Full Moon Rising - Made In The USA

Steps Towards a More Sustainable Life of Less

I know this sounds like I have lost my mind, since we as a company make money selling things, but our philosophy has always been to only sell what is needed and to make the best recommendations possible.

It is also the reason we focus on USA Made products and Eco-Friendly products and solutions to marketing. By helping you to make good choices about clothing and promotional marketing items, you will increase your ROI (Return On Investment) and overall cost.

This article is from Zen Habits and I think is very appropriate for the times we live in.

Personally I have been moving away from having more things. I find the more clutter and things I never use that I get rid of the happier I am. I find joy in knowing that many of the items are used and needed by others. Some just end up in the recycling bin.

I'd like to hear what you think of this article and concept. 

Bryan

Steps Towards a More Sustainable Life of Less

Posted: 09 Mar 2009 04:07 PM PDT

Post written by Leo Babauta. Follow me on Twitter.

When my grandparents were young, none of the appliances (let alone hi-tech gadgets) in our homes were in common use — not the refrigerator, electric stove, dishwasher, washing machine, dryer, toaster, television, computer, air-conditioner, microwave, etc.

None of it. They had cars, but they walked far more often than we do today. They had telephones, but not cell phones or Blackberries or iPhones, and they weren’t using phones all the time. They had stores, but they didn’t order things online and they didn’t buy all the time. In fact, during their Great Depression childhood, they bought very little and used very, very little technology.

And while the last 70-80 years have advanced our lives in amazing ways, and there’s no doubt that the comfort and convenience of our lives have improved tremendously … we rarely stop to consider whether technology and consumerism have always changed our lives for the better.

I mean, I am as big a proponent of the miracles of the Internet as anyone, but have we given up too much of our lives that used to exist offline and outdoors? It’s great that we have such comfortable cars that can drive incredibly fast and take us anywhere we want to go in minutes … but have we thrown away the joy and the health benefits of walking places?

It’s great that we can communicate instantly from anywhere with our mobile devices, but have we given up personal face-to-face conversations and the pleasure of being outdoors, disconnected from the world?

It’s great that food is so convenient these days, but have we given up the pleasures of slow eating for fast food, the joys of cooking for microwaving, the wonders of real food for processed food?

It’s great that we can buy pretty much anything we want these days (and often do), but have we allowed the abundance of cash we’ve had (until recently, but even now we’re still pretty rich) to force us to have bigger houses just to store all our stuff?

I propose a life of less. A life that’s more sustainable.

And yes, some will wonder if that will hurt the economy even more — buying and consuming less will mean people will lose jobs, no? Not necessarily. Scaling back our lives means we need to find jobs for people that are based not on producing more goods, but on producing more value — valuable information, valuable inventions that require fewer resources, valuable contributions to the community. But how will all of this be paid for if no one is buying stuff? There will be less wealth produced because less is being consumed … but if we consume less then we actually need less wealth. We just need to get off the escalating cycle of consuming and producing more.

We work more than ever before, despite advances in labor-saving technology that mean we should be able to work less. We do so to support a lifestyle that has become more expensive than ever, because of the new levels of convenience and abundant consumer goods that we’ve become accustomed to. We can break out of this trap, by consuming less and then needing to work less.

I’ve thought these things for awhile now, but it struck me most as I was walking to a meeting with a friend and business partner. Most people where I live don’t walk — cars are used all the time, even if the destination is just a few blocks away. I’ve been getting into the habit of walking places — for traveling, not exercise — but I’m a weirdo for doing so. And it struck me that only 50 years ago, I would have been normal — everyone walked back then.

And I wondered how we lost this valuable activity — walking to get places.

We lost it because convenience and speed have become more valuable to us than health and frugality and the enjoyment of the world around us.

I propose a life of less. A life that is more leisurely, a little more spartan, a little less expensive, a little less heavy on consuming the Earth’s resources.

I don’t think we can change the economy overnight. We can’t even change our lives overnight. But we can make a gradual change in that direction, with small steps.

Here are but a few ideas — I’m sure you could contribute some of your own:

• Can we walk to more places and drive less? We’d get fitter and use less fossil fuel. We’d have to loosen up our schedules to do this, but I think that’s a good change anyway.
• Can we start building more livable communities, where things are less spread out, so that we can walk more instead of driving everywhere? Where everything we need is a 10-20 minute walk away, or at least reachable by bike or public transportation? You might already live in a place like that, but not where I live, and not in lots of places. Even work should be close by. Again, this is a long-term change, but I think a good one.
• Can we start living in smaller houses, so that we need less heating and cooling and land and maintenance and cleaning? We can if we buy less stuff, which leads to …
• Can we start buying less stuff? We don’t need all the stuff we buy.
• Can we start celebrating things like birthdays and Christmas without spending sprees? We could do nice things for each other instead, or make things, or bake something.
• Can we start buying locally more? I know a lot of people already do this, but it would be great if this trend continued. It supports local farmers and drastically reduces the amount of resources needed to get food to our homes.
• Can we start packaging food less? Even non-food items (like toys) come with ridiculous amounts of packaging these days. I’d like to see a return to olden ways, when you scooped flour out of a huge bin into a container or something like that. Packaging we throw away (or even recycle) is so wasteful.
• Can we stop buying so much processed food? Real food is so much healthier, requires fewer chemicals and resources, and tastes better once you wean yourself from the addiction to processed foods.
• Can we eat slower, and enjoy the food more, instead of rushing through meals?
• Can we stop our addiction to mobile devices and being connected all the time, so that we can enjoy the pleasure of other people’s company without interruptions, or enjoy solitude or a nice quiet walk without being connected?
• Can we design cities and towns so that they aren’t based on the automobile, so that perhaps private vehicles parked at the outside of cities, and then people used public transportation or walked within the cities? We’d reclaim the streets for the pedestrian, make them alive once again with street markets, cafes, parks, children running around without fear of death, people exercising and doing tai chi and jogging and walking and enjoying a fume-free outdoors.

Again, these are just a few ideas. There are thousands more.

And I’m not saying we should give up techonology. I love connecting with people from around the world! I love being able to access information instantly that I would never have had access to just 15-20 years ago! I love the ability to express myself online that is unprecedented in human history!

But I also think we need to keep the good things that have come with the advances in technology, and throw out the bad, the things that have made our lives worse.
—
Read more about simplifying your life in my book, The Power of Less.

Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS) Certification

I received this today, does anyone know if this is a certification that will become more universal or any other useful details?

Bryan

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

econscious - First Green Company to Earn the Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS) Certification

Petaluma, Calif., December 19, 2008 — econscious, experts in supplying organic and sustainable apparel to brands worldwide, is excited to become the first and only United States supplier certified by the Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS).

GOTS is the highest and most comprehensive international standard for Organic textiles from farm to finished product. As brands align themselves with the green movement, both to satisfy the growing demand of conscious consumers and to align with their brand's core-values, many are turning to econscious’ experts to streamline the time, expertise and resources required to ensure the organic status of their apparel. econscious' President, Dale Denkensohn, helped lead Patagonia's conversion to organic cotton in the 1990's and is amongst the pioneers of organic and sustainable manufacturing. According to Mr. Denkensohn, "Our goal is to be the most trusted source for organic and sustainable blank apparel and accessories." Denkensohn continues, "The GOTS certification is a hallmark achievement. It helps position econscious to make a larger impact towards a better future by guaranteeing piece of mind to the growing market of conscientious consumers."

The GOTS certification ensures that the entire manufacturing process adheres to a strict set of standards, including criteria such as types of dyes allowed, types of closures and hardware use, substances prohibited in manufacturing, and the treatment of waste water. GOTS also includes important social components to ensure living wages are paid and a safe, hygienic work environment is provided.

Bamboo - fabric feels like a blend of cashmere and silk

As promised here is more info about Bamboo than you ever wanted to know.

This info is from one of our manufacturers web sites, their shirts are unlike anything I have encountered before.  We have bought and compared t-shirts from every manufacturer we could find. Imported, Made In USA, Organic, Bamboo, made from recycled Pop bottles, and more. We measured them, compared them and made a spreadsheet to see which ones would fit each project that comes our way best.

The t-shirts this manufacturer makes are hands down the best quality. They are not cheap, but quality never is.

Read below to learn why you should choose bamboo. Then ask us how we can help you differentiate yourself from the crowd.

Bryan

About Bamboo

"If you don’t want to be touched all the time, don’t mention it’s bamboo."
– Anonymous

Benefits

The benefits of bamboo are abundant. Because bamboo grows so quickly, it is a resource that is not only sustainable, but also gives back to the environment. Beyond the environment, there are many benefits for the people wearing bamboo t-shirts. You can feel good about yourself when you wear a bamboo t-shirt. You can paint a smile on your face just knowing the material you are wearing is fed by rain. Just rain. Little drops from the sky. Your shirt didn't need to be bathed with water resources we can't afford. It wasn't saturated with pesticides or fertilizers. It grew naturally, with the sun, the rain, the stars and the moon. Not only that, but everything about your shirt is natural; it's 100%, not 99%, biodegradable.

You won't smell. That's not a guarantee we can make about you in general, but when it comes to you and our bamboo t-shirt, we promise we won't be the cause of any of your odor woes. Bamboo has anti-bacterial properties which inhibit body odor. Bamboo t-shirts wick away moisture and have double the absorbency of cotton. When you wear a bamboo t-shirt, you stay dry, and your aromas are pulled away from your body and released into the air.

But bamboo is wood. How is this going to be comfortable to wear as clothing? The wood is pulverized to separate the natural fibers and the resulting fabric is soft, even softer than cotton. It's silky. There's no roughness to it at all. In fact, the material has been compared to a silk/cashmere blend. Bamboo t-shirts feel smooth against your body and move with you beautifully. They move so well and feel so good that you may be inspired to belly dance, which could work up a sweat. But have no worries, bamboo clothing is similar to wool in that it stays two to three degrees cooler than cotton in hot weather. It is physically cooler to the touch than cotton. How great is that? This magic fabric also keeps you warmer than cotton in cooler weather.

Our bamboo t-shirts are fuss-free. ONNO bamboo t-shirts are pre-washed, so you won't have to worry about shrinkage. Just toss it in your washer, your dryer and back on your body. ONNO bamboo t-shirts don't pill, so you can be assured your shirt will look and feel like a million bucks from day one to day 5,689,890,987.

About

So now you know why you've made a smart decision in purchasing bamboo clothing. Give yourself a pat on the back. But what is this plant? Why is it such a wonderful substance?

First, because bamboo grows fast; it is the fastest growing plant on earth. It grows two inches per hour! You can sit there and watch bamboo grow during your lunch break.

And bamboo grows everywhere--it can grow at sea level all the way up to 12,000 feet, where the air is thinner but the views are great (which is why perhaps it makes the effort). There are more than 1,500 species of bamboo. It grows on every continent. It likes it wet or dry; bamboo can handle from 30-250 inches of annual rainfall, which is more than we can say for ourselves. The only places it doesn't grow are the North and South Poles, and we don't blame it. It's not so pretty out there, and a little chilly.

Bamboo stalks mature in just three to five years. They don't fight or argue with each other-they just reach up to grab the sun. What a nice way of looking at life. Most commercial tree species take 25-70 years to mature, which causes a bit of a problem-it's hard to replenish them at the same rate we cut them down. We need and love our trees not just for shade and beauty, but for the life-giving oxygen they release. Which is another reason to love bamboo clothing. A bamboo grove releases 35% more oxygen than the same size stand of trees. That's more air for us to breathe!

Bamboo shelters and feeds lots of critters; koalas love chomping on its leaves. Buddha said bamboo restores calmness and stimulates creativity. Buddha was a smart being. Just try on some of our bamboo clothing and see what you think.

Another reason to love bamboo: It grows an amazing root system. Those little feelers reach out into the soil to help prevent erosion. Imagine a net under the soil, holding everything in place. When heavy rains pour down, the roots are like a mother with a newborn; they don't let go. (In places where clear-cutting has been practiced and which don't have strong root systems, the soil is washed away-causing catastrophe and landslides.) In fact, bamboo keeps twice as much water in the watershed than commercial trees, often eliminating the need for irrigation and sprinkler systems. So plant a bamboo tree and make the soil happy, make the earth happy. Make yourself happy because that's the most important thing in life.

Bamboo might be thought of as an environmental healer of sorts. It's not afraid of scarred or deformed landscapes and it can be grown on damaged soil. Overgrazed by cows, sheep or goats? Plant some bamboo. It'll bring back the soil. It will produce a crop every single year. Just one 'clump' of bamboo can produce over 200 poles. If you harvest the bamboo with love and affection, the roots not only live, they sprout new shoots again and again. The topsoil stays intact and the land is happy.

Facts

Bamboo likes to dance. When earthquakes hit, bamboo buildings sway with the rhythm and remain intact while their wooden neighbors are shattered. Following an earthquake in 1992 in Limon, Costa Rica, for instance, virtually all the houses were destroyed except for the bamboo ones. In Costa Rica, 1000 houses are built annually from just 60 hectares of plantation. Keep in mind, the wood we usually use would take 500 hectares just to build the same number of houses.

Bamboo also makes great furniture and flooring.

Not only is bamboo the fastest growing plant, but it's strong. Bamboo is winning a lot of heavyweight titles. It's stronger than oak; it can kick oak's butt. It's the most durable hardwood. If you throw a little lamination on it, bamboo is almost as strong as soft steel. It can withstand 52,000 pounds of pressure per square inch.

But bamboo isn't just some tough, aggressive wood. Bamboo also has a softer side. Its shoots provide nutrition for millions worldwide. The Taiwanese, for example, eat 80,000 tons of bamboo shoots annually. The shoots also nourish lots of animals, including elephants and pandas.

Bamboo is also a healer and an entertainer. Tabasheer-the hardened secretion from bamboo-treats asthma and coughs. The root of the black bamboo treats kidney disease. Roots and leaves treat venereal diseases and cancer. Water from within the culm treats broken bones. Bamboo can be made into musical instruments. There are a million uses for bamboo. In China bamboo is known as 'a friend of the people.' Bamboo is our friend, too.

History

Poems and paintings have exalted bamboo for centuries. We can't think of any ourselves, but just think: bamboo rhymes with moo and canoe.

History dates bamboo use back to 2nd century BC. Think Roman conquerors, with their breast plates and fierce fighting; and poets writing words we may never understand on bamboo strips.

A little closer to our own time, Thomas Edison used bamboo as a reinforcement for his swimming pool. But really, that's not what all the excitement's about. He used carbonized bamboo filament in his experiment with the light bulb, which is still burning in the Smithsonian Museum to this very day. Another famous inventor, Alexander Graham Bell, used bamboo for the first phonograph needle.

One of its sadder places in history was as the first plant to regrow after the atomic blast in Hiroshima.

So how can you not love a plant that does all this and still feels good and looks good when you wear it? We ask you. Feel free to tell us. That's what emails are for. Let us know how good your bamboo t-shirt looks. Let us know how many people want to touch you when you tell them about bamboo clothing. Heck, have a bamboo party and see who knows more about bamboo than you do now.