There has been a lot of attention given to the climate change debate in recent times. Both sceptics and environmentalists have been debating ferociously about the influence of mankind’s behaviour on the climate and what should be done about it.

However, climate change often steals the limelight from other environmental issues that are just as important and just as threatening as the effects of global warming.

There are many other reasons why we should be more environmentally aware and shop for more green and eco friendly products than just climate change and one important reason is Sustainability

Naturally human beings are quite greedy creatures. For generations we have plundered the world and taken what we needed but the Earth’s resources are limited and sustainability is one reason why we should be conscious about what we consume.

Regardless of the climate change debate, the fuels that supply us with energy to heat our homes and run our businesses, cars, hospitals and schools, will eventually run out. Cutting down on our energy consumption and monitoring our energy use is vital if we are to make the resources last as long as possible.

Alternative solutions need also be found and there are many eco friendly products that take advantage of green energy sources. Solar powered gadgets are one example. And a whole range of solar powered chargers, gifts and toys are available.

But sustainability doesn’t just include fuels. From what we eat to what we wear, we need to be conscious of what we are buying. Some fish stocks are running dangerously low and farming worldwide is stretched to its limit so its important we adapt our diet to ensure we can continue to feed ourselves.

Other items too such as cotton, silk, wood and other natural resources can be depleted by overuse. Sustainable alternatives are important in this area too like bamboo which is being used to make bamboo clothing which is just as soft and practical as cotton.

About · Alternative Solutions · Climate · Climate Change Debate · Cotton Silk · Eco Friendly Products · Effects Of Global Warming · Energy Consumption · Energy Sources · Energy Use · Environmental Issues · Environmentalists · Fish Stocks · Friendly · Gifts And Toys · Greedy Creatures · Green Energy · Just · Limelight · Richard N Williams · Sceptics · Silk Wood · Solar Powered Gadgets · Sustainable Alternatives

Textile Industries use different chemicals in different processes like, dyeing, finishing, scouring, bleaching, softening, washing etc. The textile chemicals & dyeing industry consume large quantities of water and produces large volumes of wastewater from different steps in the various processes. Wastewater from textile processing and dyeing containing residues requires appropriate treatment before being released into the environment. Interest in eco-friendly processing in textile industry has increased in the current scenario because of increased awareness of environmental issues.

www.fibre2fashion.com has got feedback from the eminent players of the textile industry regarding eco-friendly processing.

Huntsman Textile Effects

The textile industry is one of the largest industries in the world, employing over 25 Mio people. Consumers spend around $1.3 Trillion on textiles every year, most of it on clothes.

The study of the environmental impact of textiles is extremely complex. It is clear, however, that enormous amounts of water and energy are consumed in the production and care of textiles in addition to the transportation of the goods.

Huntsman Textile Effects is dedicated to provide innovative solutions to conserve the worlds resources in textile production and textile care.

Huntsman delivers innovative solutions for textile processes, which:

• reduce water and energy consumption during preparation, coloration and finishing

• reduce aqueous waste and off-gases

• improve process efficiency

• reduce exposure to hazardous chemicals

Serving Resources in Textiles:

Huntsman delivers a range of innovative effects, which:

• reduce the amount of energy required in the care of garments

• keep clothes fresher without washing

• keep garments looking new for longer

• reduce or eliminate the need to tumble dry or iron

• eliminate the need to dry clean

Living sustainability for all Huntsman Textile Effects (TE) associates is based on a solid foundation encompassing all aspects of Product Stewardship.

Product Stewardship demonstrates Huntsmans commitment to responsible care. It is an integrated business process for identifying, managing and minimizing the environmental, health and safety (EHS) impacts at every stage of a products life cycle.

Copyright © 2008

View Full Article

Aqueous Waste · Coloration · ecofriendly · Energy Consumption · Environmental Impact · Environmental Issues · Garments · Gases · Hazardous Chemicals · Huntsman · Industry · Innovative Solutions · Process Efficiency · Processing · Textile · Textile Care · Textile Chemicals · Textile Dyeing · Textile Industries · Textile Industry · Textile Processes · Textile Production · Trillion · Wastewater

Businesses are now taking environmental issues much more seriously than they used to.  It is no longer cool to give products away that are just going to be added to our already overstretched landfills.  This is why a lot of promotional products are being manufactured out of raw materials that are sustainable, recyclable, biodegradable and/or run off solar, dynamo or water power.  When considering promotional gifts for your clients, it is important to try to find products that serve a purpose so that they will be used and kept for a long time.   Do you see the added bonus here?  Gifts that are kept for a long time also promote your business for a long time.

It is worth noting that tying the gifts in somehow with what you do will help your customers remember you and your brand. Following are five product types you might like to consider for your top clients.  Although they may not all be ‘eco friendly’ there is a better chance that they will remain in your customers’ possession than a lot of the ‘eco friendly’ gifts on the market.

Organic Clothing:  The promotional gift industry follows trends.  Many of the products that are available for promoting your business were popular on the high street first.  There is a lot of certified organic clothing on the market for promotion.  These garments look trendy which means your customers are much more likely to wear them.  Look around and you will find everything for attractive pullovers to top quality organic cotton jackets.

Promotional Tools:  OK, it will be difficult to find an eco friendly tool but tools are normally kept and used for a long time.  By tools, I mean anything from a high quality screwdriver set to a wine set:  products that are a means to an end.  When purchasing good quality tools, think to yourself, will my customer be using this next year or is it too gimmicky?  Remember, ‘kept’ is good, landfill is bad!

Alternative Energy Products:  These are products that are charged by water, sunlight or a crank of some sort.  Alternative energy products are the in thing right now.  People love to show off a clock that runs on water or an MP4 player that is solar powered.  There are hundreds of such gifts available so have fun finding the best ones. Order early as the most popular are likely to sell out early.

Eco Desktop Products:  Whatever your budget, you should be able to find an eco friendly desk tidy or pen pot.  Again, just because a product is being sold as eco friendly does not mean it won’t find its way to your customer’s bin.  Look for useful products you know they will like and keep.

Promotional Bags:  Jute shopper bags are the bag of the moment.  They are inexpensive and a good eco friendly way of carrying the Christmas groceries.  But did you know there are also a lot of other eco friendly bags on the market that might be more appropriate depending on the business you are in?  There are good quality conference bags, laptop bags, suitcases etc that are manufactured in biodegradable and also organic materials.  Give your customers a quality bag and they will use it regularly.

Added Bonus · Better Chance · Christmas · Christmas Gifts · Clients · Consider · Eco Friendly Products · Environmental Issues · Friendly” · Garments · Gifts · Landfills · Means To An End · Organic Clothing · Organic Cotton · Popular · products · Promoting Your Business · Promotional · Promotional Gift · Promotional Gifts · Promotional Products · Promotional Tools · Pullovers · Quality Tools · Raw Materials · Searching · Solar Dynamo · Water Power · “Eco

theultimategreenstore.com is the best online green store ever seen for organic bedding, organic clothing, green cleaning. Every organic baby, Eco Friendly product you could ever want is available at the Ultimate Green store. If you are concerned about environmental issues, your health and the health of your baby,go to The Ultimate Green Store.com for the all natural, organic and Eco-Friendly Products including the best in green cleaning and organic bedding. Visit The Ultimate Green Store and leave a comment if you agree that this is the ultimate web destination for green shopping.

baby · Baby Bedding · Baby Product · Baby Store · Bedding · Cleaning · Cleaning Product · Eco Friendly Products · Environmental Issues · Green · Health · Organic · Organic Baby · Organic Bedding · Organic Clothing · store · Ultimate · Web Destination · Web Shopping

I’ve discovered a lot of great green and eco-friendly products since I started writing my blog, MissMalaprop.com, in August 2006. I’ve had the chance to personally test quite a few of them, and now there are green products that I absolutely swear by. Below is a round-up of some of my favorite green and eco-friendly products.

Everyday Green

Change can come in both big and small ways — one of my early posts was all about taking baby steps to changing the world. One of my favorite green blogs, Tiny Choices, also believes that small steps can add up to a big difference, as do the people behind Ideal Bite, which is a great free resource for learning easy ways to go green. Their daily email newsletter is packed with information and tips — I’ve learned about lots of environmental issues and solutions from their emails!
Choose to reuse! Envirosax reusable shopping bags are my personal favorite for grocery shopping and every day use. I keep at least a couple of these folded up in my purse at all times, and they fold up really small, so it’s easy! I’m also a big fan of the stainless steel water bottles by Earthlust. I keep mine with me at work and find myself drinking more water these days! Even choosing reusable chopsticks over disposables can add up to make a big difference. Reducing is another big part of helping the environment. I’ve written about lots of ways you can reduce and get rid of junk mail.

Carbon emissions are a big issue when it comes to the environment. One easy thing you can do is make sure to stop idling your car — whether it’s warming up in winter (most modern cars don’t need to do this anymore anyway) or keeping the A/C on when parked in summer, it’s bad for emissions and you’re wasting gas and money! I’m also a big proponent of shopping local as much as possible, for reducing food-miles and supporting the local economy.

Health and Beauty

Ever since I read the book Living Green, I’ve become way more aware of all of the nasty chemicals commonly found in things we use every day, and I find myself reading labels much more closely. (Check The Green Guide for a list of the top chemicals to avoid.) There are a couple of products I’ve tried out to see if they would be better than the mainstream alternatives, and now I swear by them.

Manor Hall Soap Company’s face wash is my absolute favorite. Not only is it all natural and made from organic ingredients, it’s also handmade! I was skeptical when I first tried Crystal deodorant, but now that I’ve made it through a summer using this stuff instead of antiperspirant with chemicals linked to cancer, I’m definitely a fan!

Anti-Body is a great fair trade company that makes fantastic body care products, including amazing peppermint lip balm that I use every night. If you’re an open-minded lady, check out my post on eco-friendly and handmade menstrual alternatives — there are a lot of scary chemicals in those traditional pads and tampons, not to mention the trash they produce!

Looking for a better toothbrush alternative? Check out Recycline’s eco-friendly toothbrushes and razors made from recycled plastics.

Home and Decor

Those scary chemicals? They’re not only in stuff we put on our bodies, but also all around our homes. Traditional vinyl shower curtain liners give off chemicals that you breathe in while you shower. I found an awesome recycled shower curtain called EnviroCurtain that works as both a liner or the only shower curtain you’ll ever need!

For greener cleaning alternatives, check out these awesome handmade eco-friendly dish sponges or try the range of Seventh Generation cleaning products, which is what we use at home. You can also make your own inexpensive cleaners at home using products that should already be in your kitchen. Soap nuts are another great all-natural alternative for not only laundry, but all sorts of cleaning needs.

If you’re in the market for a new mattress, and you want to go as green as possible, search Craigslist for an unwanted used mattress (these are often still in great condition!) or try one of the eco-friendly mattresses and pillows from Keetsa.

In search of a way to get rid of bugs and pests without a lot of nasty chemicals? EcoSMART organic bug sprays are safe around children and pets. And if you’re looking to green up your home office, check out The Green Office for lots of recycled office alternatives.

Fashion and Accessories

It’s becoming much easier to find more sustainable alternatives when you’re shopping for fashion these days, whether it’s clothes, shoes, or accessories, and whether you want mainstream brands or goods handmade by indie artists.

For shoes, try the vegan shoes and boots from TOMS shoes. They’re a really great company who gives a pair of shoes to a child in need for every single pair of shoes purchased, and all of their shoes are manufactured under fair trade practices. If you can’t get enough of flip-flops, give the eco-friendly fair trade flip-flops by Feelgoodz a try. (My friend Bridget did and she said they’re the most comfortable flip-flops she’s ever worn — and she’s an avid flip-flop wearer!) And if it’s running shoes you’re searching for, check out the eco-friendlier running shoes from Brooks.

For awesome indie eco-friendly fashion, there are so many great brands that I love! Gaia Conceptions eco-friendly clothing is one of my faves for great basics in solid colors and organic fabrics, and each piece is made by hand in the USA. I also really like the recycled garments handmade by Hayley Lau of heidi and seek ethical clothing. For eco-friendly fashion in a full range of sizes (XS through 4X), check out Mewv Sustainables.

Toggery by Kate D’Arcy is another up-and-coming eco-friendly fashion line. Everything is made in the USA, and each piece is classic — I have a top from here that I know I’ll love for a long time. The pieces from The League of Lovers & Thieves make me think of couture meets eco-friendly fashion, only at fairly reasonable prices. Their gorgeous clothing is to die for!

If you like cozy soft organic t-shirts, you’ll love Artevist, which is sort of like a Threadless for the eco-conscious set. If you want to get the most life possible out of your old jeans, check out Denim Therapy, which offers a specialized service to repair and reweave your favorite torn and ripped jeans.

Think eco-friendly fashion can’t be sexy? Lingerie lines like Sandmaiden sleepwear and lingerie and Enamore’s sustainable lingerie are out to prove you wrong with their stunning looks made from the best organic and sustainable fabrics.

There are all sorts of cool handbags and purses out there made from a variety of recycled and sustainable materials. I couldn’t possibly mention them all, but for starters, check out Ecoist bags, which are made from recycled candy wrappers and movie billboards, or take a recycled necktie clutch purse out on the town. For those who want something a bit simpler, Reware’s recycled bags are made in the USA and they offer not only purses but also solar powered backpacks that are great for guys and girls.

Books on Going Green

Want to find out even more about how to go green and make a difference? There are a TON of books on the market right now about just that. I’d never have time to read all of them, and I don’t expect that you do either, but here are a few that I have read and really enjoyed.

Living Green, which I mentioned above, was one of the first books I read about making the switch to a more sustainable lifestyle, and it really opened up my eyes to all of the toxins and chemicals surrounding us in everyday life. I’d definitely recommend it to anyone who wants a better understanding of how environmentalism is not just about the greater good, it’s also about your own personal health, and the health of your family.

Green Chic: Saving the Earth in Style is a fun read for ladies who want to go green but don’t want to have to sacrifice style to do so. It’s actually really informative while being a quick and easy read at the same time.

There are lots of books about going green that cater to specific events. The Green Bride Guide is a must-read for anyone planning a wedding. (Also check out my post about more eco-friendly wedding options.) The holidays can be another time of year that is traditionally pretty wasteful and consumer-driven. Green Christmas: How to Have a Joyous, Eco-Friendly Holiday Season is packed with tips on how to celebrate the holidays your way and keep the impact on the earth to a minimum.

If you’re trying to get your kids involved in going green, I highly recommend the Gaia Girls books. Even as an adult, I absolutely loved reading these, especially the second book, Way of Water. The whole series isn’t out yet, and I can’t wait to read the rest! (These are sort of like a eco-conscious Harry Potter.)

Books are filled with paper and that means trees have to be cut down to produce them. Try looking for publishers that use recycled paper and eco-friendly inks in their printing. (Most of the books mentioned above do.) You can also seek out ways to recycle books, whether by utilizing your local library or sites like PaperBackSwap that let you trade and recycle old books you’ve already read for ones you haven’t.

I hope this list offers a good starting place and some ideas on easy things you can do to change your habits for the greener! I’m always on the lookout for more eco-friendly alternatives. If you’re seeking a specific type of product and think that I might be able to help you find what you’re looking for, don’t hestitate to contact me, and I’ll try my best to help!

Baby Steps · best · Carbon Emissions · Chopsticks · Disposables · Eco Friendly Products · ecofriendly · Email Newsletter · Environmental Issues · Food Miles · Free Resource · Green · Grocery Shopping · Health And Beauty · Helping The Environment · Junk Mail · Modern Cars · Nasty Chemicals · products · Proponent · Reusable Shopping Bags · Small Steps · Stainless Steel Water Bottles · Steel Water