Just when we thought that bamboo was the perfect eco-fabric: sustainable, green and a wonderfully soft, we hear some disturbing contrary opinions. It is often the case that things seem too good to be true or things look good on the surface but can be misleading.

We haven’t given up on bamboo – but it does require a careful look because as is often said, “the devil is in the details”.

Bamboo crop:

Did you know that there are more than 1000 species of bamboo? It happens to be one of the most renewable resources on earth and one of the fastest growing - it grows at a remarkable rate of four feet a day. Practically all the bamboo comes from China. It is a renewable and sustainable resource that requires low amounts of water, and does not require artificial pesticides or fertilizers … It is also fully biodegradable. A great feature is that bamboo is abundant in many rural areas where economic development is limited, so it can provide significant social benefit.

The bamboo fibres, correctly described as “rayon from bamboo” produce clothing which is soft and durable especially when combined with organic cotton. The hollow fibres of bamboo give it remarkable breathing properties and so it is able to absorb moisture for greater comfort.

The Concerns:

From forest to closet it is all about supply chain…one needs to be concerned not only with the links in the chain but also the process at each step.

Farming - Bamboo is grown in plantations and in general is free from concerns but we might want to ensure the farming processes used are organic.

Processing - Harsh chemicals, such as caustic soda, may be used to break down the bamboo fibres. It is important to know how carefully the process is controlled and whether the harmful compounds are allowed to escape into the environment. Caustic soda is approved for use in textiles under the Global Organic Textile Standard. The key issue is whether the chemicals are recycled or disposed of appropriately.

Fabrication - Although the bamboo fibres are acceptable and “green”, the blending fabric may not be (such is cotton or synthetics that are not organic).

The Mark - Check for a certification mark that signifies material sourcing, process details and testing completeness.

Along the way companies make choices in how to do things. As a consumer you have a choice too. Don’t be afraid to ask questions!

Editors note (Trevor Smith):

Green Cricket bamboo products from our supplier Guats are made from “Tenbro” fibres. Tenbro fibre is certified to the Oeko-Tex Standard 100 which guarantees thorough testing throughout the supply chain, from raw material through intermediate processes to end product fabrication. The testing is for substances and chemicals, regulated by law and known to be harmful to health.

All process parameters are carefully controlled and 100% of the caustic soda is recycled.

As earth’s population continues to grow, more people are beginning to understand the impact of feeding six-billion hungry mouths. Harmful pesticides and modern farming methods contribute to both global warming and the overuse of natural resources, meaning it’s increasingly important to wonder about the future of this planet. Part of the solution lies in choosing eco-friendly products. This will reduce the impact of your carbon footprint and help sustain earth’s resources.

Best of all, Green Cricket (www.greencricket.ca) has you covered. Regular cotton is one of the world’s most important crops and accounts for 16% of global pesticide use. On the other hand, our adult and baby clothing is made from organically grown cotton, leading to healthier soil and cleaner air. It’s the same with our coffee which we import from various organic suppliers around the world. The flavour is superb and there is far less damage to the soil than with conventional methods.

Again, as we look towards the future, it is imperative to choose products that will help sustain our natural resources. Green Cricket has plenty of eco-friendly options, including chemical-free cleaners, biodegradable leaf bags and stainless steel water bottles. Each is designed to keep our world clean, while recycling material whenever possible. With Green Cricket, it’s easy to make these choices and keep earth healthy for generations to come.

[written by Dan Levine]

We always associate fall with back to school.

For some of us, our child is beginning school, for others a student has left to begin college or university, some are experiencing an empty nest for the first time, others are returning to take courses as mature students.

But it’s back to school for all of us as we learn more about the impact our choices are having on the environment and in turn, the effects the environment has on us.

THIS YEAR why not take another step or two more in a green direction!

For school and office there are increasingly green options: paper, pens, pencils, markers, backpacks, drinking bottles, lunch boxes.

And, if a student you know has gone off to college or university, consider sending them a care package! Fairtrade organic coffee and chocolate are good companions on those essay-writing “all nighters”!

But watch out! Greenwashing* is all around us….  Greenwash (verb): the act of misleading consumers regarding the environmental practices of a company or the environmental benefits of a product or service

Have you seen examples of Greenwashing? Tell us about them. What specific topics are on your mind? How can companies like Green Cricket help consumers make better choices? We try to help with our Green Cricket Rating System for each product we sell.

Don’t be shy - reply to this blog - we appreciate your feedback.

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*TerraChoice Environmental Marketing, a leading environmental consulting group and developer of the EcoLogo third-party certification program has developed The Six (now seven) Sins of Greenwashing.

This summer has provided a new opportunity to be outdoors with my son, as, thanks to his grandfather, he’s lately embraced fishing as a pastime. Pulling fish out of the water is a great activity to take on with a kid; not only can it be exciting and a way to get some sun and fresh air, but it also provides a great backdrop to discuss concepts such as the food chain (from small fish to big fish to humans), animal rights (is it fair to use worms? Is it fair to eat the fish?), and ultimately the state of our lakes and animals that live in them. Namely, why it’s not always safe to eat the fish we catch. Talking about this last point with him had me reflecting more deeply on the impacts of humans on the fauna of our planet. Some points for consideration:

• A recent study of fish in the Great Lakes by the conservation group Environmental Defense found high levels of PCBs and mercury were present in specimens caught and concluded  “a fifth of the 2009 advisories examined in this report were for zero consumption levels, meaning it is not safe to eat such fish at all. This is unacceptable, from recreational, economic, and human health perspectives”.  These chemicals are entering the lakes in small amounts through sewage, but more dramatically from emissions from coal-burning power plants.

• Conventional growing of products such as cocoa and coffee beans requires the clear cutting of large swaths of rainforest and the use of pesticides to make up for the loss of nutrients in the soil that occur when growing a single crop year-round. This results in the loss of natural animal habitat causing migration and imbalance in food chains as well as pesticide leach into the groundwater that affects the water supply of wildlife in the region.

• It is estimated that over the past 60 years 5% of the world’s post-production plastic has entered the world’s oceans; approximately 100 million tons. According to the UN, this has resulted in almost 46,000 pieces of plastic debris floating on the surface of every square mile of ocean, 70% of which is plastic bags. It is projected that humans use approximately 1 million plastic bags per minute, usually for an average of just 12-20 minutes and recycle only one in every 200.  Many of these bags, once disposed, end up in the ocean where they are mistaken for food and kill many species of birds, whales, dolphins, seals and turtles each year through suffocation, poisoning and drowning by being entangled. (more…)

When talking to people about buying green I feel it’s important to point out that being a green consumer can take many forms or “shades”. There’s being green by buying local in an effort to reduce one’s carbon footprint. There’s being green by following the three R’s. There’s being green through efficient use of fuel and energy. All these shades lessen our impact on the planet; some even have the benefit of improving our personal wellbeing. That said there is a shade of green that provides a third benefit: safeguarding the health of those involved in the production of the goods we buy; and that’s through buying organic; particularly when it comes to cotton.

Conventional cotton is one of the world’s most chemically treated crops, consuming 10 percent of all agricultural chemicals and 25 percent of insecticides. That adds up to 1/3 of a kilogram of chemicals just to produce enough cotton for a single pair of jeans! The impact of all this chemical usage however isn’t felt by those wearing the clothing in question but rather by those that must live around and work with the cotton crops on a day-in-day-out basis. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), 20,000 deaths occur each year from pesticide poisoning in developing countries, many of those from cotton farming. (more…)

Organic coffee - Is it better than non-organic coffee for the planet and for you?

Green Cricket coffee is certified organic.  But what does that mean? Is organic coffee better for you than non-organic coffee?  Does it taste better? 

Some research suggests that drinking organic coffee is better for you. In addition to being rich in antioxidants (as is all coffee) organic coffee is free from chemical pesticides and fertilizers. (Conventionally grown coffee is one of the most chemically intensive crops in the world, commonly treated with endosulfan and chlorpyrifos, both highly toxic endocrine disrupters as well as diazinon, a substance that inhibits neural function.)

Drinking organic coffee is also socially responsible. Growing organic coffee is healthier for the farmers that tend to and harvest the crop, and the does not leach chemicals into the soil or local water supplies.  This results in reduced toxic impact on the whole community and wildlife (particularly birds).  Cultivating organic coffee is better for the environment. Organic famers use biological pest control, composting, terracing and intercropping, all good land stewardship practices.

(more…)