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Furthermore, several known carcinogens,
including dioxin, ethylene dichloride and
vinyl chloride, are generated during the
production of PVC, polluting neighborhoods
located near factory sites. Most of those
factory sites are actually in China, from
where 85 percent of the fake trees sold
in North America originate. Labor standards
there don't adequately protect workers from
the dangerous chemicals they are handling.
In addition to PVC, fake trees contain lead
and other additives designed to make the
otherwise rigid PVC more malleable. Unfortunately
many of these additives have been linked
to liver, kidney, neurological and reproductive
system damage in lab studies on animals.
The Children’s Health Environmental
Coalition warns that fake trees “may
shed lead-laced dust, which may cover branches
or shower gifts and the floor below the
tree.” So heed the advice of the label
on your fake tree telling you to avoid inhaling
or eating any dust or parts that may come
loose.
The primary downside of real Christmas trees
is that, because they are farmed as agricultural
products, they often require repeated applications
of pesticides over their typical eight-year
life cycles. Therefore, while they are growing--and
then again once they are discarded--they
may contribute to pollution of local watersheds.
Beyond the run-off issue, the sheer numbers
of trees that get discarded after every
holiday can be a big waste issue for municipalities
that aren't prepared to mulch them for compost.
The most eco-friendly way to enjoy a Christmas
tree is to buy a live tree with its roots
intact from a local grower, and then replant
it in your yard once the holiday has passed.
However, since trees are dormant in the
winter, live trees should spend no more
than a week indoors lest they “wake
up” and begin to grow again in the
warmth of your home. If this happens there
is a good chance the tree will not survive
once it is returned to the cold winter outdoors
and replanted.
CONTACTS:
Children’s Health Environmental Coalition,
www.checnet.org
About.com’s “How to Care for
a Live Christmas Tree,”
http://forestry.about.com/od/christmastrees1/ht/living_x_tree.htm
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Dear EarthTalk:
What’s up with these “eco-fashions”
I keep hearing about?
-
Glenn Hammond, San Francisco, CA
Simply put, the term “eco-fashion”
refers to stylized clothing that uses environmentally
sensitive fabrics and responsible production
techniques.
The nonprofit Sustainable Technology Education
Project (STEP) defines eco-fashions as clothes
“that take into account the environment,
the health of consumers and the working
conditions of people in the fashion industry.”
Clothes and accessories that meet such criteria
are usually made using organic raw materials,
such as cotton grown without pesticides,
or re-used materials such as recycled plastic
from old soda bottles. Eco-fashions don't
involve the use of harmful chemicals and
bleaches to color fabrics--and are made
by people earning fair wages in healthy
working conditions.
Designers have been playing around with
organic and natural fibers for years, but
so-called “eco-fashions” had
their coming out party at New York City’s
famed Fashion Week back in February 2005
when the non-profit EarthPledge teamed up
with upscale clothing retailer Barneys to
sponsor a special runway event called FutureFashion.
At the event, famous and up-and-coming designers
showcased outfits made from eco-friendly
fabrics and materials including hemp, recycled
poly and bamboo. Barneys was so enthused
that it featured some of the environmentally
sensitive designs in its window displays
for several weeks following the event, imparting
a unique mystique to this emerging green
subset of the fashion world.
One of the highlights of FutureFashion was
a stunning pink-and-yellow skirt made from
corn fiber by uber-cool Heatherette designer
Richie Rich. “It’s definitely
something we’re going to continue
toying with,” Rich told reporters.
“People often perceive the fashion
world as superficial, so it’s great
to work with materials that are actually
good for the environment. I had my doubts,
but when we actually saw the fabric swatches
we were blown away. They were gorgeous,
and it wasn't hard to design with them.”
The party moved to the west coast in June
when San Francisco culminated its World
Environment Day celebration with “Catwalk
on the Wild Side,” an eco-chic fashion
show sponsored by the nonprofit Wildlife
Works featuring top models and designs from
the likes of EcoGanik, Loomstate, Fabuloid
and others.
One of the pioneers of the emerging eco-fashion
movement is designer Linda Loudermilk. Her
“luxury eco” line of clothing
and accessories uses sustainably produced
materials made from exotic plants including
bamboo, sea cell, soya and sasawashi. The
latter is a linen-like fabric made from
a Japanese leaf that contains anti-allergen
and anti-bacterial properties. Loudermilk
also incorporates natural themes in each
season’s line--her most recent one
being an oceanic motif. “We aim to
give eco glamour legs, a fabulous look and
a slammin’ attitude that stops traffic
and shouts the message: eco can be edgy,
loud, fun, playful, feminine (or not) and
hyper-cool,” Loudermilk says.
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