In our environmentally conscious times it is hardly surprising that there is an increased need to think about where the materials that you make your stylish clothes and trendy new furniture come from. After all if you can look good and save the planet that’s two reasons to feel good about yourself! There are a huge range of materials out there so here’s a quick and dirty guide to the most ecological materials out there.
Abaca: Despite its name this plant has nothing to with maths but is actually a type of banana tree. Originally from the Philippines, it is also grown in Ecuador and Costa Rica as commercial crop.
Abaca in its raw state
Abaca fibres used to be known as Manila Hemp, and are now used to make everything from clothes to mattresses. Abaca has massive green credentials as the entire plant is used when it’s harvested. The tough but pliable nature of its fibres means that it is suitable for a wide range of applications. So you will find Abaca in everything from your laptop to the bills in your wallet! The main disadvantage is that it is incredibly hard to find in the UK. But if your holidaying in the Philippines maybe you can pick up a few products and start a whole new trend over here!
Bamboo: Bamboo is amazing. There doesn’t seem to be anything that you can’t make out of it, from shirts to bicycles and even whole houses, this ubiquitous grass is strong, light and providing you buy from a reputable source very green.
Bamboo, obviously
Bamboo Bicycle
Bamboo clothing has only recently become viable, but is fast becoming one of the most fashionable options for clothing as it combines comfort and toughness with impeccable green potential. Because Bamboo grows incredibly quickly and densely it doesn’t use much water, space or pesticides and it locks away roughly four times as much carbon dioxide than the equivalent acreage of trees. The disadvantages of bamboo are that it has to be transported to the UK increasing its carbon footprint and you should only buy from FSC (Forest Stewardship Council) approved sources.
Seagrass: This may sound strange but seagrass has recently started being used to make everything from rugs to wicker work. This underwater plant offers a strong durable and naturally stain resistant option and ensures that your furniture is a talking point!
Because seagrass has only recently started to be used in large qualities this has ensured that a large number of environmental organisations monitor its use and ensure that it is not over exploited. In addition Seagrass cultivation has a huge number of environmental benefits as it creates ecosystems, stabilises the seabed and protects against costal erosion.
Hemp: Used for years to make rope, hemp is actually part of the cannabis family. Fortunately, (or perhaps unfortunately depending on who you ask) hemp won’t get you high. Like Abaca and Bamboo it is rapidly renewable and is useful for a huge range of products, from bricks, to clothing and even fuel!
Hemp (Cannabis Sativa) completely legal!
As well as making things hemp is also used as a ‘mop crop’ meaning that it is grown to remove contaminants from soil such excess phosphorus and even radiation. Having said that there are some disadvantages to hemp as well, not least the fact it’s still tied to the beards and sandals stereotype! But as green starts to become fashionable I suspect we can see hemp following along. Hopefully without the beards and sandals though!
Wood: Wood is an incredibly versatile material for interiors, used to make everything from paper to wooden blindsand furniture. At its best it can be very attractive and sophisticated addition as its colouring can be used to match many different themes as a previous guest poster has already shown. The problem is of all the materials mentioned in this article wood is the most problematic from a green perspective. Illegal and unregulated logging has led to massive loss of forests which affects both the global ecosystem as well as destroying local lifestyles and biodiversity. Also whilst it is renewable trees grow far more slowly than the other plants mentioned in this post.
Fortunately there are a couple of options for ensuring that wood in your house and furniture is environmentally and ethically sourced. The first is to make sure that it is FSC approved. This makes a huge difference as it ensures that the trees are replaced and the ecosystem isn’t damaged. The other is to try to use wood from trees that aren’t threatened. For example willow is not only ubiquitous but is actually regarded as invasive weed in much of the UK. As it makes attractive wicker furniture you can use it and help local species at the same time.
I hope this post helps to show some of the new and old materials you can use in an eco-friendly lifestyle. As the green trend develops I suspect we will see these materials more and more throughout the next few years.
Photo credits:
- 1. Abaca Grass: Heather Cowper
- 2. Abaca Top: Jonathan S. Igharas
- 3. Bamboo: Mike Lowe
- 4. Bamboo bike: Su-Lin
- 5. Bamboo t-shirts: Monique
- 6. Seagrass: Paul Asman and Jill Lenoble
- 7. Hemp: Harry Harms
- 8. Wood: Axel D
- 9. Wooden furniture: Steven Coxon