The Devil Wears Organic Cotton?

As people are becoming more enviromentally conscious and aware of the effects that global warming will have on mankind and the world that we live in, people are starting to rethink their lifestyle choices. These days everywhere you turn all you hear about is businesses and the public going green. Everything from the food that we eat, to the clothing that we wear, and even where we are holding our venues have all gone green. So is this the newest fashion trend or fashion fad? Here are the pros and cons to going green.

There are many definitions as to what it means to go green. One definition according to Green-e is that going green means using sources that are renewable such as the sun, wind, and water. Using these natural sources are all better ways to save energy and make our planet safer by avoiding emitting harmful products into the environment and hopefully slowing down the effects of global warming. By going green we are trying to sustain our natural environment. Any effort that is going to help our world become green involves stopping the effects of global warming on our environment and living a healthier and more productive lives. This includes eating fewer chemically processed foods and wasting electiricty in our households, at work, and in the car.

Over the past few years there has been a huge increase in people eating organic foods. According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, organic food can be defined as food being produced without using the most conventional pesticides, fertilizers made with synthetic ingredients, bioengineering, or ionizing radiation. There are many people who believe in only eating organic foods. On the other hand, there are many sceptics out there that believe organic food is just another gimmick to get people to spend more money. There are many studies that show that because organic food is pesticide free, not only is it healthier for us to eat but it is also better for the environment. Organic food is also friendlier to animals and free of genetically modified fruits and vegetables and higher in essential vitamins and minerals. Even though pesticides have been linked to certain health risks and illnesses the government carefully regiments how much pesticide are allowed to be used so that our food is safe to be consumed. Some of the downfalls to organic foods are the expense that comes along with it. Organic food is much more expensive than buying regular food. Due to the fact that organic food is preservative free it has a lower shelf life and tends to not last as long as foods made with preservatives. According to the UK Food Standards Agency it has not been clinically proven that organic food is better for us than what we normally eat, so the choice is really yours.

Over the past few years there has been an increase in people using organic and recycled products in the apparel industry. According to All Natural, an article written by Bernie Broude, organic clothing is made without toxic petroleum based pesticides, herbicides and defoliants. Examples of organic fibres are organic cotton and wool, hemp, and bamboo. It has become very easy to harvest organic fibres, especially cotton and hemp. According to an article on the WWF website, the only problem with organic clothing is that it is difficult to produce high quantities. Therefore production is slower and more expensive for manufacturers as well as the volume of clothing made is not as high as using regular fibres. As well, many of these fibres, such as bamboo, may not be preserved if too much is used. In the end this may harm the environment. Organic clothing is aesthetically similar to all other clothing on the market but the price is considerably higher. If that does not bother you then organic clothing may be perfect for you.

As technology keeps improving the way we save on electricity and our ozone layer, more and more companies and households are starting to go green. L’Oreal Fashion Week, Ford, and even television shows such as Americas Next Top Model and Extreme Makeover Home Edition are all working on the same green initiative. Solar power is energy from the sun converted into a source that can be used for heat and electricity. There are many positives to having solar power run appliances but with all the positives come many negatives. Because solar power energy is run by natural elements it emits no pollutants and is sustainable so the energy will never run out. While solar energy will never run out, according to a recent article written on earth99.com by Sheila Bocchine, sunlight is not 24 hours, so at night you have to rely on stored energy or you may still have to use an alternative source. If aesthetics is a concern of yours, than solar energy may not be right for you. It can sometimes be an eyesore and takes up most of the space on your roof. Solar power does save you money, according to Sheila Bocchine’s article. After the initial installation that tends to be quite costly, your utility bills will decrease because you will be using little to no energy.

The idea of going green is still recent and new to many people. Many of the kinks are still being worked out and farmers growing organic foods, the apparel industry, the government, and many other businesses are making improvements to these green ideas. While saving our environment is on the top of many peoples priority list, there are still many alternatives on how to help than by eating organic foods and wearing organic clothing and using solar power to run your life and your cars. A little step goes a long way and many people do not believe that going green is the right way for them. So is green really becoming the new black? Well that is for you to decide.