Celebrity Chefs like Jamie Oliver and Mario Batali have done wonders when it comes to encouraging the average household to be aware of the benefits of consuming a pesticide-free, fresh, seasonal diet, while beauty gurus like Leslie Kenton are all about approaching beauty from an integrated perspective, shunning toxic-rich creams and make-up in favour of natural, organic products made by companies that hold sustainability as a core value. When it comes to clothing, however, consumers can take a much more ‘relaxed’ stance, purchasing most of their items from commercial stores. In this post we present you with a few good reasons why, if leading a healthy, long life is your goal, there is no other choice but to go eco:
* Eco-Clothing is Toxin-Free:
Skin is not only our largest organ, it is, in the words of Leslie Kenton, “a multi-dimensional, interactive system of information, molecules, energy, cells and genetic messages – within our living matrix.” The skin absorbs the chemicals it comes in contact with, which is why so many consumers are turning to organic skin care and beauty products. Just think of the many patch-type medications that are rapidly absorbed by the skin; the same process occurs with the clothing we wear.
A recent investigative report carried out at Exeter University in the UK found dangerous chemicals in clothing items made by 20 of the most popular international fashion brands. One brand, in particular, was found to be selling items containing chemicals which are carcinogenic and hormone disrupting. Clothing from ALL brands tested, meanwhile, were found to contain nonylphenol ethoxylates (NPEs), which break down in water treatment plants and rivers into hormone-disrupting substances. Some also contained azo dye, found to be carcinogenic.
Among the 141 garments tested, four contained toxic phthalates, also commonly found in most commercial moisturisers and shampoos. Phthalates have been proven to be carcinogenic and mutagenic. They can disrupt reproductive processes in women and affect sperm quality in men. All this news is worrisome enough for adults, but what about for children, whose immune systems are much more vulnerable? The risk of exposing babies, toddlers and growing kids to these harmful chemicals is one that is simply too big to take.
* Eco-Friendly Clothing Keeps Skin Disease at Bay:
Natural fibers like bamboo are famed for their ‘wicking’ ability; by lifting moisture away from the skin and drying quickly, they inhibit the growth of harmful bacteria and fungi. Bamboo also contains anti-microbial benefits and is hypo-allergenic. Most eco-friendly materials (such as organic cotton) are a wonderful option for those suffering from skin sensitivity, since they are completely toxin-free and soft and comfy to use. They also afford greater breathability, which stops skin from getting too cold or too hot and keeps uncomfortable conditions, such as dermatitis, at bay.
* Eco-Friendly Clothing Keeps our Waterways Clean:
Just this month, Greenpeace reported that two of the US’s most famous fashion brands were dumping caustic chemicals (including NP, antimony and Tributyl phosphate) into the once-beautiful Citarum River in Indonesia. In the Upper Citarum region, some 68 per cent of factories produce textiles and dump carcinogenic and highly persistent chemicals into the waterways, with little concern, says Greenpeace, for the livelihood of local communities (including fishermen and farmers) or the health of the people living in the areas surrounding the Citarum (Jakarata, Indonesia’s capital, obtains 80 per cent of its drinking water from this river).
The pollution of waterways is not limited to the clothing industry or to Indonesia; in the US, for instance, improperly disposed medications are another source of toxic waste that finds its way into streams and drinking water, negatively affecting agriculture, wildlife and humans. It is easy to feel overwhelmed and powerless in the face of these industries, yet often, we unwittingly foster the continuance of these unsound practices through inertia, when it is within our power to make positive changes; in the case of skincare products and medications, we can take positive steps to dispose of them properly, taking unused medication back to pharmacies and using organic skincare ranges to avoid toxic build-up in the environment; in the case of clothing, the only way to make commercial brands sit up and take notice is by refusing to support any company that does not respect the environment, or the health of animals and humans.
by Evie Green
Ecopromosonline.com is one of the internet’s largest single sources for eco-friendly promotional products. Visit our website today and learn how you can GO GREEN!