World’s First Carbon Footprint Label For Clothing

carbon footprint For over four hundred years Denmark provided the backdrop for Hamlet. The great theme of the play involved a willingness to act to seek to undo past harms despite the risk and cost. Modern day Denmark again paints a background where action is demanded by those who may not wish to go against the status quo.

Instead of a howling ghost screaming for action, delegates attending the United Nations Climate Change Conference in Copenhagen, Denmark face a haunting presence in the form of humanity’s Global impact. Unlike easing the burden of Hamlet’s dead father, the scientists and politicians meeting in today’s Copenhagen must lift the burdens from the shoulders of our children.

Like Hamlet, they must move beyond merely talking about wrongs; delegates and all of us must “Take arms against a sea of trouble.” Countries must act as individuals must act. Whether it be grand or puny, we owe a duty to the future.

Our ghost is the carbon footprint as measured through our carbon usage and the carbon consumed in the production of products we use. From energy production and usage to the clothes we wear, everything we do leaves its mark (footprint) on our planet.

Shakespeare would be pleased to know that England has acted – launching a program to help businesses assess the carbon footprint of their goods and services. One area where England focused its attention is the textile industry.

They have launched the world’s first carbon footprint label for clothing. The project is part of the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs’ (Defra) sustainable clothing action plan, that was piloted with the help of Continental Clothing and Carbon Trust.

laundry The standard measures the GHG emissions in goods and services through their entire lifecycle. The Carbon Reduction Label for textiles displayed on T-shirts and sweatshirts will inform the consumer of the total lifecycle footprint as well as their own contribution through washing, tumble-drying and ironing. A huge portion of the environmental impact from clothing actually comes from the consumers usage and laundering.

Textiles might seem like an odd industry to pick on what with coal and cars, but the textile industry is one of the biggest sources of greenhouse gasses on Earth. Remember pesticides and fertilizers used in growing have multiple carbon prints. Harvesting machines increase that print. They began working with people around the world: Romanian farmers; a Japanese mill owner committed to “green” processes, an Italian mill that produces no wastewater. They’ve even found an Italian dye house that produces biodegradable, heavy-metal free textiles.

Of course we believe bamboo is one of the most eco-friendly sources for textiles currently in production, due to the fact that it is the world’s fastest growing woody plant, requires no pesticides or toxic chemicals throughout the growth and harvesting process, and requires less laundering than other garments due to its non odiferous qualities.

We also believe that unlike Hamlet, we don’t have to be princes in order to leave our marks on the planet. We don’t have to be ambassadors or science wizards to have a positive impact on our world. Each of us creates a Global footprint, and each of us can minimize the size and impact of that print. Wouldn’t it be great if the U.S. could come up with a similar program for the labeling of our textiles?

Here is a terrific selection of bamboo clothing you may want to give a try for its unique characteristics; super absorbent, wicks sweat away, odor-free keeping you fresh, ultra soft, and most importantly – it comes from an eco-friendly source – bamboo.