Green Clothes

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  • Cotton farming accounts for 16% of global insecticide use
  • 1/3 of a lb. of chemicals is used to make 1 t-shirt
  • Buy organic, not dyed (or naturally dyed), unbleached fabrics
  • Look for the Pure Grow certified organic wool label
  • Organic linen is available from European companies
  • "Wildcrafted" silk is produced without chemicals and pesticides and without killing the larvae as in traditional silk production
  • Use hemp fabric when possible
  • Hemp is naturally pest resistant and with better quality fibers than cotton
  • EcoSpun is fabric made of recycled plastic
  • Avoid synthetic fabrics because their production is harmful for the planet
  • Fabrics with permanent press, stain resistant, gore tex, etc. have numerous harmful chemicals
  • Minimize dry-cleaning because perchloroethylene is highly polluting to groundwater and is carcinogenic
  • Leather production uses chromium, which is considered hazardous by the EPA
  • Check Clean Clothes Campaign, Behind the Label, and the Fair Trade Federation to see which companies employ best and worst labor practices.
  • Buy high quality shoes to not have to replace them often
  • Buy recycled or used jewelry
  • Get a Certificate of Origin for diamonds and make sure that the supplier is not providing conflict diamonds. Also ask for the KPCS certificate for the same reasons.