Underwear Exposed at Eco Conference

A range of underwear - the first in the UK to be given the stamp of organic approval – will be given a public airing for the first time on Thursday January 25 at the reception for the 2007 Soil Association Conference in Cardiff's Millennium Stadium.
Other Greenfibres products recently certified as organic by the Soil Association include a range of cotton towels and a selection of socks.

While most people have some idea of the reasons why organic food might be better for us and the environment, the idea of buying organic clothes is not one that may occur to many of us.

The mainstream textiles industry is a major source of pollution, using about one quarter of the pesticides applied to crops worldwide. Over 8,000 chemicals are used to turn raw fibres into clothes, towels, bedding and other household goods. Some of these (such as organophosphates, pyrethroids, carbamates and organochlorines) have been associated with cancer, birth defects, and hormonal disruption. Reproductive effects have also been noted, including male fish developing female characteristics.
Farmers working on organic farms are exposed to fewer chemicals. Each year, an estimated 60 million pounds of organophosphate pesticides are applied to U.S. agricultural crops and an additional 17 million pounds are used per year for non-agricultural uses, such as in household pest control products and lawn and garden sprays.

Organic textiles are derived from crops grown without chemicals, using eco-friendly methods. No toxic chemicals are used in their manufacture and surface dressings are either absent or eco-friendly.

All Greenfibres Organic products are certified by one of the major European agencies, which include Bioland (Germany), Demeter (Germany) and SKAL (Netherlands), and only recently has it become possible for the Soil Association to certify organic textiles in the UK.