lives.

True, we are still living in a material world, but cotton grown with pesticides is no longer the fabric of our

The green movement is making huge strides replacing toxins and waste in the marketplace with organic
fibers like bamboo and hemp, as well as good old corn starch, throw-away cork and used paper.
The brave, new soldiers of eco industry believe enough is enough when it comes to creating more waste and
adding to our grossly overflowing landfills and plastic islands. Bet you do, too!
Instead, the trend has been to meet a growing consumer demand for renewable and reusable resources,
seeking out the scraps of industry (glass, cork and plastic bottles) and growing plants without pesticides to make
healthy fibers with no trace of petroleum.
Here is a go-to list of the friendliest materials that have our planet covered.
1. Bamboo Fiber
The eco fiber option of choice, bamboo is woven into everything fromfashionable dresses like those made by
Spun in Seattle and other respected labels, to towels, totes and interior elements such as window treatments. This
natural textile is made from the pulp of the bamboo grass and is best in the organic form pure and unbleached. It
is a strong fabric, considered more durable and sustainable than conventional textile fiber.

2. Bamboo Hardwood
Considered a renewable resource, bamboo is a grass that thrives quickly. Oak trees can take 120 years to
grow to maturity while bamboo can be harvested in three. it also regenerates without need for replanting, and
requires minimal fertilization or pesticides. The jury is still out on whether or not bamboo flooring is as durable as
traditional European hardwoods. As Tree Hugger points out, now all bamboo products are alike. Since it is mostly
shipped from China, you have to determine if the product is treated according to environmental standards.
Companies likeTeragren are careful about adhering to strict environmental specifications.

3. Cork
Got a surface that needs covering? Put a cork on it. Whether molded into mosaics for floors by Mod Walls or
adapted as a textile for chic handbags by Shop Cork Design, cork is a renewable resource from the industrys byproducts. It can be waterproofed to extend the life of the surface and also applied to walls as an unexpected modern
surface.

4. Plantation Grown Teak

Teak is a deciduous hardwood tree from the highlands of southeast Asia and is considered a sustainable
timber for indoor-outdoor furniture, as well as decking. The Maku Chaise, below, is an example of outdoor designs
sold by Design Public and other vendors. Teak has a naturally high oil content which makes it both stable and
resistant to rotting when exposed to extreme climates. Much of it comes to us from the island of Java. The Dutch
started plantations there about 150 years ago. The Indonesian government agency, Perum Perhutani, now manages
the plantations, enforcing a strict policy regarding the size and quantity of trees felled each year together with
annual replanting.

5. Corn Starch Biocompostables

Corn: its whats for dinner and so much more. These utensils from theBiodegradable Store made of sugar
cane fiber, corn and potato starch are the green alternative to petroleum-based plastics and styrofoam materials
which take thousands of years to degrade. Thankfully, the new biocompostables are not restricted to the home
pantry but are showing up at shopping mall food courts and school events where large crowds gather and consume
disposables in bulk. Corn has also been used forlibrary cards in San Francisco and ringtone downloader cards. And
dont forget ethanol, a fuel helping to reduce greenhouse emissions and slow global warming.

6. Hemp
Hemp is grown without pesticides or fertilizers and is rapidly replacing plastic-based materials for clothing
and home decor. A member of theCannabis Sativa plant family (dont worry, it wont get you high other than
environmentally!), it yields 250% more fiber than cotton per acre plus 500% more pulp fiber than forest wood. Sold
by the yard or already woven into bedding, curtains or fashion garb by brands like Eco Fabrik, hemp dates back to
more than 10,000 years ago with a myriad of uses such as paper making, cloth weaving and extracted oils for
medicinal products and skincare.

7. Soybean Fabric
Soy fabric is friendly and soft and similar to cashmere or silk in texture. It is found in luxury items, such as
these cushy robes from Eco Body wear, and scrumptious baby rompers from Baby Soy USA. Soybean protein fiber is
a sustainable and botanical textile fiber made from renewable and biodegradable natural resources the leftover
soybean pulp from tofu and soy milk production. Its 16 amino acids are healthy and nutritional for our skin.

8. Organic Cotton
The Organic Trade Association tells us organic cotton grown by farmers worldwide increased 152 percent
during the 2007-2008 crop year. Organic cotton is grown without harmful toxic pesticides and synthetic fertilizers
meaning the farming methods and materials have a low impact on people and the environment. Production
replenishes and maintains soil fertility to build biologically diverse agriculture. Genetically engineered seed for
organic farming is strictly taboo, and all cotton sold as organic in the United States must meet strict federal
regulations covering how the cotton is grown. In terms of products, it is much easier to find now in upscale
and everyday clothing and underwear, stylish bedding like this soft set from Pottery Barn, rugs, bags you name it.

9. Recycled Glass
Companies like the inventive Vetrazzo are sparing landfills of post-industrial glass scraps, while giving new
life to post consumer glass such as Corona Beer bottles which are made into countertops. It all goes into the mix of
making a sustainable recycled product that adds great beauty to the environment. The same reusable resource is
being molded intojewelry or new tumblers for entertaining. One mans junkyou get the picture.

10. Low VOC Paint and Finishes

Youve probably heard of VOCs, the solvents in paint which evaporate easily at room temperature. They
smell bad bad and are bad for people and other living things. They contribute to the depletion of the ozone layer as
well as poor indoor air quality. Thats why companies like Benjamin Moore and YOLO Colorhouse are offering us
alternatives. The scientists and artists at YOLO produce a premium zero-VOC paint with an appealing designer
palette of 40 hues for interiors, inspired by the natural world. It seems to be the direction more makers of finishes
are going. Lets follow this path and refuse to buy anything less healthy for our homes.

11. Recycled Polyester

Yes, rPET is the new polyester! PET stands for Poly Ethylene Terephthalate, a plastic resin and a form of
polyester. PET is a polymer that is formed by combining two monomers called modified ethylene glycol and Purified
Terephthalic Acid. PET is labeled with the #1 code on bottles and containers used to package soft drinks, water,
juice, peanut butter, salad dressings and oil, cosmetics and household cleaners. PET is a popular package for food
and non-food products because it is inexpensive, lightweight, resalable, shatter-resistant and recyclable. To source
the post consumer bottles, they are sterilized and then dried and crushed into tiny chips. The chips are heated in a
vat and forced through spinnerets (as with virgin polyester) and then are spun into yarn and dyed without toxic
properties. What can you make with the Eco-fi material? Everything from carpets, bags and clothing to wall
coverings, furnishings and craft felt.

12. Recycled Paper

Did you know 57 million trees are killed each year to produce the paper catalog companies crank out to
market their stuff? The catalog industry floods our mailboxes with over 17 billion catalogs a year in the United
States, many produced on paper that comes from endangered forests, including those in the Canadian Boreal forest.
But businesses, such asNorm Thompson Outfitters of Portland, Oregon, are setting new standards by using recycled
paper for their catalogs. Many other companies are getting on the recycled paper bus, including card andstationary
designers such as Papel Vino in Vancouver and Bird Dog Press. Magazine strips are also coiled for trays and meshed
into placemats for chic home decor. For every ton of paper that is recycled, 17 trees are spared. You can recycle most
paper, including white office paper, newspaper and mixed-color paper, through a local curbside recycling program.

13. Felt
No longer just the craft stuff of school kids, if youve got an eye like Josh Jakus (bags and coasters) and Ronel
Jordaan (modern stones) there is nothing you cant glue together with this delightful, ecological textile. Felt can
come in many forms, from recycled wool from PET bottles to made the old fashion wet felting way by nomadic
peoples in Central Asia. The non-woven cloth is made by matting, condensing and pressing organic fibers while they
are wet. While some types of felt are very soft, some are tough enough to use on construction materials such as a tar
paper called roofing felt.

14. Solar Cells

A solar cell is a device that converts light directly into electricity by the photovoltaic effect. Assemblies of
cells are used to make solar panels and solar modules to produce energy for practical use. Harnessing energy from
the sun is a major goal in slowing global warming. Prefabricated solar panel systems for roofing usually range in
capacity from 3 to 120 kilowatts. According to Technology Review, solar roofing materials can cut the cost of
household solar installations by doing double duty, generating electricity while protecting buildings from the
elements. Scientists tell us that on a bright, sunny day, the sun shines approximately 1,000 watts of energy per
square meter of the planets surface. Collecting all of that energy would allow us to easily power our homes and
offices for free.

15. Aluminum Bottles

A question that might be posed by Dwight Schrute of The Office is which water bottle is best?
Many athletes, backpackers and soccer moms who used to quaff from leaky plastic will tell you the Sigg aluminum is
best when it comes to bottles free of Bisphenol-A (BPA) found in polycarbonate plastics. Sometimes called Lexan,
BPA is an endocrine disruptor that has been shown to affect reproduction and brain development in animal studies.
It can leach into foods and liquids and mimics estrogen when absorbed by the human body. Sigg bottles are made
from a single piece of aluminum (no leaks) and have a water-based, non-toxic interior coating. The liners finish
keeps out bacteria and mold and is neutral and resistant to fruit acids and energy drinks. SIGG bottles have been
independently tested to prove they are completely leach-free and are 100 percent recyclable.

16.BPA-Free Plastic
While plastics have been shunned by environmentalists since The Graduate debuted, the new Better Bottle
produced by CamelBak is a move in the right direction. The company switched its 2008 Better Bottle line to
Eastman Tritan copolyester, a new BPA- and phthalate-free material. BPA-free bottles started shipping to retailers
in January of 2008 and are popular choices for children following required packing lists for summer camps and
school field trips. Camelbak also makes stainless steel bottles, which are a close rival of aluminum in popularity and
purity. You can buy them at outdoorsy outlets such as REI.

17. Cardboard
Recycling old cardboard to make recycling containers? Sure, thats what the inventive set, such as Amazing
Recycled Products, is doing and much more. Savvy products on the market include coasters, DIY
speakers andjournals. The two types of cardboard that can be recycled are flat cardboard, which is typically used in
cereal and shoe boxes, and corrugated cardboard, which has a ruffled layer between the two flat pieces of cardboard
and is often used in packing boxes. Both can usually be recycled through your local curbside recycling program.

18. Reclaimed Rubber

Tired of tires sitting in landfills for indefinite periods of time? So are companies like Rubber Sidewalks,
which use shredded tires to compose panels that fit together to form a rubber sidewalk. The rubber is even good for
trees, letting the sidewalk raise and bend around the roots. You no longer have to remove entire trees to keep
concrete from being torn up and replaced. In 2006, 60 cities from 15 different states tested rubber sidewalks.
Residents find the rubber feels good under their feet and sound is reduced, as well. Its safe and non-toxic. Rubber
sidewalks also comes in different colors. While the main motive is to save trees, recycled rubber also reduces the
waste from tires each year. In California alone, tires create an estimated 408 million pounds of waste rubber.

19. Rice Hulls

Green Pots are made from rice hulls and break down much quicker than traditional planters. No pollutants
are used or produced at any stage of the manufacturing process of the containers and there are no wasted materials
because scraps are recycled back into the production process. Consumer rice also enjoys afterlife as
durable messenger bags that look pretty and help us conserve.

20. Natural Earth Clay and Plaster

A friendly alternative to cement, gypsum, acrylic and lime plasters, products like American Clay Earth
Plaster are pure and breathable, a popular choice in the new construction of walls and remodeling of old buildings.
As Countryside Magazine points out, using earth to make walls and houses has been done for thousands of years.
Uncle Sam invested in testing Rammed Earth construction from the 20s through the 40s as a practical way to
achieve affordable housing. Even Frank Lloyd Wright was said to be a fan of using adobe and other natural earth
sources. He drew up plans for a multi-family cooperative but due to the war that project was never fulfilled. The
process of making rammed earth involves the mixing of raw material from gravel, sand, silt and clay.

*BONUS MATERIAL
21. Elbow Grease
Susie Homemaker is not staying slim these days by downing diuretics (that was my mothers trick) but by
spinning her salads, washing and wiping dishes by hand, hand washing and line drying clothes, riding her bike to the
market, walking to her volunteer meetings and other steps thatburn calories while leaving a lighter carbon pump
print. The more we use our own bodys energy the less we rely on oil, electricity and other sources that drain the
planet. And by the way, the exercise of cutting some of your pretty hair also can help the planet in the mopping up of
oil spills in the form of hair mats. Human hair has not caught on as fabric for clothing yet, as far as we can tell
from Project Runway.