HEMP
Hemp is often considered an environmental super fibre. Hemp fabric is made from
the fibres in the herbaceous plant of the species cannabis sativa. It’s a high-yield
crop that produces significantly more fibre per acre than either cotton or flax. Hemp
textiles are lightweight and durable with three times the tensile strength of cotton.
Take a Look Inside: Fillings And Mattresses
There’s no point purchasing eco-friendly soft furnishings if the item is padded with a
synthetic fill or wadding. Look for inserts made with 100% PET fibre, which is derived
from recycled water bottles. They look and feel similar to polyester inserts, but have
more durability and longevity.
100% feather inserts are another option as long as the feathers have been
responsibly sourced. This means that birds, commonly ducks and geese, did not
suffer as a result of live-plucking.
Toxin-free foam made from natural latex is also a good choice for sofas, mattresses,
cushions and pillows.
Consider Toxicity Of Inks and Dyes
Opt for designs printed naturally with non-toxic, low-toxic, vegetable, plant or water
-based inks. Natural dyes are a renewable resource and not dependent on petroleum
as are many synthetic dyes.
Candles
Candles don’t use electricity, they create wonderful mood lighting and the scented
ones smell great. Unfortunately, a burning candle also releases a cocktail of
chemicals into the air. Avoid paraffin based candles - they release a number of
carcinogens including acetaldehyde, acrolein, benzene, formaldehyde, polyaromatic
hydrocarbons and toluene as well as the greenhouse gas, carbon dioxide. On top of
that, paraffin is a by-product of petroleum, so you’re hurting the planet.
Thankfully, there are eco-friendly alternatives, based on clean-burning vegetable
waxes like soy or beeswax. Always check the ingredients. Beeswax is non-allergenic,
non-toxic and smoke-free while soy wax candles are both toxin-free and long lasting
thanks to their cooler burning temperature. If a candle contains palm-oil make sure
it’s supplied by members of the Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO), which
help to reduce the environmental impact of palm oil production.
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