• Jeine Mar 04, 2015

  20. Mai 2012Just as organic, cihemcal-free food is an integral part of a healthy lifestyle, organic clothing is also an important factor for both your health and that of the environment.The importance of buying organic when it comes to your clothing lies in what the clothing does not contain, specifically nonylphenol ethoxylates (NPEs).Why Washing Your Clothes Can be Hazardous NPE is an inexpensive nonionic surfactant frequently used in the global textile industry.In the largest textile manufacturing hubs, like China, Vietnam, the Philippines and Turkey, these toxic cihemcals are commonly discharged into waterways, including rivers, lakes and seas.When NPEs enter the environment, they break down into nonylphenol (NP), a toxic, endocrine-disrupting cihemcal that accumulates in sediments and builds up in fish and wildlife.However, NPE residues can also remain in the clothing itself that is, until you wash it.Water Treatment Plants Make NPEs Even More ToxicThe problem, of course, is that once in the water supply, even the most sophisticated water treatment plants are unable to remove NPEs and their toxic metabolites. In fact, according to a Sierra Club report,i sewage processing can make NPE metabolites like NPs even more toxic, more estrogenic, and more persistent than NPE itself.Many Laundry Detergents Also Contain NPEsWhether or not your clothing contains NPE residues becomes a moot point if the detergent you’re using to wash it already contains it, and unfortunately this is all too common. Look for evidence of NPE on your laundry detergent label—or declaration that it’s not in there. Some detergents contain NPE alternatives such as alcohol ethoxylate, which the Sierra Club suggests is less toxic and can break down naturally.The Sierra Club states that roughly 270 million pounds of NPEs are used in the United States each year, and most of the use is for laundry and other cleaning purposes. As a result, the majority of the NPEs that get manufactured each year end up being rinsed down the drain, adding to the amounts already released by the textile industry and in clothing residues, and significantly magnifying the growing burden of this toxic cihemcal.Do You Want Clothes That Don’t Contain Toxic Chemicals?Join the Greenpeace Detox campaign, launched in July 2011, which is campaigning to stop industry poisoning waterways around the world with hazardous, persistent and hormone-disrupting cihemcals. Nike, Adidas, Puma, H M, and C A are among the clothing brands that have already committed to the campaign, but many top brands still need some persuading. On a personal level, you can detox your wardrobe using these tips from Greenpeace:Buy organic clothingSupport green brands that use environmentally friendly fabrics and natural dyes, or make clothing from recycled materialsBuy second-hand clothes, and when buying new choose classics that you can wear again and againBuy quality clothing items that are made to last, instead of cheaply made garments you’ll be forced to replace oftenBefore tossing a garment, fix it if possible (with a new zipper/buttons, etc.) or take it to a tailor (or be crafty yourself!) to be re-fashioned (turning a dress into a skirt or jeans into shorts, for instance)Finally, avoid using laundry detergents and other cleaning supplies that contain NPEs. Look especially for Does not contain because manufacturers are not yet required by law to list what is in the product. However, green companies will proudly display what is NOT in the product if they want to sell their product to environmentally conscious people like you.

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