Although environmentally and health conscious
consumers have traditionally favored natural fibers – primarily
cotton – over synthetic clothing, cotton is one of the most
environmentally unfriendly crops grown. But a new organic fiber
industry that is rapidly developing across North America will
help solve the problem of what to wear. Consumers now have their
choice of a growing selection of clothing, bedding and other
products made from organic cotton, wool, linen, hemp and flax.
“Apparel and home textile products
made with organic fiber demonstrate a growing commitment by
manufacturers to the environment and acknowledge the growing
sector of environmentally conscious consumers,” says Katherine
DiMatteo, executive director of the Organic Trade Association
(OTA), which represents the organic industry in North America.
Wool
The organic wool industry is still tiny, but growing steadily, like
its other organic fiber counterparts. It is attracting attention
from companies that produce bedding material like futons,
mattresses, comforters and even chairs. Most mass produced bedding
contains synthetic fibers that are treated with petrochemicals,
formaldehyde, bleach and chemical fire retardants. These chemicals
are not healthy for anyone and can create adverse reactions in those
who are particularly sensitive. The natural properties of wool make
additives unnecessary, hence no harmful off-gassing.
Companies in the furniture and bedding market are
taking advantage of the growing supply of organic wool. Some of
them, like Maine Merino, make an effort to support not only
sustainable agriculture, but also small, local, independent
growers.
The OTA surveyed the organic wool industry in
2002, in collaboration with the National Center for Appropriate
Technology’s Appropriate Technology Transfer in Rural Areas
(ATTRA) program and the Vermont Organic Fiber Co. They found
that 30,000 pounds of organic wool was harvested from
approximately 2,300 sheep raised organically in the United
States and Canada during the 2001 season.
Hemp
Hemp is another burgeoning natural fiber industry. Hemp, which
can be grown without herbicides or pesticides, has been used for
centuries in household linens and work clothes because its
fibers are four to six times stronger than cotton. It is now
making a comeback and the U.S. Department of Agriculture has
recently started advocating the use of hemp clothing for all
landscaping workers because of its natural hypoallergenic
properties.
Cotton
Of all organic fibers, organic cotton appears to have caught on the
fastest. Well-known international clothing manufacturers and small
businesses alike are incorporating organic cotton into their
apparel, with sales currently growing at close to 40 percent a year.
In addition, organic cotton appears in a variety of personal hygiene
products, home furnishings and more, an industry that expects its
sales growth to average 67 percent a year.
As a result of increasing interest in organic cotton, it is
estimated that over 12,000 acres of organic cotton are now grown in
the U.S. In 2000/2001, approximately 6,000 metric tons (slightly
more than 14 million pounds) of organic cotton were grown in 12
countries, according to the Pesticide Action Network of the United
Kingdom. However large these numbers may seem, they represent just
0.03 percent of worldwide cotton production. Internationally, Turkey
and the United States are the largest organic cotton producers.
Other Fibers
New innovations blend organic cotton with the silky fibers of the
soybean plant, and use environmentally friendly processed bamboo
fiber.
As the organic fiber market matures, producers are turning
their attention to the manufacturing process, ensuring that workers
have fair wages and healthy working conditions, often through an
affiliation with fair trade organizations.
Organic apparel and household items are a natural choice for
those who want to support sustainable environmental practices and
preserve the planet’s fragile ecosystems with choices beyond the
foods they eat. And the designs available today prove that consumers
need not compromise their values for style.
Wendy Priesnitz is the Editor of Natural Life Magazine and a
journalist with over 35 years of experience. She has also authored nine
books.
Visit her
website.
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