Monday, November 16, 2009
Final Blog
Starting this project of keeping a blog page, honestly seemed horrifying to me at first. I’ve never been good with computers, or just hashing out ideas that I have on a page where everyone could read it. I’m more of a keep to myself kind of person, and that’s why a majority of my blogs aren’t even really personalized. I hope that I did manage to convey a sort of new outlook to people who really aren’t into the whole organic scene. And yeah, I get that it’s supposedly the “cool” thing to do now, and a few readers didn’t seem to take to that jumping on the bandwagon of going green all that well. But after doing research, and getting more into my topic and the project at hand, it was staggering to see the results of just how harmful normal objects in any household are. It’s made me more conscious of what’s going on in the world, and if any of that stuck with any readers, then I’d have to say I’m pretty satisfied with the blogging as whole.
Hangers
Most posts I have put up have been all about going green clothing, but I realized none of them have touched on taking care of them. A lot of clothes have the dry clean only label, and after delving further into the dry cleaning world, I came across some staggering statistics. Dry cleaning is just as harmful to society as cotton farms, and as a result, “green” dry cleaning companies are being formed, but have yet to mark their mark on society like green clothing has. There was one company in particular that made an impact on me when I read the article and that was “Hangers Cleaners”.
“Hangers Cleaners” is the newest green dry cleaners. They use a biodegradable soap dissolved in liquefied carbon dioxide. It’s completely harmless though, and is even safe enough that it is used to decaffeinate coffee and make soft drinks fizz. Hangers is also a high profile model of “green chemistry”. “Green chemistry” is the unofficial name government officials gave to various programs whose goal is to wean society off of noxious chemicals, which started up in the early 1990’s.
In 1997, Hangers technology won the Environmental Protection Agency’s Green Chemistry Challenge Award, but unfortunately that was still not enough to take the Hangers franchise to the next level. The projected expansion was supposed to be in 40 more areas, yet has fulfilled a significantly less amount, and only about a handful of stores has opened.
Joseph M. DeSimone is a professor of chemistry and chemical engineering at the University of North Carolina and North Carolina State and is the main man behind the “Hangers” operation. He is one of the many researchers investigating compressed or liquefied carbon dioxide as a substitute for more hazardous chemicals. Along with two former students, DeSimone formed Micell as alternative use to these chemicals. One such chemical it can replace is perchloroethylene, which is the most harmful chemical used in dry cleaning, also known as perc.
Perc can cause cancer and other ailments for cleaning workers and even residents of nearby buildings. Perc vapors and discharges also contaminate ground water. It also earned a reputation as a versatile and powerful degreaser during World War Two and replaced the petroleum-based solvents that had been fire hazards in the 1950’s. By the 1990’s, dry cleaners were the main leading source of this pollution.
Regrettably, dry cleaners have managed to look past this point, and still use perc systems, mainly because it is more cost efficient. Micell’s equipment is not only a 10-ton rectangle of pipes, pumps, etc, and can not fit in many dry cleaners quarters, but it also costs 150,000 dollars a unit. Perc systems, that handle similar sized loads, cost only 60,000 dollars per unit. Add to that, the state the economy is in now, and that makes many dry cleaners averse to investing in a new more expensive product.
Since the technology is there to relinquish the hold perc has over many dry cleaners, the next step in the right direction is marketing. Sam Brickle, who is a 62 year old Rhode Island industrialist bought the rights from Micell to expand the Hangers concept in New England, and is working a new marketing strategy. His efforts, as well though, have not been up to par with his expectations. In recent months, three Hanger shops have opened in New England, and hopes of soon totaling to 25 shops within a 20 mile radius. If this revolution could take off the ground the contamination perc is leaving behind not only on people, but also on our earth, could be diminished completely.
“Hangers Cleaners” is the newest green dry cleaners. They use a biodegradable soap dissolved in liquefied carbon dioxide. It’s completely harmless though, and is even safe enough that it is used to decaffeinate coffee and make soft drinks fizz. Hangers is also a high profile model of “green chemistry”. “Green chemistry” is the unofficial name government officials gave to various programs whose goal is to wean society off of noxious chemicals, which started up in the early 1990’s.
In 1997, Hangers technology won the Environmental Protection Agency’s Green Chemistry Challenge Award, but unfortunately that was still not enough to take the Hangers franchise to the next level. The projected expansion was supposed to be in 40 more areas, yet has fulfilled a significantly less amount, and only about a handful of stores has opened.
Joseph M. DeSimone is a professor of chemistry and chemical engineering at the University of North Carolina and North Carolina State and is the main man behind the “Hangers” operation. He is one of the many researchers investigating compressed or liquefied carbon dioxide as a substitute for more hazardous chemicals. Along with two former students, DeSimone formed Micell as alternative use to these chemicals. One such chemical it can replace is perchloroethylene, which is the most harmful chemical used in dry cleaning, also known as perc.
Perc can cause cancer and other ailments for cleaning workers and even residents of nearby buildings. Perc vapors and discharges also contaminate ground water. It also earned a reputation as a versatile and powerful degreaser during World War Two and replaced the petroleum-based solvents that had been fire hazards in the 1950’s. By the 1990’s, dry cleaners were the main leading source of this pollution.
Regrettably, dry cleaners have managed to look past this point, and still use perc systems, mainly because it is more cost efficient. Micell’s equipment is not only a 10-ton rectangle of pipes, pumps, etc, and can not fit in many dry cleaners quarters, but it also costs 150,000 dollars a unit. Perc systems, that handle similar sized loads, cost only 60,000 dollars per unit. Add to that, the state the economy is in now, and that makes many dry cleaners averse to investing in a new more expensive product.
Since the technology is there to relinquish the hold perc has over many dry cleaners, the next step in the right direction is marketing. Sam Brickle, who is a 62 year old Rhode Island industrialist bought the rights from Micell to expand the Hangers concept in New England, and is working a new marketing strategy. His efforts, as well though, have not been up to par with his expectations. In recent months, three Hanger shops have opened in New England, and hopes of soon totaling to 25 shops within a 20 mile radius. If this revolution could take off the ground the contamination perc is leaving behind not only on people, but also on our earth, could be diminished completely.
Monday, November 2, 2009
A few Small Tips to Being "green"
As a culture we consume ourselves with what the "new" look is and how we can represent ourselves through our clothing. When we combine our clothing with sustainability for our environment we are able to look good and help our environment at the same time.
Through the new textiles and different approaches to making our garments, we are able to not only support our fashion desires but also be fashionable at the same time. Its not only about how we grow our fibers and manufacture them, but how we sell them and discard them. We concern ourselves with our trash and consumption as a nation and where we leave them, so why not care about what happens to what we wear on a daily basis? Our clothes… Why discard what we don’t wear anymore? Use them, whether its second hand, pass down, our use it for your own desire. Why not turn a rag into a new kitchen towel?
Although fashion in constantly changing, and everyone wants to be up to date, this adds to the amount of waste we already have so much of. By tossing aside all garments as soon as they are no longer dubbed “fashionable”, our landfills are being overloaded even more. This is contributing to methane, which is a climate changing accelerator. Every little bit we can do to not add to our landfills is appreciated.
If your not a fan of using your old t-shirts as a wash rag don’t be ashamed, we cant all be completely self sufficient. There are ways that we can all feel green, by buying the right clothing and washing our clothes the right way. After looking at a study from Cambridge University, sixty percent of the greenhouse gases generated from the lifetime of one tee shirt, generally come from the many washes one tee shirt undertakes. The average washing of one tee shirt is around 25 washes, which actually exceeds the carbon emissions it entails to fabricate one shirt. To help this unfortunate event, try to use the cold rinse cycle as much as possible. This reduces the electric sucking hot temperatures many washing machines require. Also, if possible, try to by-step the dryer, and use a line-drying alternative. This will help to reduce the problems washers and dryers create.
Seek out sustainable fabrics, we have them! Buying polyester and nylon takes a lot more energy to make then it does to make our natural fabrics. Think hemp and organic cotton when your shopping. Believe it our not, it actually feels better. Just in the same way as eating organic foods can reduce many toxins that would otherwise get in our body, and ultimately makes you healthier, organic fibers can feel just as good on your body. If something is made of organic fibers, it doesn’t necessarily mean its going to be an itchy and uncomfortable. This is a common misconception people have about “green” fashion.
Fashion isn’t only about clothing though, and as every girl knows, accessories can make an outfit. On Planetgreen.com, there is a great article listing the ten top tips on how to find “green” accessories. There is the never failing vintage option, and is usually somewhat more on the cheaper side, since items are already used. Jewelry made out of recycled materials is a way of being vintage with a new twist. Many jewelers are using recycled metals, one of which is a form of silver made from photographic film. Lab grown or repurposed gems are much more eco-friendly to buy, since the mining process of gems and metals ravages our environment.
There is also the mention of the website Bag, Borrow or Steal, which for a monthly membership fee, you can sign up to receive designer bags to use for an allotment of time, and then ship back. This is a way to not only conserve materials used to create every new handbag, but is also a much more inexpensive way to rock the hottest designer labels.
With so many options at our fingertips to help out our environment, why would anyone want to take a different approach? Some of the smallest things we can do, will be conducive to the livelihood of our earth long after we are gone. Trying to make small, positive changes day to day, something as simple as using a washable plastic mug, instead of a water bottle, helps.
Through the new textiles and different approaches to making our garments, we are able to not only support our fashion desires but also be fashionable at the same time. Its not only about how we grow our fibers and manufacture them, but how we sell them and discard them. We concern ourselves with our trash and consumption as a nation and where we leave them, so why not care about what happens to what we wear on a daily basis? Our clothes… Why discard what we don’t wear anymore? Use them, whether its second hand, pass down, our use it for your own desire. Why not turn a rag into a new kitchen towel?
Although fashion in constantly changing, and everyone wants to be up to date, this adds to the amount of waste we already have so much of. By tossing aside all garments as soon as they are no longer dubbed “fashionable”, our landfills are being overloaded even more. This is contributing to methane, which is a climate changing accelerator. Every little bit we can do to not add to our landfills is appreciated.
If your not a fan of using your old t-shirts as a wash rag don’t be ashamed, we cant all be completely self sufficient. There are ways that we can all feel green, by buying the right clothing and washing our clothes the right way. After looking at a study from Cambridge University, sixty percent of the greenhouse gases generated from the lifetime of one tee shirt, generally come from the many washes one tee shirt undertakes. The average washing of one tee shirt is around 25 washes, which actually exceeds the carbon emissions it entails to fabricate one shirt. To help this unfortunate event, try to use the cold rinse cycle as much as possible. This reduces the electric sucking hot temperatures many washing machines require. Also, if possible, try to by-step the dryer, and use a line-drying alternative. This will help to reduce the problems washers and dryers create.
Seek out sustainable fabrics, we have them! Buying polyester and nylon takes a lot more energy to make then it does to make our natural fabrics. Think hemp and organic cotton when your shopping. Believe it our not, it actually feels better. Just in the same way as eating organic foods can reduce many toxins that would otherwise get in our body, and ultimately makes you healthier, organic fibers can feel just as good on your body. If something is made of organic fibers, it doesn’t necessarily mean its going to be an itchy and uncomfortable. This is a common misconception people have about “green” fashion.
Fashion isn’t only about clothing though, and as every girl knows, accessories can make an outfit. On Planetgreen.com, there is a great article listing the ten top tips on how to find “green” accessories. There is the never failing vintage option, and is usually somewhat more on the cheaper side, since items are already used. Jewelry made out of recycled materials is a way of being vintage with a new twist. Many jewelers are using recycled metals, one of which is a form of silver made from photographic film. Lab grown or repurposed gems are much more eco-friendly to buy, since the mining process of gems and metals ravages our environment.
There is also the mention of the website Bag, Borrow or Steal, which for a monthly membership fee, you can sign up to receive designer bags to use for an allotment of time, and then ship back. This is a way to not only conserve materials used to create every new handbag, but is also a much more inexpensive way to rock the hottest designer labels.
With so many options at our fingertips to help out our environment, why would anyone want to take a different approach? Some of the smallest things we can do, will be conducive to the livelihood of our earth long after we are gone. Trying to make small, positive changes day to day, something as simple as using a washable plastic mug, instead of a water bottle, helps.
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