Why Should Cotton Be Organic?
Cotton is the most widely used natural fiber in apparels today. Chances are 50% of your clothing in the wardrobe is made out of it, this natural fabric accounts for half of all the fabric sold in the world, but sadly it is the most water intensive and pest sensitive crop.
Cotton's susceptibility to pests makes it one of the most pesticide intensive crop, though it is grown only on 2% of the world's crop land, Conventional cotton drives 25% of global sales of insecticides and pesticides. All these poisonous chemicals with devastating effects can cause cancers and irreparable damage as they contaminate the soil and water supplies. Each T-shirt made from conventional Cotton uses 165 grams of synthetic fertilizers and farm chemicals.
Cotton's high chemical usage doesn't just stop at its raw form, its processing into finished fabric and apparel requires various chemical treatments such as bleaching, scouring dyeing, printing etc for improving performance and appearance. Every stage of the process uses toxic chemicals such as peroxides, formaldehyde, phthalates, pvc, lead which are washed off into the environment, at least 8000 chemicals are used to turn raw materials into a finished garment. So can anything be done about this?
Organic: Characteristic of, pertaining to, or derived from living organisms "Organic Cotton"
How is organic cotton different?
Organic cotton production is a system of growing cotton without the need of fertilizers, pesticides and herbicides hence decreasing the effects on the soil and all living matter. Once produced the raw material has to be processed in an industry which employs stringent standards like usage of environment friendly dyes, Waste Water Management, minimum social responsibility etc. (if the dye applied was high in chemicals then the benefits of the organic cotton have been lost)
Certified Organic cotton is in short supply and represents just 1% of total production. It is important to check that you are actually buying certified organic cotton, what percentage of a final product is organic cotton and what sort of dye was used on the organic cotton.
Who would monitor such a system, how can the cotton be traced from the origin to the finished good?
GOTS - Global Organic Textile Standards http://www.global-standard.org are the standards followed by all entities in the supply chain right from the farmers, industries & brands. The aim of this standard is to define requirements to ensure organic status of textiles, from harvesting of the raw materials, through environmentally and socially responsible manufacturing up to labeling in order to provide a credible assurance to the end consumer.
Author: I am an Engineering graduate with an inclination towards fashion and apparel,in the process of building my brand I have seen the abuse of environment and its comrades in the textile industry, wanting to be responsible made all the difference for me, http://www.leep.in to see if it would make any difference to you.
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What Manufacturers Should Consider Before Purchasing Degreasing Solvents
Getting rid of grease, carbon deposits, coal, dust, water-based paints, and fuel oil is no sweat with high quality aqueous degreasing solvents. Any dirty surface or grimy piece of equipment can be cleaned easily with an aqueous solvent, provided it is not a material that would be damaged by normal water contact. Manufacturing facilities frequently use these cleaners for tanks, power washing, and various mechanical applications. There are two types of solvent cleaners available, featuring some differences that may not seem important to manufacturers until they take a closer look. Although each is used to clean the same tough areas manufacturing plants always struggle with, some citrus industrial degreasing products are highly flammable, even as an aqueous solution. Facilities with expensive machinery, large stock inventories, and valuable employees simply cannot risk losing everything over choosing the wrong cleaner. Organic and biodegradable formulas are the preferred choice of many manufacturers, for very simple reasons:
Organic solutions are non-flammable. Sometimes all it takes is a slight accident, short lapse in judgment, or basic human error to bring a multi-faceted operation to a screeching halt. Employees are not perfect. That is why OSHA (Occupational Safety and Health Administration) provides specific guidelines to determine what a hazardous workplace environment entails, in order to protect everyone in a manufacturing facility. These rules not only benefit employees, they ease the minds of business owners who cannot even imagine what it would be like to lose productivity in the event of a fire or even worse, losing the life of a hard-working employee over something so easily preventable.
Biodegradable cleaners deteriorate naturally after they are used. Using a biodegradable industrial degreasing product is safer for the environment, as well as more convenient for manufacturers. The common challenges associated with proper disposal of toxic compounds takes time and effort away from daily manufacturing operations. Chemicals that require strict conditions just to throw them away will not only reduce productivity, they directly impact annual business profits. Many toxic compounds actually cost money to throw them away, due to the need to hire a waste management company for careful handling and processing.
Degreasing solvents that are non-corrosive help to avoid losing products and equipment when they simply need to be cleaned. Part of having a routine sanitation policy in place is not only to maintain a safe manufacturing facility for employees, but to extend the life of expensive materials that are used on a daily basis. In addition to metal, rubber and plastic components often play an integral role in factory operations. Toxic cleaning chemicals cause rubber and plastic applications to deteriorate after long periods of exposure, or sometimes instantly eat away at them depending on the strength of the agent being used. To protect your overhead budget, and avoid having to replace equipment more frequently, try an industrial degreasing solution that is designed for heavy-duty cleaning on multiple surfaces.
Understanding your options between degreasing solvents is an essential part of making decisions that will benefit your entire manufacturing facility. Choosing organic, biodegradable, and non-corrosive industrial degreasing formulas protects the environment by reducing the amount of toxins that are released into the air. As if that weren't enough, organic degreasing solvents also lead to safer workplaces for employees, higher levels of quality control, and more effective cost solutions for manufacturers.
Degreasing solvents used throughout the manufacturing industry are compared to organic industrial degreasing products, for business owners to determine which is more beneficial.
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Degreasing Cleaner: Why Should a Business Switch to Lower Toxicity Products?
Degreasing is a vital process in most industries because it allows workers to remove unwanted particles from product parts or machinery. A strong cleaner is needed to eliminate stains or buildup on items used in various manufacturing facilities or automotive processes. Industrial strength cleaners are also found in restaurants, dry cleaning businesses, and in any setting where paint or varnish films must be removed. They are a versatile product businesses rely on to handle heavy duty cleaning.
A degreasing cleaner is a solution that can eradicate oil, dirt, grease, or other impurities from the surface of an item. Unique properties allow the product to accomplish removal quite easily. Degreasers intended for industrial use are specifically designed for oil or grease. They assist in cleaning part creation equipment or the manufactured parts themselves. Ordinary cleaners do not have the chemical properties or strength to accomplish this industry task.
Industrial Solvents: Benefits of Switching to Organic Solutions
The use of industrial solvents until recent years has resulted in the release of harmful compounds. Organic products are being manufactured to meet increased concern for the environment, public health, and worker safety. After years of use, many businesses have recognized the reverse effects of using more toxic chemicals for this purpose. Common agents cause additional corrosion and markings on the metal. The resulting damage made these chemicals less cost effective. Health problems appeared, resulting from workers being in direct contact with the chemicals and their released vapor compounds.
Repairs caused delays in productivity, thus leading to financial losses. Compound releases harm the atmosphere and must be handled correctly to prevent health conditions. The enclosed environment requires certain factors for use. Inappropriate temperatures, bad ventilation, or other factors increased the risk of implementing these agents. Multiple complications left many businesses desiring better ways to perform cleaning. Manufacturers are moving toward organic agents as a way to meet their consumer demands. These alternatives are safer to use and are eco-friendly.
The Environmental Protection Agency, or EPA has also boosted the demand for less harmful industrial solvents. Initiatives, such as "Going Green," have put businesses in the spotlight for more environmentally conscious practices. The EPA has set forth many regulations in an attempt to reduce the environmental harm posed by these substances. The regulations prohibit or restrict use of certain hazardous chemicals. Most new chemicals being offered today are nontoxic or have minimal toxicity levels. A large majority are also biodegradable and not as flammable.
As companies switch to safer products, they often experience rewarding cost savings. Organic based cleaners do not harm metal, leading to a reduction in part repairs and replacements. High flash-points in organic solvents decrease flammability, and allergic reactions and health problems are eliminated when implemented. Reduction of skin irritations or other conditions leads to lower insurance costs. Facilities using organic substitutes can save money and are able to provide a safer working environment without experiencing less effective cleaning. Any company not receiving these benefits should evaluate their current degreasing cleaner to determine if a better option is available.
Industrial solvents are made available for safer chemical cleaning processes. A low toxicity degreasing cleaner provides significant cost savings along with many safety benefits.
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