ENV211

This article/video shocked me, it talks about how the production of leather is affecting the environment in a specific neighborhood of Bangladesh; where it is produced. I was mainly shocked about how the workers are treated and how the chemicals are affecting them but the government or employers are not trying to help them.

That is pretty terrible.

This has nothing to do with my major, but I thought it was interesting and a quick read. It talks about how there is not a laptop in the market that is ethically made to help the environment. Most of us own laptops and high technology phones but I don't think we think about how their manufacturing affects the environment.

I toyed with the idea of asking for an iPad or Fire HD for Christmas. I decided I don't absolutely need one and this article supports that decision even more.

When I was younger I use to go to this youth center and hangout with my friends all day long, before I left I remember just talking to architects about this green building. Now, years later the United Teen Equality Center in my home town is the oldest, Platinum LEED Certified building in the country. This new building is an amazing step for the staff to continue to help the trouble teens in my town of Lowell, MA. And their not only doing it in a big way but a way that is good for our environment as well.

An impressive accomplishment! LEED Platinum is difficult to reach. They must have some strong supporters. You should go get a tour when it opens.

This is a great way to get people informed on what exactly the fashion industry is doing to the environment. Garments were tested for chemicals that might harm the environment or human health. It found that 89 of the 141 contained detectable levels of nonylphenol ethoxylates or NPEs. The campaign is pushing for fashion brands to commit to zero discharge of all hazardous chemicals by 2020.  

Greenpeace loves doing stuff like this. They try to capture as much free media attention as possible. This one did not get much play though.

A company focused on creating dyed fabrics with virtually no use of water. By using little to no water, this company is really helping cut down the carbon footprint of the fashion industry.

This article explains how right now more than 62% of the United states is in a drought and how it will hurt our agricultural economy. Raised food prices, dried out wells, and wild fires will be a direct result of the drought. The drought however is pushing Scientist and meteorologist to find more sustainable ways to farm and ways to prevent droughts like this in the future.

This article intruoduces some of the strides taken by some professsional sports franchises and their stadiums/arenas to make the world a better place. For example, "The National Hockey League sends unused food at arenas to local soup kitchens, keeping 105 tons of food out of landfills."

This article discusses how climate change could affect the major food crops of the world. It also talks about how food drives up the rate of green house gases. From production to transportation and refrigeration-emits up to a third of human-generated greenhouse gases. The purpose of the article is to get people to search for a more sustainable food industry.

Many people in the northeast U.S are switching to burning wood or wood pellets to save money on heating costs. Wood and wood pellets are cheaper than oil and are said to cut the heating expenses in the northeast in half. Its also much less of a burden on the environment. Burning wood releases about 0.055 kg of CO2 per kWH compared to 0.3kg for coal. This is a great way to save money and help reduce pollution!

Ecouterre is a website that promotes about eco friendly fashion, designers, and technology. The idea is to inform the public about the advances being made in sustainable fashion. There has also been a new certificate developed that encourages fashion brands and retailers to recycle waste and become more sustainable. Consumers are able to use the certificate to see how their purchase is directly impacting the environment. I think this certificate is such a great idea. Being able to directly see how one's purchase is affecting the environment will definitely encourage more people to shop at retailers that utilize the certificate. 

The eco-friendly fashion company Edun, run by Bono and his wife, and Diesel are collaborating on a collection that will promote sustainability. All of the garments will be created in Africa, where both companies have programs and charities. I admire the fact that both companies have found a way to give back to and sustain the environment that their garments are coming from. I also appreciate the strict guidelines that Edun holds itself to. I would love to see more fashion brands follow similar guidelines when producing their garments. 

A housewares store in New York is displaying sustainable garments created by CFDA fashion designers. Some of those designers received awards for having a business that is at least 30% sustainable. I think it is great that these eco friendly garments are being featured in such a cool, unique way and the fact that they are recruiting and honoring CFDA designers who have created sustainable garments shows that the fashion industry recognizes the importance of going green.

The Spanish fast fashion company Zara has come under intense fire recently. This article discusses how Zara has failed to do anything about the hazardous chemicals they are releasing into the same water that residents rely on. They are now being pressured to re-evaluate their environmental policies. Since they produce so many garments every year they have a very profound environmental impact. They hope by setting an example with Zara that it will lead to a toxic-free future. Obviously it's not going to be that simple though. 

I found this article to be very interesting. Their goal is to become a "zero carbon club."

Greenpeace is claiming that the toxic chemicals used to produce clothing are harming manufacturers in Asia, as the chemicals contain carcinogens. They suggest buying second hand or organic clothing or buying less garments. It does raise the question of whether the chemicals harm the consumer over time. Obviously it would be very beneficial to reduce the use of these chemicals but I think there are other options besides buying less or second hand.

Haggar is making men's khaki pants out of a fabric that contains up to 7 recycled plastic bottles. This is one of the few times I have seen sustainability in menswear and if it becomes a trend it will be a great thing for both the environment and the fashion industry.