Green Your Bathroom

What are the key reasons why you should consider upgrading to eco-friendly bath linens and shower curtains? What will it do for you and you family? What can it do for the environment?

There are three key reasons to consider eco-friendly bath linens and shower curtains:

(1) They are healthier for your family: Persistent toxic chemicals (such as dioxins) are off-gassed from traditional vinyl shower curtains made from polyvinyl chloride (PVC) . These toxins build up in the body over time and are easily passed to children in the womb and through breast-feeding at the most vulnerable time in their development. Accumulation of even small amounts of dioxins in the body can lead to serious health disorders including birth defects, reproductive harm and cancer.

(2) They are healthier for factory workers: Some textile manufacturers use unfair labor practices such as child labor, low wages and unsafe working conditions. In particular workers making PVC products are exposed to unsafe levels of dioxins.

(3) They are healthier for the planet: Through the production process of PVC, dioxins enter the atmosphere and fall on local farms, contaminating the soil, groundwater, plants and animals we often eat. Dioxins have been linked to severe reduction in wildlife populations. And because PVC material is not recyclable, it ends up in landfills, further poisoning the groundwater. As for bath linens, growing conventional cotton for example requires massive amounts of toxic pesticides while the bleaching and dyeing of conventional fabrics also creates toxins that flow into our ecosystem.

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What should you consider when looking for products that are eco-friendly? Are there certain types of certifications that you should look for? How can you make smart choices and not fall victim to “green-washing?"

You should look for three things: (1) types of materials used, (2) the manufacturing process and (3) any relevant trusted third party certifications.

(1) Materials used: Look for naturally growing, non-toxic, pesticide free materials such as organic hemp, organic cotton, bamboo and wood pulp (from sustainably managed forests) or items made out of recycled materials. Here are some of the best fibers for bath linens:

• Organic cotton is grown without synthetic pesticides, synthetic fertilizers or genetically engineered seeds. One type of fiber, FoxFiber, is a color-grown organic cotton bred using sustainable agriculture (and not genetically modified) to grow in brown, green and beige colors, eliminating the need for the use of potentially toxic dyes.

• Bamboo is a fast-growing grass that can grow wild without chemical pesticides or fertilizers. It's naturally anti-bacterial (odor free), hypoallergenic, biodegradable, highly absorbant and amazingly soft. It can also be machine washed in cold water, saving energy of heating water.

• Wood pulp is even softer and silkier than bamboo or cotton. It's a naturally antimicrobial fiber, which helps minimize odor. Wood pulp can be harvested in ways that contribute to deforestation, there are bath linens made from wood pulp from well-managed forests (look for Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) certified).

And for shower curtains look for:

• Organic cotton: Organic cotton is made without pesticides or toxic chemicals. In damper climates you may still need a liner, but look for a PVC free liner of course.

• Hemp: The most popular alternative to vinyl curtains, hemp is strong, durable, naturally resistant to mold and bacteria, dries quickly and doesn't require a plastic liner. Hemp is a natural fiber that grows fast and uses significantly less water than cotton while yielding more fiber per acre. Examples: http://www.rawganique.com/BAsc1.htm

• PEVA: PEVA is a PVC free, non-chlorinated, biodegradable, lightweight plastic that does not emit toxic 'off-gasses'. http://www.vitafutura.com/curtains/plastic.asp

• Recycled materialscled materials]]: You can even find curtains made from recycled plastics such as water bottles. Manufacturers of recycled curtains claim superior durability to natural fibers such as cotton or hemp.

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(2) How they're manufactured:

• Chemical Free:

- Look for unbleached towels and those that use only natural color dyes. Most fabrics are bleached white with chlorine first (releases dioxin into the atmosphere) and then dyed another color. Chemical color dyes use metals and toxins that often end up as waste in rivers and soil.

- The down side of Bamboo and wood pulp are that they are often processed with toxic chemicals. Look for manufacturers who use machines to extract the bamboo fiber and wood pulp rather than chemical extraction.

• Sweatshop free: make sure your purchase comes from manufactures that use fair labor practices and not sweatshop labor.

• Sustainably harvested materials: Buy products from manufacturers that use recycled materials or inputs from sustainably harvested forests and farms. Look for FSC (Forest Stewardship Council) seal and organic farms.

• Energy conservation practices: many factories use wind or solar power and/or will buy REC's (renewable energy credits) to offset the energy used for manufacturing.

(3) Where they're manufactured:

Buy Local First: Look for products made close to home to avoid the fuel burned from overseas shipping. Plus when you buy from local merchants rather than big box retailers, you keep more money circulating in your community (more than three times more in most cases) versus the big retailers who take and spend their dollars elsewhere.

Third Party Certifications:

Here are some tips from our friends at National Geographic's Green Guide: In short, they advise “when available, buy towels that bear the Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS), Skal "EKO Sustainable Textile" or Oeko-Tex certifications. Skal's comprehensive certification has provisions to reduce the environmental impact of every stage of a fabric's production, from the harvesting of raw materials to the dyes, bleaches and processing agents used. Oeko-Tex is a little less stringent, and primarily ensures that any chemicals used in dyeing or finishing aren't lingering on the finished product.”

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What are some of the new and hot ideas for bath linens coming up in the near future?

Here are four textile fabrics (beyond those already discussed) that have interesting applications for bath linens:

Soy Silk™ Soy silk is made from the proteins in soy and can be extracted as by-products of the tofu-making process. The liquefied proteins are extruded into fibers which are spun, and used like any other fibre (woven, knitted, etc.). The high protein content makes it receptive to natural dyes. According to the Southwest Trading Company, the owner of the Soy Silk trademark, the resulting fabrics are soft like silk and warm like cashmere.

FORTREL EcoSpun™ EcoSpun is a polyester fiber made entirely from recycled plastic bottles! The resulting fleece is warm and durable, making it a great potential fiber for bath towels. The fibers can also be combined with wool and cotton. The company claims they can redirect more than 3 billion plastic bottles a year out of landfills.

INDEO CORN FIBER Dow Chemicals (Cargill Dow) has developed Ingeo™ created by extracting the starch and sugars from corn, and processing them to make a fiber, which can be spun into a yarn or woven into fabric. Current applications are for blankets but why not towels too? On a personal note it's natural to be skeptical about anything patented from Dow Chemicals.

TENCEL™: A fabric made entirely from wood pulp. According to Lenzing, the company that manufactures TENCEL, its benefits include: • TENCEL absorbs 50 % more moisture than cotton • TENCEL fiber has a smoother and more supple surface than wool or cotton. • TENCEL does not give bacteria a chance to grow. • TENCEL is extracted from wood pulp and is 100 % biodegradable. The wood used comes from tree farms that practice sustainability. It's mostly used for clothing now but with it's moisture absorbing capabilities and naturally anti-bacterial properties it could certainly be useful for bath towels too.

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