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Home » Home & Garden » Green Products » REI Makes Outdoor Adventures Friendly To The Outdoors With EcoSensitive Line

REI Makes Outdoor Adventures Friendly To The Outdoors With EcoSensitive Line

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rei-eco-sensitive.jpgHave you ever realized how ironic it is that most gear used for adventures in the great outdoors is mostly, well, not-so-friendly to the great outdoors itself?

Via a post at TreeHugger.com this morning, I just learned that:

“REI co-op, America’s largest consumer cooperative and outdoor gear emporium, announced an initiative to help their customers, and 2.8 million co-op members, find garments made of Eco-Sensitive materials”.

Doesn’t it only make sense to make outdoor gear from sustainable and “ecoSensitive” materials?

But how eco-friendly is the REI ecoSensitive label?

I’m not one for asking a question and then giving the answer. (Boo, hiss to the western style of education.) I tend to be a little more open and Socratic, if you will.

So, in that vein, let’s take a look at what makes the REI ecoSensitive label so green, and decide for ourselves if it really is.

 

REI Eco-Sensitive Materials

  • Bamboo Fabric: “Highly absorbent, hypoallergenic, fast drying and breathable, it is an ideal wicking fabric for next-to-skin use. Its ability to insulate keeps the wearer cooler in summer and warmer in winter.”
  • Organic Cotton: “Non-organic cotton is one of the most heavily chemically treated crops in the world. Although it comprises less than three percent of the world’s agriculture, it uses 25 percent of the chemical pesticides produced annually…organic cotton is renewable, biodegradable, and non-toxic.”
  • Organic Wool: “For wool to be certified organic, several federal standards must be met in the production process. The sheep or goats may not be given synthetic hormones or insecticidal treatments and they must be given certified organic feed. The land used to raise the animals must [also] follow strict guidelines.”
  • Hemp: “With the appearance of linen and the soft hand of flannel, hemp is a very desirable fabric for sportswear and casual wear…Fabric made from hemp is warm, absorbent, breathable and significantly more durable than cotton fabric.”
  • PLA: “PLA (polylactic acid, or “biodegradable plastic“) exhibits many properties that are equal to or better than many petroleum-based plastics, which makes it suitable for a variety of applications.”
  • Recycled PET: “The majority of PET is made into fibers for clothing, while 30 percent is used for bottles and containers. It is also a material that can be reclaimed and readily recycled-for example, ‘pop bottle fleece’ has existed for many years.”
  • Post-Industrial Recycled Polyester from Polartec: “Polartec is moving toward recycled PET by reusing scraps and by-products of fabric and yarn manufacturing-post-industrial waste.”

 

Going A Step Further

Something I like is people and companies who give me both sides of the story.

REI goes into more detail on all the above descriptions, including both pros AND cons of each eco-friendly material they’ve begun to incorporate. Check it out.

Nice work REI. Maybe there’s a reason ya’ll are number one.

At the time of this post, there are only 25 items for sale in the ecoSensitive label, but I’m sure more will roll out in force in the very near future.

So what do you think about the new ecoSensitive label from REI?

UPDATE:  Stay Dry And Blister Free On The Trail In Eco-Sensitive Socks

Jeffrey
Jeffrey

I think every little step toward living green is an awesome one… but eco-snobbery sucks! My goal is to help newbies learn the most important steps toward living green — individually and collectively. Personally, I strive to have as little impact as possible on Planet Earth while I'm here.

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Filed Under: Green Products, Home & Garden Tagged With: bamboo, clothing and fashion, green business, shopping

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JeffreyI think every little step toward living green is an awesome one... but eco-snobbery sucks! My goal is to help newbies learn the most important steps toward living green -- individually and collectively. Personally, I strive to have as little impact as possible on Planet Earth while I'm here.

Jeffrey: View My Blog Posts

JoshuaAs an advocate for good health, I usually try to choose the 'greener' option over other more dangerous and/or wasteful options. Generally, if it's bad for your health or the planet, I try to avoid it. In my effort to live green... on a budget, I like to find new (healthier) budget-friendly ways to do things -- from eating and cleaning to recycling and home decorating. My goal is to help you take the chore out of living green by sharing fun new ecofriendly ideas that you can try today... or any day! My all-time favorite way to live green is to repurpose items and give them a new use -- I've written a lot of useful DIY articles.

Joshua: View My Blog Posts

LynnetteMy experience with living green consists of taking baby steps (like making one big change each year as my New Year's resolution) -- because I've seen too many people burn out on trying to 'Save the Planet'. I share a lot of Simple Ways To Go Green, as I find new and successful strategies that have worked for me. While I'm baby-stepping my ecofriendly habits in life, you will find me at the corner of Good News & Fun Times as publisher of The Fun Times Guide (32 fun & helpful websites).

Lynnette: View My Blog Posts

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