Green-washing Alert: What is Bamboo Fabric, and is it Sustainable?

With pollution and climate change on the rise, people are trying to be mindful of our resources. We’ve sounded the alarm too many times, and it seems that now is the time to change our destructive habits before it’s too late. Many brands have responded to the cry for help, but some unscrupulous brands are taking advantage of the situation. They merely see sustainability as a trend or a label they can plaster everywhere to increase sales. The worst part is that some of them don’t even change their production to fit into the sustainability category but just label their product as such. Let’s find out what greenwashing is and why bamboo is not sustainable in the fashion industry…

Bamboo…

Lately, we’ve been experiencing a real bamboo craze. We have toothbrushes, straws, and even cutlery made of bamboo. The reason for this new obsession is that bamboo is a very sustainable material…. but does the same applies to bamboo fabrics?

Did you know that the textile industry is one of the top five most polluting industries in the world? People are rushing to find solutions to make the fashion industry more eco-friendly and reduce its impact on the environment, but some brands take advantage of this situation to increase their profit margins.

Greenwashing…

If you’ve never heard of greenwashing, let me introduce you to the concept. Brands that claim to be sustainable, but are only partially sustainable, or not at all, engage in greenwashing. Environmental issues give our marketers ideas; terms like “green”, “eco,” or even “natural” are thrown at any product to increase sales. Do some customers believe that something that is natural is automatically sustainable, but is this really the case?

Is Bamboo Eco-friendly?

Bamboo fiber Raw Bamboo Fibre, for Textile Spinning,Yarn, Packaging Type: Loose, Rs 500 /kg | ID: 21391530997

Brands that use bamboo rely on true facts: Bamboo is the fastest growing plant, as it grows up to ninety centimeters per day, and it also removes pollutants from the soil and purifies the air. However, all manufacturers have pounced on this material, leading to great demand and the destruction of bamboo forests- not something that is sustainable in any sense of the word.

Bamboo is one of the biggest businesses in China, worth more than $60 billion. Research has shown that bamboo is not grown or harvested ethically, defeating the whole project from the get-go.

If the harvesting is unsustainable, what of the production side of things? There are two ways of producing textiles from bamboo: bamboo rayon and closed-loop.

Bamboo rayon is not sustainable at all, and producing it resembles the way synthetic fibers are made. A lot of energy and chemicals are used in its production, and there is so little bamboo in the final product that it cannot be called sustainable.

Closed-loop is closer to the sustainable side. Ethical companies try to replace toxic chemicals with much less toxic ones. It’s not perfect, but it’s better.

Should You Buy Bamboo Fabric?

I guess you’re all waiting for a clear and direct answer, but I don’t know. I would have waited until I was sure the raw material was grown and harvested sustainably, but if you want to try it out as is, that’s fine, and I have some tips for you.

When buying, try to ask the seller about the fabric to avoid buying bamboo rayon or bamboo viscose. Pay attention to the production method and look for the closed-loop production process used to make the Lyocell bamboo fabric. Ensure there are fair trade certifications and that the bamboo producer is organic (look for FSC certification).

Sustainable production of fabric has a long way to go, so we will have to be patient. Let us know in the comments what you think of bamboo fabrics…

Sep, 2021

Earth Overshoot Day: Humanity Has Already Exhausted the Planet’s Resources.

As of July 29, 2021, humanity is living on credit. The day of overshoot marks the symbolic date when human beings are supposed to have consumed all the renewable resources that the planet is capable of providing them in one year. From this day on, we are drawing irrevocably from the Earth’s natural reserves.

We are using 70 % more than the Earth can renew, but how long will we live above the set amount of resources? Just think about it as your savings; if you are living beyond your means and tapping into your savings each month…how long will it take before you run out of money?

We have been overshooting the planet’s resources since 1970. 1970 was the last year that the overshoot occurred in December. Since then, we have been running out during the first three quarters of the year.

How Much Earth Will We Need?

Earth, Planet, Space, World, Celestial Object — Will We Need More Earth?

It is also on the basis of a similar calculation that we can estimate the number of planet Earths that humanity would need to have to sustain its consumption of renewable resources in one year. Estimated at 1.7 in 2017, it could probably exceed two before the middle of the twenty-first century.

The exceedance day can also be calculated on a country scale. In France, the overshoot occurred this year on May 5. If a country’s overshoot day occurs earlier than the global exceedance day, it means that this country has a higher domestic consumption than the global average.

If all the world’s population consumed renewable resources like France, humanity would increase its ecological deficit. It would take 2.9 Earths to sustain humanity if everyone lived like the French.

According to the World Wildlife Fund’s yearly “Living Planet Report,” which assesses our ecological impact, we will require a second planet by 2030 and the equivalent of 2.8 planets by 2050 to fulfill our material requirements if things carry on in the same vein.

Why Are We Overshooting Earth?

Over-fishing.

Overfishing is commonly described as the tragedy of the commons, which occurs when a shared, restricted resource is depleted as a result of people acting in self-interest for short-term benefit. Fish do not belong to anybody or any country since they are not restricted to a certain location, such as inside national borders. Even if one country restricts its capture, others are likely to compensate.

Growing population.

The U.S. population multiplied from 130 million to more than 260 million during the past 60 years and is calculated to double again to 520 million throughout the next 60 years based on the current rate of increase of 1.1 percent per year.

Overpopulation has been seen through the significant rise in human activity—damming of rivers, rising water usage, expansion of agriculture, increasing use of irrigation and fertilizers, loss of forests, and more motor vehicles since World War 2. There has also been a dramatic increase in the usage of coal, oil, and gas, as well as a quick increase in the amount of methane and carbon dioxide in the atmosphere, which are greenhouse gases produced by changes in land use and combustion of such fuels.

How Can You Reduce The Use Of Natural Resources?

Windmill, Trees, Sustainability, Wind Turbine, Nature — Try To Use Natural Renewable Energy Sources.

Save Water

We are new to this, and we are still repeating ourselves. We need water to survive, and the human body cannot go three days without water, which means that wasting water will be detrimental to humanity.

Some tips will be to take showers instead of a bath, of course, run shorter showers and turn off the faucet if you are not using water. Small actions will eventually add up for greater differences.

Energy Consumption

Try to look for environmentally friendly ways to consume energy; for example, opt for solar panels and wind energy.

The installation of renewable energy may cost a little more than gas but keep in mind that it is only the installation and you won’t have to pay as much each month if anything.

Recycle

Try to recycle items like plastic bottles or even cardboard. It will help in reusing the materials that you already have. You can also opt for reuse; for example, do not throw away the ice cream tubs and use them to conserve food.

Each one of us can make a difference. We need to realize the importance of preserving our natural resources. Let us know in the comments what you think of earth overshoot…

May, 2021

I Want to Respect the Environment, but How Do I Do It?

Summary

– Step 1: Know your energy consumption

– Step 2: Innovative and efficient heating systems

– Step 3: Change your behavior by adopting simple gestures

The preservation of the environment and the fight against energy waste have become a priority for everyone. It is even an obligation in the construction sector, especially with the 2012 thermal regulation, which requires all new buildings to be low-energy consumers. Using energy differently is both eco-responsible and good for your wallet.

1. Know your energy consumption

Air pollution and global warming are partly due to greenhouse gas emissions. These are produced by human activity, particularly in the transportation and housing sectors.

By having an energy performance diagnosis of your home carried out by a professional, you can know both your energy consumption and your greenhouse gas emissions. Better informed, you can then, thanks to the advice of the thermic technician, envisage work to reduce your energy bill and adopt an eco-responsible behavior.

When renovating, be careful when choosing the energies that you will use to optimize your bill and integrate the environmental dimension in your decision. This post will provide you advice on this subject.

2. Innovative and efficient heating systems

Advances in heating technology have made it possible to optimize energy consumption, particularly in terms of heating, with:

– the use of thermostats to regulate the temperature and stop heating when it is no longer necessary;

– the appearance of new, more efficient boilers: condensing, hybrid, cogenerators, etc.

Good to know: Replacing a heating system is worthwhile if your home is adequately insulated.

3. Change your behavior by adopting simple gestures

Replacing a heating system, using renewable energies, and insulating your home are the main ways to consume less energy and help preserve the environment.

You can also control your consumption daily in the following ways:

– By lowering the temperature of your heating by 1°C, you reduce your energy consumption by about 7%.

– Have your heating, ventilation, and hot water production equipment checked regularly. If they are dirty, defective, or badly adjusted, they consume a lot of energy and pollute.

– Choose showers over baths, as they consume less water and less energy.

– Have your hot water temperature set to a maximum of 60°C to prevent the appliance from scaling up too much.

– Wash your clothes at 40°C.

– Defrost your freezer regularly. A 3 cm layer of frost increases your refrigerator’s electricity consumption by 30%.

– And, clean your light bulbs regularly, and buy energy-efficient ones

Hope you have liked this post. Please leave your comments in the section below.

You can also read:

Sep, 2020

9 Ways to Reduce Your Electricity Consumption at Home

Your home and some of your daily habits are extremely energy-consuming. In addition to environmental concerns, this also has a significant impact on your electricity bills. Here are some ways to help reduce your electricity consumption at home to lead a more sustainable life.

1) Choose Low-Energy Light Bulbs

They have evolved a lot! No more light bulbs that light up after five minutes or those that give off a yellowish light. Of all the models, LEDs and compact fluorescent bulbs are the most economical. On average, they last twelve times longer than a conventional incandescent bulb while consuming five times less.

To optimize lighting, look at the “lumen,” which corresponds to the light intensity of a bulb: the higher the number, the more light it diffuses, regardless of the number of watts. In any case, don’t forget to clean them regularly. They will shine brighter!

2) Do Your Laundry Without Spending Too Much Electricity

To reduce your electricity consumption related to your laundry’s maintenance, forget the dryer, if possible. It is the primary source of consumption in this area. If you can’t do without due to limited space outside or inside to dry your laundry naturally, opt for a dryer that automatically stops when your laundry is dry, thanks to a humidity sensor, and spin your laundry well before putting it in your dryer.

3) Don’t Forget to Clean the Lint Trap

As far as your washing machine is concerned, choose low-temperature washing as much as possible, without prewashing, or, even better, cold washing, because 90% of the electricity consumption of washing clothes is actually due to heating the washing water. You should also wait until your washing machine is full before starting it.

4) Turn off Electrical Appliances

Did you know that by turning off all the appliances in your home, you can save up to $80 per year? Television, stereo, and computer continue to nibble away at electricity, even in standby mode. So remember to unplug them after each use, not to mention the coffee machine or toaster in the kitchen.

5) Call a Professional

Taking advantage of the expertise of a professional to better save energy can be a great option. We often want to solve our insulation and heat loss problems, but we don’t always know where to turn for the right expertise. Energy efficiency inspectors are the best persons to advise you. With specialized equipment such as a thermal camera, they can direct you to the best decisions to make before starting any work. They will also let you know where the greatest heat losses are in your home. This way, you will be able to direct your work to the right places, such as changing a few old windows or redoing the insulation, and energy savings will multiply.

6) Opt for Thick Curtains

Putting thick curtains on all the windows will keep in warmth in winter coolness during summer. This will also allow you to save on heating and air conditioning bills.

7) Use Natural Lighting

To optimize your natural lighting, arrange your interior to favor natural lighting over artificial lighting. For example, place your desk or reading area near a window, especially since natural light is better for the eye. Similarly, open the curtains and shutters in your home as soon as it’s daylight and make sure no trees block your windows.

8) Make Economic Choices While Cooking

A few simple gestures and common sense can save energy in the kitchen:

cover pots and pans during cooking
reduce power as soon as the water boils
use a pressure cooker (faster and more efficient)

9) Turn off Lights When Leaving a Room

It’s a simple matter, but significant energy savings can be achieved by simply pressing the switch at each exit. Easy, isn’t it?

In everyday life, there are many simple gestures to adopt to reduce your energy consumption, and consequently, your electricity bill. We hope that these few tips have helped you to do so!

Tag Archives: Energy Consumption