Green Cotton

From April 10-12, the third annual Down 2 Earth Sustainable Living Expo (d2e) took over the Hynes Convention Center, filling it with an indoor garden, solar panels, organic fashion, gourmet coffee and chocolate and fun for everyone, from the eco-novice to the eco-expert. For those just getting into the idea of green living, the event showed just how easy it can be, showcasing some fabulous, innovative companies whose principles and practices are truly down to earth. For Boston area eco-conscious consumers, this was the place to be.

Serving as both an educational forum for sustainability and a green goods marketplace, this year’s d2e boasted a number of eco-minded exhibitors. Paino Organics, Larabar, Clif Bar, Cascadian Farm, Taza Chocolate, Glee Gum and more sampled yummy organic treats, from granola to salsa and vegan mayonnaise. Equal Exchange, Dean’s Beans Organic Coffee, Mocha Joes and Honest Tea provided the much-needed caffeine fix.

Ideologie and We Add Up were both selling innovative organic cotton tees with a message. Earth Elegance Jewelry and Acero Studio showcased compelling pieces that make the green life that much more beautiful. Blissfully Organic, Nat and Victoria Solutions and Amazon Beauty by Liz showed that it’s a snap to green your beauty routine. The Holistic Moms Network, along with kid’s fashion by JOJO, chic totes from Go GaGa Bags, silk baby slings by Sakura Blook, cleanup by Bum Boosa Bamboo Baby Products, and reusable (and insanely cute) snack bags from snackTAXI and ReSnackIt, all helped make life a little easier for the earth-conscious mom on the go. Boston’s own Greenologist community, which will deliver fresh farmer’s market produce to your doorstep, even handed out complimentary reusable grocery totes.

If the fun, food and freebies weren’t enough, the event also featured eco-savvy demonstrations, cooking demos, videos and notable guest speakers. Keynote speakers included Dr. James Hansen of Columbia University, a climate scientist who advised Al Gore on An Inconvenient Truth, and actress Mayim Bialik, celebrity spokesperson for the Holistic Moms Network.

Green Cotton attended on Sunday and was present for Bialik’s speech. Bialik shared a touching and relatable insight into her Hollywood eco-lifestyle, describing how she was a “weird” kid who liked to recycle, went vegetarian as a teenager, and now raises her children vegan (without any paper towels!), and even makes her own household cleaners and shampoo.

One topic of particular interest was the “greening” of Hollywood. Bialik is one celebrity who has been “eco” for the long haul, and recalled going to events with Ed Begley Jr., who drove (and probably still drives) a vegetable oil-powered car. Bialik may have labeled her early interest in the environment as “weird,” but of Begley’s innovative, if slightly eccentric, lifestyle, she quipped, “Who’s laughing now?”

Of green living, Bialik reminded the crowd, “This is not a lifestyle for rich people; this is not an elitist thing…not because it’s hip and trendy… We congregate around celebrity, [but] it is important to realize that there are those of us who are green like you.”

And if anyone entered the convention center feeling not quite green enough, we are sure the many vendors and presentations like Bialik’s helped them learn an eco trick or two. We know we did. Green Cotton had a blast exploring the booths and chatting with each vendor (and meeting Bialik, who, as it turns out, is a Jute & Jackfruit fan). While there was not a fashion runway show this year, we hope that eco-fashion designers and boutiques continue to showcase their wonderful (organic, sustainable, fair trade) wares, and that New Englanders continue to show their support and passion for all things green. Next year, we hope to see you there!

By Erin Dale

Created in 2005, Pants to Poverty emerged as a result of the Make Poverty History phenomenon. Its mission is to make fair-trade and pesticide free cotton underwear, at half the price of competitors, while working with over 7,000 cotton farmers.

For 4 years now, Pants to poverty (P-to-P) has gained momentum. P-to-P developed a ethical and  transparent supply chain and a new type of underwear brand, while establishing a network of 70 independent shops and over 10,000 people in 16 countries around the world. Pants to Poverty has also recruited some of the world’s leading legal, branding and development organizations as its partners and achieved wide-reaching media coverage in National Newspapers, TV, Magazines, local papers and radio stations.

The underwear is made in India, using fair-trade certified and pesticide free cotton. However it’s not just the farms that are certified, but also the entire manufacturing process.

The supplier in India is called Pratibha Syntex in Indore, Madhya Pradesh, and apparently Patribha maintains close control over every process of the production of the pants. They work exceptionally closely with the farmers to ensure that we meet our objectives as having the most ethical, and transparent, supply chain possible.

Where does the cotton come from? The cotton from Pants to Poverty comes from the world’s first farmer owned marketing company for fair-trade and organic cotton, Zameen Organic. Based in Hyderabad in India, Zameen will soon be majority owned by the 6,700 of India’s poorest farmers, most of whom are in the Vidarbha region– an area where on average 26 farmers commit suicide every day due to unfair trade.

Zameen means that in exchange for their hard work on their own land, the farmers get:
-    A guaranteed fair, market price for their cotton.
-    Fair-trade and organic premiums
-    Organizational and agricultural support to establish their own co-operatives, bank accounts and maximize the impact of their organic farming.
-    A clean, chemical free environment to live in
In addition to this, Pants to Poverty is now donating an extra 50p per pair to fund the establishment of the world’s first source of child labour free seeds.

FAIR WAGES:
All skilled workers are paid considerably more than the minimum wage for the region in India to ensure that everyone has a good living wage.
SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY:
Going beyond regular expectations is part of Pratibha and Pants to Poverty’s committment to suppliers. Below, they outline just a few of the initiatives they are working on.
WOMEN’s EMPOWERMENT:
Women’s empowerment is core to the Pratibha approach with many management positions filled by women and dynamic new programs for women empowerment at all levels of the organization.

EXTENSIVE TRAINING PROGRAM:
As a high level of skill is required for textile manufacturing, training is an essential part of the work conducted by Pratibha’s Human Resources department. The importance of effective training is further bolstered by the massive recruitment that is ongoing at the plant to meet the elevated level of capacity with the five new spinning mills. Training focuses on both work and personal areas including:
-    Technical training to include Spinning, Knitting, Stitching etc..
-    Workers rights training: in relation to working hours, minimum wage, child labor in compliance with ISO 9001.

OTHER STAFF INITIATIVES:
-    A dedicated staff hospital
-    Subsidized food
-    Free accommodation
-    Free transport
-    Blood donation camp

ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AND PROMOTION:
The textile industry is renowned for being one of the worst polluting industries and so Pratibha, in order to leave a positive impact on the planet, invests heavily in effective waste management:
-    95% of water is recycled within the plant
-    All waste is controlled within the plant
-    100 trees are planted per quarter (25,000 to date)
-    Participate in global campaigning events such as Earth Hour
-    First textile company in India to register for EARTH HOUR
-    Pratibha is using 3 way strategy of “REDUCE – REUSE-RECYCLE” for increasing sustainability throughout the chains

Check out and shop on Pants to Poverty website for more information.

Photos source: Pants to Poverty

By: Julie Finkel

Photosource: the little seed

What a cute name for this new eco-friendly baby clothing line.

Soleil Moon Frye (you probably remember Punky Brewster, the adorable little girl with bunches and her sneakers with all sorts of canvas) and Paige Goldberg Tolmach, the two co-founders have just opened their new eco-friendly baby boutique in L.A.

The idea came when Soleil and Paige were looking for organic products for their babies and they couldn’t find anything healthy for them and the planet.  So they decide to create their own organic-friendly space.

Everything you can purchase for your baby is eco-friendly, organic and non-toxic products such as: clothing made with 100% Organic cotton, bottles, skin care, baby carriers, handmade woven toys, furniture … shopping bags are also recycled. Even the store environment is non toxic, with no V.O.C (Volatile organic compounds) paint on the walls.

Check out on thelittleseed.com, the selection both on-line and in-store is amazing. Designers are Kate Quinn, Ecoland (made exclusively from the highest quality 100% organically grown cotton, which is GOT (Global Organic Textile) standard certified by Control Union World Group), Salvor Fauna, Under the Nile…For more information on GOTS, visit our latest post on this topic.

Under the Nile, manufacturer of organic toys and apparel, is doing more than just helping kids make a positive association with healthy foods. They are also proud participants of the 13-Villages-Project. The campaign is co-conducted by Under the Nile and its Farm in Egypt. It takes place in 13 rural villages in Sharkeya, Egypt. Through vocational training and infrastructural development, the project is improving the health, skills and overall well being of the village inhabitants.

Soleil and Paige also give us eco-baby tips to protect your chidren’s health: how to eat well by reducing exposure to synthetic pesticides, avoiding plastic bags, beware of radiation…

Happy mum, you can now shop safely and peacefully, the store provides a diaper changing station, a discreet nursing lounge as well as an arts & crafts area.

By: Julie Finkel