Green T Campaign
If your organization plans to purchase cotton t-shirts as a promotional item or giveaway ­— please read on. The conventional cotton t-shirt is not the benign, happy item it seems to be.

Did you know:
~ Conventional cotton is the most toxin-intensive fiber on earth. It requires 1/3 pound of poisons to produce the cotton used for the typical t-shirt. Toxins are also used in the dying and finishing of conventional cotton.

~ In one year, the average American throws away 70 pounds of clothing. More than 3/4 of our discarded clothing goes to landfills to be plowed under.
~ The constant demand for cheap new clothing encourages manufacturers to rush to production, increasing the possibility that clothing is made under unsafe or inhumane conditions.

You can help counteract the negative impacts of cotton Ts. How?
~ Consider whether t-shirts (or other non-sustainable promotional items) are really needed. Would the intended recipients be just as happy with a group photo, a gift certificate, or a good meal? Would an alternative, such as a reusable tote made from recycled materials, be a good substitute? Poll participants in your program to see if they want and will use your giveaway.
~ If shirts are needed to identify staff at an event, set up a way for them to be returned, laundered, and reused.
~ Still need shirts? Order from a source that will provide organic cotton shirts printed with non-toxic inks.

Remember, your purchase and distribution of t-shirts is only part of the entire product life cycle. Order only as many shirts as you need and have a plan for responsible disposal of any leftovers. You may contact SewGreen for ideas on where to donate surplus shirts.

Tips for shopping for earth-friendly T’s and other promotional items:
Before you order, contact the vendor and ask for product information, for example:
~ Are the shirts 100 percent certified organic cotton?
~ Are the dyes non-toxic?
~ Is the ink used for printing non-toxic? If not, ask if the shirts can be shipped directly to a non-toxic printer.
~ Ask what “recycled” means. Is the product 100 percent recycled?
~ Where is the product made? Are the workers adults who are paid fairly and treated with respect for their health and wellbeing?
~ How far must the products be shipped? If you have a choice, consider using a vendor that is closer to you.

Online sources of organic Ts and other earth-friendly promotional items

E-Conscious www.econscious.net/

Blank organic Ts, polos, hats, bags. Retail or wholesale.

Organic Apparel www.organicapparel.us/index.php

Blank organic Ts in naturally dyed colors. Retail or wholesale.

SOS From Texas www.sosfromtexas.com/ 

Organic Ts made from Texas-grown cotton. Partners with Planet Ink http://www.planet-ink.com/ for non-toxic imprinting. Retail or wholesale.

Planet Ink www.planet-ink.com/

Non-toxic silkscreen printing on organic t-shirts. Small or large print runs. Price breaks for large quantity orders.

EnviroTote www.enviro-tote.com/ 

Organic cotton and recycled soda bottle bags. Price breaks for large quantity orders.

American Apparel www.americanapparel.net

Carries organic cotton T's for men, women, children; all made in USA, sweatshop-free.

Earth Wear www.earth-wear.com/ 

Custom promotional Ts. Silk-screen printing on organic cotton shirts.

Green Team Promos www.greenteampromos.com/

Many recycled promotional items including Frisbees, yoyos, mugs, ice scrapers etc. Your logo imprinted.

E-Promos www.epromos.com/

Carries a line of environmentally friendly and organic products. Search site for “organic promotional products and apparel.”

Re-Threads www.rethreads.com

Carries a line of environmentally friendly and organic products. Search site for “green promo line.”

NOTE: T-shirts can be reused and made into other items, such as tote bags, rugs, and new fashions. Less printing on a shirt makes it more useable as it moves through the product life cycle.

Organic cotton can be composted. Non-organic cotton and most other fabrics can't be composted because the toxins make them unsuitable or because they contain plastic or petroleum-based fibers that don't break down.

More info:

ECOFASHION
Article: Green Living 101: Fashion Fundamentals by Jana Leyde

CLOTHING SWAPS
Swaporamarama
Life Organizers: How to organize a clothes swap

FAIR TRADE
Fair Trade Federation
TransFair USA

END OF THE ROAD
Article: "What Happens to Donated Clothes" by Emily Main

Shop 'til you drop? We don't think so!

It's no longer "cool" to go on shopping binges or to shop for sheer entertainment. Americans have been conditioned to become insatiable consumers, lured by low prices and an endless supply of goods. The problem is, the supply train never stops chugging along. Its cargo uses up human and natural resources, lives briefly in our homes and closets, and is quickly dumped into big holes in the ground called landfills.

Want to get a better idea of what's really going on? We recommend watching the short video, The Story of Stuff. It's entertaining and very direct in showing the real consequences of Western consumerism.

Of course, we still love clothes! It's easy to shop responsibly and still make a fashion statement. Here are some suggestions for building a sustainable wardrobe:

~ Go for quality over quantity. Buy classic styles that will always look good regardless of short-lived fashion trends.
~ Buy vintage, second-hand,and refashioned clothing.
~ Check the labels for organic and earth-friendly fabrics, Fair Trade, and union-made clothing.
~ Do you own refashioning and reuse sewing. Make small repairs that will keep an article of clothing wearable longer.
~ Find a seamstress or tailor you like and have good-quality apparel custom-made or altered to fit. The cost may be lower than you think.
~ Pass on clothes you no longer want by having a clothing swap, donating them to thrift and charity shops, or selling on consignment.



It feels good to feel good about your clothes!