media professionals including producers, journalists, broadcasters, writers, photographers and filmmakers worldwide. Green Air creates, …
In honor of May Day and workers everywhere, I’d like to suggest that you check where your cotton comes from. Like extracting oil which has different energy requirements depending on where its found, there’s a lot of variation in cotton depending on where its grown. And cotton from Uzbekistan is not a good choice. Uzbekistan …
OEcotextiles 