Sustainable Action Leadership

Are You Being Bamboozled? A Guide on How to Avoid Mislabeling

This Brochure is a Collaboration of:

Dr. Gwendolyn Hustvedt, Texas State University‐San Marcos
and
Coral Rose, Eco‐Innovations Sustainable Textile Services

Download Brochure Here

Sustainability Leadership: An Interview with Coral Rose

You can find the original interview here; "Focus Sustainability" 2008; a comprehensive report by Lenzing Fibers.

Coral Rose, expert on Sustainable Textiles, talks about her views on sustainability in the 21st century. 

 What do you think about Lenzing’s achievements in sustainable management
and which aspects do you consider to be most essential according to your experience? 

Sustainable innovation is the key economic driver of the 21st century. Supply chain transparency is one of the basic tenets or “rules of engagement” for any sustainable business.
Lenzing offers the fiber market what few, if any, producers of fibers do, and that is both sustainable innovation and full transparency of the supply chain. One of the most important global issues is “what is the source of our raw materials? Where were the materials harvested, processed, produced?” This is a total mindset shift at the textile design level. 

Do you think that the communication of the Lenzing Botanic Principles has been
well received by the important players in the market? 

Lenzing’s Botanic Principles lead us back to the source of life on the planet, back to nature. They enhance the education of the market by applying these simple, yet easy to- understand principles. Botanic Principles connect the lifecycle of nature and sustainability to fiber innovation. Nature and sustainability are not separable. 

I strongly believe Lenzing’s products are a key component to any sustainable fiber strategy, when considering all the environmental impacts associated with fiber growing and production. Lenzing Modal® and TENCEL ® come out on top – practical, applicable and economically viable to integrate into fiber strategies of most global organizations. 

In which segments of the industry do you feel Lenzing innovations have been most visible? 

Lenzing places a high priority not only on supply chain transparency and disclosure, but also continual improvement and ongoing research and improvements of their products. Their innovations are especially vital to the activewear market as options to replace high-performance petrol based products, while maintaining quality fiber performance and economical viability. Many activewear brands are also struggling with finding sustainable options for organic cotton as their customers require garments that have excellent moisture management. Lenzing’s fibers offer the market sustainable fiber performance solutions.

Apart from the more product related aspects, how would you rate the importance of the more general social and environmental issues in the supply chain? Are customers prepared to pay premiums for outstanding performance in these fields? 

Fundamentally, social and environmental issues are business issues, and this concept is part of the core foundational principles at Lenzing. “People, Planet, Profit” is often used to describe the triple bottom line and the goal of sustainability. The fact is that they are all connected and should be thought of in one globally accepted conversation. Lenzing does just that. 

Human rights and environmental stewardship are inextricably linked. Everybody has the right to a secure, healthy and ecologically sound environment. We have also seen a huge market shift to fair trade products, from coffee to cotton, in the last few years. This is a positive sign that the brands and consumers are willing to pay extra to ensure that farmers and producers are able to live sustainably.

Lenzing sets very high benchmarks, where other fiber producers should aspire to. It is a key valued fiber partner and regards partnerships with the market to be very important. I recently toured the Modal facility in Lenzing, Austria, and was impressed with the closed loop system in place and accountability for all inputs and outputs. 

note; Believe it or not-that is a picture (above) of the Lenzing facility in Lenzing, Austria--right out of the "Sound of Music" in fact the Sound of Music was filmed on the bluff this picture was taken from!!!!!

“Sustainable innovation is the key economic driver of the 21st century. Supply chain transparency is one of the basic tenets for any sustainable business.” Coral Rose

Sustainability Leadership- an Interview with Coral Rose

You can find the original interview here; "Focus Sustainability" 2008; a comprehensive report by Lenzing Fibers.

Coral Rose, expert on Sustainable Textiles, talks about her views on sustainability in the 21st century. 

What do you think about Lenzing’s achievements in sustainable management
and which aspects do you consider to be most essential according to your experience? 

Sustainable innovation is the key economic driver of the 21st century. Supply chain transparency is one of the basic tenets or “rules of engagement” for any sustainable business.
Lenzing offers the fiber market what few, if any, producers of fibers do, and that is both sustainable innovation and full transparency of the supply chain. One of the most important global issues is “what is the source of our raw materials? Where were the materials harvested, processed, produced?” This is a total mindset shift at the textile design level. 

Do you think that the communication of the Lenzing Botanic Principles has been
well received by the important players in the market? 

Lenzing’s Botanic Principles lead us back to the source of life on the planet, back to nature. They enhance the education of the market by applying these simple, yet easy to- understand principles. Botanic Principles connect the lifecycle of nature and sustainability to fiber innovation. Nature and sustainability are not separable. 

I strongly believe Lenzing’s products are a key component to any sustainable fiber strategy, when considering all the environmental impacts associated with fiber growing and production. Lenzing Modal® and TENCEL ® come out on top – practical, applicable and economically viable to integrate into fiber strategies of most global organizations. 

In which segments of the industry do you feel Lenzing innovations have been most visible? 

Lenzing places a high priority not only on supply chain transparency and disclosure, but also continual improvement and ongoing research and improvements of their products. Their innovations are especially vital to the activewear market as options to replace high-performance petrol based products, while maintaining quality fiber performance and economical viability. Many activewear brands are also struggling with finding sustainable options for organic cotton as their customers require garments that have excellent moisture management. Lenzing’s fibers offer the market sustainable fiber performance solutions.

Apart from the more product related aspects, how would you rate the importance of the more general social and environmental issues in the supply chain? Are customers prepared to pay premiums for outstanding performance in these fields? 

Fundamentally, social and environmental issues are business issues, and this concept is part of the core foundational principles at Lenzing. “People, Planet, Profit” is often used to describe the triple bottom line and the goal of sustainability. The fact is that they are all connected and should be thought of in one globally accepted conversation. Lenzing does just that. 

Human rights and environmental stewardship are inextricably linked. Everybody has the right to a secure, healthy and ecologically sound environment. We have also seen a huge market shift to fair trade products, from coffee to cotton, in the last few years. This is a positive sign that the brands and consumers are willing to pay extra to ensure that farmers and producers are able to live sustainably.

Lenzing sets very high benchmarks, where other fiber producers should aspire to. It is a key valued fiber partner and regards partnerships with the market to be very important. I recently toured the Modal facility in Lenzing, Austria, and was impressed with the closed loop system in place and accountability for all inputs and outputs. 

note; Believe it or not-that is a picture (above) of the Lenzing facility in Lenzing, Austria--right out of the "Sound of Music" in fact the Sound of Music was filmed on the bluff this picture was taken from!!!!!

“Sustainable innovation is the key economic driver of the 21st century. Supply chain transparency is one of the basic tenets for any sustainable business.” Coral Rose

Techno-Green Textiles

Excerpt from the latest issue of Textile Insight:

Click here: Fusing Eco and Function in this Season of Sustainability

Just like synthetics and natural fibers learned to co-exist in today’s marketplace – when was the last time you heard “cotton kills” or any anti-wool comments? – the worlds of eco and performance are now aligning.

No longer considered separate forces, the emerging trend is finding common ground where both man-made fibers and eco-based textiles can thrive. Indeed, these days the market appears to be asking for some bamboo with its CoolMax and nylon that is Oeko-Tex approved.

In this season of sustainability, not only is the merging of green and synthetic found in new product – consider Schoeller’s nanosphere technology used with hemp for snowboard garments – but the trend carries over to new production methods and innovative marketing efforts. Certification has ramped up considerably in the past year, and in many cases the industry as a whole is demanding “approved” products and processes in forming new partnerships.

New campaigns and corporate promotions are also centered on environmental initiatives, but based on green product that is performance-oriented.

Activewear Eco-Performance Innovations

Posted here by EcoTextileNews Functional and ecological

NETHERLANDS – [08.12.08] Polyester yarn producer Advansa has teamed up with Tencel maker Lenzing to introduce a new range of activewear fabrics which are claimed to offer both ecological and performance benefits.

The fabrics are a combination of Advansa’s ‘ThermoºCool Eco’ and Lenzing’s Tencel cellulosic fibre.

The new Advansa fibre is a PTT polymer based on ‘Bio-PDO’ which is derived from renewable raw materials such as corn sugar.

Together with Tencel this fabric is said to offer a high moisture absorption capacity due to Tencel yarns on the outer side of the fabric which rapidly removes moisture and the multi-channel cross sectional profile of the Advansa PTT ‘ThermoºCool Eco’ on the inner side which wicks moisture to the surface.

This combination of yarns is said to guarantee a drier skin surface during sports activities.

“Depending on the mass per unit area in question, textiles can be designed for various applications such as thermoregulating underwear, socks or textiles offering protection and performance solution for all environmental conditions,” said Advansa in a press statement.

How Green Is Your Wardrobe?

Orginal Post on EcoTextile News click here

MATLOCK – [08.07.08] A new on-line calculator which allows consumers to calculate the environmental impact of their clothing has been launched by Colour Connections Ltd – the same company which developed the ground-breaking textile eco-metrics (click here or see this blogs 7.18.08 post) for manufacturers and clothing brands.

The new ‘Household Textile Environmental Impact Calculator’ differs from textile eco-metrics in that it's aimed specifically at shoppers instead of the textile industry. Using a series of drop-down menus and a set of complex mathematics hidden behind its user friendly interface allows consumers to assess the environmental impact of the choices they make when they buy, care and dispose of household textiles and clothing.

All users have to do is choose from a list of common clothing items in terms of how many items they buy and how they are disposed in a twelve month period. Then users are asked how these items are washed, dried and ironed in a typical week. After pressing the 'calculate' button, users score a rating in terms of 'Environmental Damage Units' or EDU’s. The EDU value is an environmental measure which is scientifically arrived at based on water and energy use, the use of non-renewable resources and pollution.

The overall EDU score for each item of clothing depends on each individual consumer’s buying preferences, how they care for their garments and ultimately how they dispose of them.

“You may be surprised at how much impact your personal or family clothing preferences have on the environment,” said Phil Patterson, managing director of Colour Connections. “Doing one fewer tumble drying cycle per week saves 170 EDU’s, which is enough to make the fabric for 50 pairs of underpants.”

CLICK HERE to see how your wardrobe stacks up.

Copyright © 2008 Mowbray Communications Ltd 

Labeling of Textiles: National Organic Program (NOP)

USDA regulates the term “organic” as it applies to agricultural products through its
National Organic Program (NOP) regulation, 7 CFR Part 205.(LINK HERE)

● Raw natural fibers, such as cotton, wool ,flax, etc., are agricultural products and
are covered under the NOP crop/livestock production standards. Off-farm treatment of
raw organic fibers are not covered under the NOP crop/livestock production standards. 

● Although the NOP has no specific fiber or textile processing and manufacturing
standards, it may be possible for fi bers grown and certified to NOP crop/livestock standards
to be processed and manufactured into textile and other products which meet NOP
standards. 

Labeling for Certified Handling/Processing/ Manufacturing Operations 

Only textile products certified to the NOP production AND processing standards are eligible to be labeled
“100 percent organic” and “organic.” 

100 percent organic 

● 100 percent organic fiber content.

● Only organic processing aids.

● USDA Organic seal may be displayed on final product, in marketing materials, and in retail
displays—in proximity to certified products only.

● All operations producing, handling, processing and manufacturing the final product must be
certified. 

Organic 

● Minimum of 95 percent organic fiber content.

● 5 percent nonorganic substances, as listed in Section 205.605 of the NOP regulation.

● No non-organic fibers.

● USDA Organic seal may be displayed on final product, in marketing materials, and in retail
displays—in proximity to certified products only.

● All operations producing, handling, processing,and manufacturing the final product must be certified. 

Other Uses of the Word “Organic” in Textile Product Labeling 

The NOP does not restrict the use of the term “made with organic …” in the labeling of textile products to
only those products manufactured in certified organic facilities or containing a minimum of 70 percent
organic fibers. However, all fibers identified in these textile products as “organic” must be produced and
certified to NOP standards. 

Labels on textile products from non-certified handling/processing/manufacturing operations: 

● May identify specific fibers as being organic if certified to the NOP crop/livestock standards.

● May state the percentage of organic fibers contained in the final product.

● May not use the USDA Organic seal.

● May not imply or lead the consumer to believe that the final product is certified organic 

Other Labeling Laws 

● NOP label requirements are in addition to those required by the Federal Trade
Commission’s (FTC) Textile and Wool Acts.

● Information on FTC labeling requirements for textiles can be found at the following websites:

Threading Your Way Through the Labeling Requirements of The Textile and Wool Acts

Calling it Cotton

Web Tool Calculates Textile Eco-Footprint

Originally Posted Here on Eco Textile News

PONTEFRACT – [07.18.08] Textile eco-metrics, the world’s first tool for simple assessment of the environmental impacts of textile production and use has been now been launched by Colour Connections in conjunction with Ecotextile News. It is now available to access directly from this web-site.

This revolutionary new web-based calculator takes into account the entire production route from fibre selection through to fabric production to dyeing and finishing. It also compares the production impacts of different washing and drying methods over the lifetime of a garment by consumers.

Using cleverly derived Environmental Damage Units (EDU’s) the impact of different fibres, fabric weights and dyeing and finishing methods can be compared in terms of water impact, energy use, use of non-renewable resources and pollution.

A simple colour coded report is produced that enables users to see at a glance where a particular product has most impact and highlights the areas that require attention or, conversely, where products and methods are good. The easy-to-read colour coded grid conceals the complex mathematics involved but an overall indicative EDU score enables easy comparisons between different textiles to be made.

Textile eco-metrics also provides simple, easy to understand explanations of what is good or bad about a particular fibre, fabric or process so it can be used to increase the levels of understanding about what is fact and what is ‘greenwash’ in the world of textiles and clothing.

Of particular interest to those committed to a sustainable textile industry are the Sub-Optimal Durability Units (SODU’s) that are calculated to show just how bad low durability clothing merchandise is for the environment. For example a product that has a production impact of 10 EDU’s and lasts for 50 domestic washes is far better than a similar garment that an impact of five production EDU’s but only lasts five washes – the latter garment would need to replaced nine times in the same lifetime so a penalty of 45 EDU’s would be awarded.

Textile Eco-metrics will be developed on an on-going basis and is available for an annual subscription.

To see how to use Eco-Metrics CLICK HERE.

CLICK HERE for more information on how to subscribe to EcoTextile News.

Copyright © 2008 Mowbray Communications Ltd

 

Sustainable Textiles.....

Here is the definition of Sustainable Textiles that I have been using the last two years in my  Eco-Innovations workshops

 

•  All materials and process inputs and outputs are safe for human and ecological health in all phases of the product life cycle.
• All energy, material and process inputs come from renewable or recycled sources.

• All materials are capable of returning safely to either natural systems or industrial systems.

• All stages in the product life cycle actively support the reuse or recycling of these materials at  the highest possible level of quality.

• All product life cycle stages enhance social well being.

Above Design by Harmony Art

 

THANK YOU.......

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