Surprise! These 3 Materials are Actually Sustainable
Surprise! These 3 Materials are Actually Sustainable
Some materials that seem like they shouldn’t be are considered sustainable. So, what’s the difference between organic and non-organic cotton? How can wood be sustainable when harvesting contributes to deforestation? Aren’t vegan products better than animal-based ones?
We wanted to get to the bottom of this ourselves. We’re delighted to find some easy changes we can make for a more conscious future.
1. Cotton.
It’s the fabric of our lives, right? What could be bad about cotton? After all, it’s so durable that the use of cotton dates back to 5000 BC. (That’s 7,000 years!) Cotton also holds dye well and can be used for everything from clothing to upholstery.
But traditional cotton is processed using methods that are neither sustainable nor friendly to the environment. Growing cotton is resource-intense, requiring moderate climates and heavy water, no matter the type of plant. Plus, a lot of time is required to go from seed to sofa.
Organic cotton means the plants are grown without fertilizers or other pollutants, like harsh chemicals, from plants that are not genetically modified. It is then processed without chlorine bleaching. Farms that plant organic cotton pay close attention to water usage and, because there isn’t nasty stuff in the run-off, can reuse water in greywater systems or and keep nutrients in soils.
2. Bamboo.
It turns out bamboo isn’t just for pandas. Unlike trees, which take decades to grow to full size, bamboo goes from baby to grown up in just a few months. It’s actually not a tree but a grass that literally grows like a weed (or, ahem, as a weed in some places). This renewable material doesn’t require pesticides and needs little water to grow. After just five years, bamboo is ready to be harvested for use in flooring and other construction. Compare that to hardwoods, which are typically harvested after 50-100 years!
Bamboo can also be made into fabrics, with lyocell being the most sustainable, but is most commonly used in building materials. It’s typically processed in raw form using hydrogen peroxide, which quickly biodegrades, breaking down into water and oxygen molecules. The largest carbon footprint bamboo creates is in the shipping process, since it’s most commonly grown in Asian and South American countries and then sent all over the world. Also, different companies use different processes to treat and seal the wood (and some of those are more earth-friendly than others).
3. Leather.
The fashion industry is one of the biggest polluters, creating upwards of 10% of carbon emissions and 20% of wastewater. It’s time to make big, sweeping changes in the way we make things and the things we choose to buy and consume. And one of the ways Grows As It Goes is taking that on is by using leather.
Leather? Yep.
Vegan leather used to be called “pleather,” and the “p” stands for “plastic.” Hides from cows, bison, goats, and other animals are biodegradable and less prone to cracking, flaking, and the other stuff that synthetic materials do. Instead, genuine leather ages beautifully over time, gaining character and often becoming heirlooms. We only work with suppliers who use ethically-sourced leather that is a byproduct of the food industry and those who are certified in low-impact processing and dying in order to make the most environmentally-friendly products.