Bisphenol-A (BPA) is a hormone-disrupting chemical considered to be potentially harmful to human health and the environment. It has been found that scratched and worn polycarbonate baby bottles can leach this chemical into liquids.
Jute is a long, soft, shiny vegetable fiber that can be spun into coarse, strong threads. It is produced from plants in the genus Corchorus, family Tiliaceae. It is one of the cheapest natural fibers and is second only to cotton in amount produced and variety of uses. Jute fiber is 100% biodegradable and recyclable and thus environmentally friendly.
Recycling is the reprocessing of old materials into new products, with the aims of preventing the waste of potentially useful materials, reducing the consumption of fresh raw materials, reducing energy usage, reducing air (from incineration) and water (from landfilling) pollution by reducing the need for "conventional" waste disposal, and lowering greenhouse gas emissions as compared to virgin production.
An elastic material obtained from the latex sap of trees (especially trees of the genera Hevea and Ficus) that can be vulcanized and finished into a variety of products
Hemp is harvested for its fibers for hemp clothing and seeds for hemp oil. With a relatively short growth cycle of 100-120 days, it is an efficient and economical crop for farmers to grow, however, industrial hemp cannot be commercially grown in the United States because it is erroneously confounded with marijuana. In fact, industrial hemp and marijuana are different breeds of Cannabis sativa. Smoking large amounts of hemp flowers can produce a headache but not a high!
Bamboo is one of the fastest growing plants on the planet and therefore highly sustainable. It is an incredibly versatile plant used for many everyday applications from flooring and wall paneling to paper and fabrics. Some of the processes through which Bamboo is turned from its raw form into usable products can have a negative environmental impact.
Post-consumer means any material that has been used by a consumer and then recycled for use in a new product. It is not the same as post-industrial waste, which is the reintroduction of manufacturing scraps into the manufacturing process.
Materials that are harvested in a way that reduces the environmental impact and ensures a replenishing supply of the material.
Organic cotton is grown using methods and materials that have a reduced impact on the environment. Organic production systems replenish and maintain soil fertility, reduce the use of toxic and persistent pesticides and fertilizers, and build biologically diverse agriculture. Third-party certification organizations verify that organic producers use only methods and materials allowed in organic production.
Energy Star qualifies products that are 10 to 25% more efficient than required by the federal standard while providing top performance and innovative features.
FSC is an independent, non-governmental, not for profit organization established to promote the responsible management of the world’s forests.