Protect Our Planet By Setting An Example:
Today it may seem like I am trying to trash conservancy organizations, but this is simply not the case. In fact, I can’t say enough good things as they work endlessly to conserve and protect our planet and the animals within it. However, that doesn’t mean there isn’t room for improvement, and I really hope that seeing this will help to shine a light on this matter and create change in the future.
So moving on I must say that if keeping plastic out of our products, oceans, and lives is so important then why are such conservancy organizations not setting as much of an example for the public as they should be?
On these websites, you will see a section where you can help adopt an animal and receive a plushy or support their cause and create more awareness by purchasing their clothing and other merchandise. Which is all fine and dandy except for the fact that their products aren’t all that environmentally friendly themselves. None of the products labelled where they were they made which most likely means they were manufactured overseas, and although some products were labelled as organic cotton and bamboo, some were polyester, recycled polyester and some didn’t even list the materials..
That’s not great especially for an environmental organization which is a shame really because if this wasn’t the case and the products were made sustainably I would have a closet full, but instead, however, this leaves me quite confused and frustrated, to say the least.
For Example:
WHAT'S INCLUDED
- For your one time gift of $65, your fun and educational adoption kit includes:
- A high-quality wildlife plush*
- A personalized adoption certificate (5″x7″)
- A stunning species poster and information pamphlet about the work your gift will help support
- And one of three reusable gift bags of your choice*
MADE WITH CARE
Every wildlife plush is made to the same high standards for quality and environmental responsibility:
- No living creatures were harmed to make these products
- All packaging materials are printed on 100% recycled paper
- No harmful dyes were used
- All products conform to standard fire safety regulations
- No PVC or other materials with chlororganics were used
- All products conform to relevant criteria of OKO-TEX’s standard 100 for baby clothing
- All products are tested following EN 71 part 1,2,3
- The bag is 100% recyclable and made with up to 50% recycled content
To what “same high standards for quality and environmental responsibility ” are they referring too? Nowhere does it say where the plush was made, who made it, and what material it is made from. They claim no harmful dyes to what, I’m not sure, the paper or plush? It obviously can’t be the plush since it isn’t made with natural materials this much we can see. They use wording to beat around the bush without actually telling you what is in the product you are purchasing. They tell you there is no PVC in the plush, well PVC material is a vinyl type of material or a heavy-duty plastic for piping and such and is known to contain dangerous chemicals the only thing that comes close to that would be the plush’s eyes which again don’t know the material. As far as the EN 71 regulations they are the mandatory European standard safety requirements in which the product has been tested for part 1 (mechanical and physical properties), part 2 (flammability), and part 3 (specification for migration of certain elements). This means the toy poses no risks as to injure the child, such as choking, sharp parts, etc.. well its a plush, secondly it doesn’t pose a risk to flammability, thirdly the toy doesn’t contain any heavy metals.. well again it’s a plush.. so…. yea this isn’t super helpful. What would have been extremely helpful is if they had just been transparent and listed where exactly their product was made, who made it, and the materials that were used. To me, it feels like they are trying to hide something and I hate this so much where companies try to pull the wool over our eyes.. just stop it already! Anyways, this screams China… please prove me wrong!
Hat and Scarf Set
Get ready for the chilly winter days ahead by wrapping yourself up in the panda! Matching hat and scarf set, just right for all your cold weather activities. Made of acrylic, one size fits all.
Here is another example. Out of all the synthetic fabrics, acrylic is one of the worst for microplastic pollution which is a huge contributor to our ocean plastic crisis. Why would they even think selling this is ok?????
3/4 Sleeve Baseball Tee
The 3/4 Sleeve Baseball Tee is a unisex raglan-style shirt usually by Next Level Apparel. Most shirts are made with a triblend that are 50/25/25 poly/cotton/rayon. All fabric is combed and ringspun for a soft texture and premium feel.
Again here we have a “Say No To Plastic” shirt that is half plastic, and not even the recycled kind???????? Like how does this happen? They are a little more forward in their text although not very concrete using words like “usually” and “most”, and they also try to get fancy with their wording to make the product appear better than it actually is by saying the cotton is combed and ringspun for a premium feel. Which doesn’t mean the cotton is healthier for us or our plant it is still chemical cotton that is more expensive than regular cotton the only difference is that it’s just processed differently to give it a softer feel.
Product Info:
*8 oz., 50/50 cotton/polyester
*Double Lined hood
*1×1 athletic ribbed knit cuffs and waistband with spandex
*Front pouch pocket
*Printed in America
Portion of each sale goes directly to seaturtlehospital.org
Here again we see a company that supports turtle rescue selling clothing made from 50% polyester and plain old chemical cotton. Polyester is a huge contributor to microplastics in our oceans. It is reliant on the oil industry and supports pollution in a huge way, and it will not turn into compost at the end of its life. These synthetic materials represent the destruction of life. Non-organic cotton isn’t much better. Yes, it is a natural fiber, but it is sprayed to death with all kinds of pesticides and insecticides that contaminate our water causing serious ailments and death to the people who work on the fields and their families. Not to mention huge bodies of water running dry and the destruction of entire ecosystems due to the large amount of water cotton requires to grow. Also, did you notice the “printed in America”, a sneaky way to let people down gently about the shirt being made overseas.
Now there are many organizations doing wonderful work, including the ones in this article, and some of their merchandise is made using natural materials and even supports artisans in small villages around the world which is great to see. I just wish there was more of that and none of the other! More transparency and better examples are needed especially where clothing is concerned, and if it’s not sustainable say no. This may seem like a small step when dealing with saving the world but none the less it is a vital one!
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