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SearchUK high street retailer, Warehouse has launched its first organic eco-t shirt.
Warehouse comments that the tops have been made inline with GOTS and have been made using low impact dyes on clothing meeting Oeko-Tex 100 standards and the swing tags have been made from 100% recyclable card.
2-4th September 4th China International recycled polyester conference Jinling Jinma Hotel Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China www.ccfei.net
5-8th September So Ethnic at Pret a PorterParis, France www.pretparis.com
6-8th September Mode City/InterfiliereParis, France www.lingerie-paris.com
15-18th Septmeber estethica London Fashion Week, London, UK www.londonfashionweek.com
16-19th September
22nd-25th September
23rd-26th September Premiere Vision PlurielParc d’ Expositions de Paris-Nord Villepinte, France www.premierevision.fr
25th-28th September WHITE Superstudio Piuvia Tortona, 27-20144Milan, Italy www.whiteshow.it
Amid the credit crunch, Oxfam sales are up 7% with stores taking £80 million in the year to April. Cash strapped consumers are looking to charity shops for bargains and combined with ethical sales on the increase, Oxfam retail arm is beating the rest of the high street. Last January the charity set up a scheme with Marks & Spencer allowing people handling M&S clothing into Oxfam stores received a £5 M&S voucher. Oxfam estimates the scheme has raised over £1m.
The web is arguably the most powerful tool that people use on a daily basis, whether it be for research, consumerism or to keep in touch with friends and family. Importantly though the web has become more and more widely used to spread awareness and promote action on environmental issues. Online website www.nigelsecostore.com recently announced from 12 categories their favourite green sites.<>
1. Green Travel/ Eco Tourism Sites
1st Responsible Travel
2nd The man in Seat 61
3rd Green Traveller
2. Green Sites for Kids
1st Recyclezone
2nd Zero Footprint Kids
3rd Eco Fridendly Kids
3. Ethical Health & Beauty Sites
1st Green People
2nd The Campaign for Safe Cosmetics
3rd Eco Chick
4. Eco-Blogs & News Sites
1st Treehugger
2nd The Guardian’s Environment
3rd HippyShopper
5. Online Campaigns
1st Green Thing
2nd The Nag
3rd We Are What We Do
6. Green Living Advice Sites
1st Ideal Bite
2nd SmartPlanet
3rd Friends of the Earth
7. Online Communities
1st Freecycle
2nd Edenbee
3rd Greenopolis
8. Green Energy Sites
1st Good Energy
2nd Ecotricity
3rd Energy Saving Trust
9. Ethical Clothing & Fashion
1st People Tree
2nd Howies
3rd Enamore
10. Climate Change Websites
1st Act on CO2
2nd The BBC Climate Change
3rd The Greenpeace Climate Change
11 Greenest Companies
1st Method
2nd Ecover
3rd Innocent
12 Wooden Spoon Award for the Worst Greenwash
1stBarbie B-Cause (Eco Child’s Play)
2nd Shell - Flowery Chimney Ads
3rd ExxonMobil Ad campaign
Levi Strauss has put five new chemicals on its phase-out list as part of a continued effort to improve its commitment to environmental sustainability through its manufacturing supply chain.
The five substances which have been put on the list as part of Levi’s two yearly Restricted Substances List (RSL) update include PVC – often found in screen printing systems. The giant jeanswear company is now encouraging suppliers to use water-based (PVC-free) printing systems instead and also intends to phase out the use of phthalate plasticisers. Phthalates give flexibility to PVC prints on t-shirts and other garments. Phthalate use is already prohibited for children products, but Levi’s is now also encouraging its suppliers to use phthalate-free chemicals for adult products.
Other chemicals on the new phase-out list include alkylphenol ethoxylates (APEOs), which are often found in detergent, soap or chemical mixtures as surfactant and in wetting agents for scouring (see Ecotextile News, April 2008, p. 35). The company will in future prohibit the use of D4 siloxane which may be found in residual traces in certain silicone softeners along with a chemical called Bisphenol-A which is not likely to be used in the production of textiles but may be found in resins.
“Levi Strauss &Co seeks to reduce the impact of our and our suppliers’ business processes on the environment, and the phase-out list is an important step in realizing this commitment,” said Sean Cady, LS&CO. Director of Environment, Health and Safety. “The RSL is a critical element of LS&CO.’s responsible sourcing program,” Cady continued. “It helps us ensure product quality, protect the health and safety of our consumers and further our environmental objectives.”
Levi Strauss updates its RSL every two years to reflect developments in production methods, legal requirements, scientific understanding and the company’s sustainability priorities.
This chemical phase-out list applies to chemicals used in the manufacture of Levi Strauss products and raw materials. While it says suppliers are encouraged to find alternatives to these five substances it acknowledges “certain challenges may prevent an immediate cessation of use,” adding that it will, “continue to support efforts to identify alternatives to these phase-out chemicals with the goal of prohibiting their use at a future time.” Copyright © 2008 Mowbray Communications Ltd
M&S have just released statistics that by banning free plastic bags from its retail shops its has led to an 80% cut in bags being handed out. The store chain made a landmark decision at the beginning of May to start charging 5p for the bags, to encourage a switch to green reusable alternatives.
Over the past ten weeks, 70 million fewer have been handed out at its tills compared with the same period a year ago.
Famous advertising agency Saatchi & Saatchi has produced a masterclass in enviro-nonsense down under in sunny, drought-ridden Australia. The designer media glasses brigade (no stereotypes here, thank you!) has come up with a brilliant scheme to promote the fact that Australia has bought some carbon offsets.
They have made a car out of grass. Then parked it outside the company’s head office, and in other smart locations. Saatchi seems confident the idea will be hugely successful somehow, proudly boasting on its website:
“From June 2008, the print ads will feature in a range of national and metro publications as well as environmental features and supplements.” Good news for Saatchi, but does a grass car promoting carbon offsets really help anyone that much, apart from Saatchi’s bank balance? Greenwasher doubts it.
Source: Ethical Corporation
The Green New Deal Group has put out a warning that it is imperative that we look at ways of solving current problems of climate change, energy and finance before its too late and the statistic they are using is that if nothing is done, in less than a decade there will be catastrophic problems world wide.
The groups proposal includes major investment in renewable energy and the creation of thousands of new ‘green collar’ jobs.The worry of rising greenhouse gas emissions, combined with escalating food and energy costs mean the globe is facing one of its biggest crises since the 1930’s.
Andrew Simms, a founder member warns “that the combination of the current credit crunch, rising energy prices and accelerating emissions are conspiring to create the perfect storm”.he continues, “Instead of desperate bailing-out, we need a comprehensive plan and new course to navigate each obstacle in this new phenomenon”.
The group’s recommendations include:
1. Massive investment in renewable energy and wider transformation in the UK
2. The creation of thousands of new “green collar” jobs
3. Making low-cost capital available to fund the UK’s green economic shift
4. Building a new alliance between environmentalists, industry, agriculture and unions
What can you do:
1. Walk, cycle, take public transport or consider a car-pool whenever possible.
3. If you need a car, buy the most fuel-efficient or one that runs on bio-diesel or natural gas.
4. Service your car regularly - keeping the engine tuned and your car tyres at the maximum recommended air pressure saves petrol.
5. Live as close to work as possible.
6. Shop locally rather than in out of town superstores.
7. Switch your investments away from fossil fuels to renewable energy companies, or exercise your right as a shareholder to pressure energy companies to make the transition to renewables.
8. Buy regionally and seasonally produced organic food whenever possible.
9. Boycott the products of companies like Esso that are obstructing the transition to renewables.
What governments can do:
10. Lobby your political representatives to press them to act, and vote accordingly.
11. Accept a target of phasing out oil & gas use within 50 years.
12. Discontinue all direct and indirect subsidies to the oil & gas industry.
13. Refuse licenses for the exploration and development of new oil & gas reserves.
14. Provide investment, grants, and tax breaks for the development and purchase of clean renewable alternatives to oil and for energy efficient vehicles.
15. Increase investment in public transport.
16. Pedestrianise city centres and introduce congestion charges in all cities.
17. Require car makers to ensure an escalating proportion of their vehicle fleet sales consists of petrol- free vehicles.
18. Increase minimum energy standards for vehicles.
19. Change tariff policies on imports to support the local consumption of goods (particularly food) that have been produced locally.
What businesses can do:
20. Phase out subsidies to industrial food production, which is petrol-intensive, and support conversion to methods instead.
21. Oil & Gas companies should commit to converting themselves into renewable energy companies, and redirect their investments accordingly.
22. Car makers should commit to mass- manufacture cars now that run on hydrogen fuel cells or other renewable fuels, and that use lighter materials.
23. Companies should convert their truck and car fleets to the lowest petrol-consuming vehicles available.
24. Companies should provide incentives for employees to leave their cars at home and use public transport instead, reduce air travel and promote telecommuting.
25. Companies should site their offices close to public transportation.
26. Retailers should adopt a purchasing policy that provides preference to goods from short supply routes and regional markets.
27. Companies should sift freight out of trucks and onto rail and waterways.
28. Farmers should convert from industrial to organic farming methods.
29. The plastics & packaging industries should replace their oil with corn, soybean potato starch or limestone derivatives.
30. The clothing industry should use vegetable starch and natural fibres, such as wool and cotton, instead of oil derivatives in their products.
The debate has moved on, the public understand the necessity to take action on climate change, there is now the problem of mix messages, confusion and potential fatigue. The Guardian Climate Change Summit aims to shed some light on how we can move forward with this issue in a constructive way and with a mix of senior executives and decision makers the summit will discuss strategies to keep the consumer engaged and fight against climate change. Summit takes place today 16th July.
