Published by Vanessa Brunner under Clothing, Reuse/Recycle

While organic and sustainable materials share the same ethical and moral roots, what many people (including myself until recently) are unaware of is that the two terms are not entirely interchangeable. While organic and sustainable are not necessarily mutually exclusive either, it’s important, as a consumer, to know what it means when an item of clothing, furniture, or what have you, is labeled organic or labeled sustainable.

Some basics:

Organic includes things that are…

-made of all natural and non synthetic materials

-born of the organic agriculture movement

-part of a movement that focuses on farming and processing. Its goals are to work with nature and help minimize air, soil, and water pollution

-made with plants that have not been radiated, genetically modified, or treated with chemical/synthetic pesticides

-meet the organic standards set up by the USDA

Sustainable includes things that are…

-focusing on the reuse and recycling of materials

-part of environmental awareness movement

-produced according to fair trade standards

-produced by companies that pay all employees with a fair wage

-produced by companies that create all products using animal friendly practices

-supportive of cottage/smaller/local industries

String made from hemp, and a shot from a cotton field in the United States

Fabrics that are labeled Organic, such as cotton, wool, silk, and hemp, must meet specific regulations provided by the Organic Trade Association. These guidelines are set up to ensure that all aspects of production have as low of an environmental impact as possible. This includes everything from fiber processing, to production, to dyeing, to non-toxic handling. So when you’re buying a product that claims to be Organic, it’s important to look for official organic certification (from the OTA or USDA) on the product.

Sustainable products and materials are very different, since they are made without specific federal guidelines or certification. When it comes to purchasing sustainable products, educating yourself and using your own judgement is the best route to go. Make sure you know what exactly makes something sustainable. Look for things that fit all or most of these criteria. And most importantly, don’t let pretty packaging, smooth words, or a cheap price sway you.

What’s important about this is to recognize that organic and ethical do not always equal sustainable (and vice versa). As consumers, we need to make sure to read labels correctly, and keep out eyes open for greenwashing and/or an attempt to deceive on the producer’s behalf. Because everyone is out to save or make some money, there are plenty of clothing manufacturers that take advantage of the word “organic” while producing their clothes in foreign sweat shops, or using other unethical practices.

Sources:

Sustainable Fashion Article

Treehugger

Organicclothing.blogs.com

OrganicConsumers.org

HowStuffWorks.com