What is Fairtrade Cotton?
The Fairtrade Foundation was formed to provide an independent certification of the trade chain, licensing use of the Fairtrade logo mark as a consumer guarantee on products that are in accordance with internationally agreed Fairtrade standards.
What is recycling?
Recycling is the process of converting waste materials into new products so it is an eco-friendly way of preventing materials to going waste.
What is recyclable?
Products that are recyclable are items that are made in materials that can be reused in the making of the same or other products.
What is Ethically sourced?
Ethically sourced goods are produced and purchased in a manner that demonstrates respect for the people who produce them as well as the environment. Therefore, suppliers should be compensated at a level that provides a living income for individuals and their families.
What is Environmentally Friendly?
Basically, means not harmful to the environment.
What is the Bio Mark?
The Bio Mark is Organic Certification.
What is Sedex?
Sedex is the organising and empowering of ethical and responsible supply chains.
What is PEFC
Promoting Sustainable Forest Management is the programme for the endorsement of Forest Certification which is the World’s largest forest certification organisation.
Blue Angel
Also known as Der Blaue Engel is a German label that sets the standards high for environmentally friendly product design and has become a reliable guide for a more sustainable consumption.
What is BPA?
BPA stands for Bisphenol-A, an estrogen-imitating chemical used to produce reusable plastic products, such as baby bottles, toddler sippy cups and plastics you might use for storing leftover food. These types of chemicals have reportedly had health effects on humans, specifically in the fetal and infant states. Products made with BPA have recycle codes on their bottoms with the number 3 or the number 7. The problem with BPA is that it can leach from containers into beverages and foods and pose a potential health risk.
“BPA has been used in the U.S. since the 1950s, but because of a growing concern from consumers regarding its safety, the chemical was phased out of use by the industry,” says Dr. Whitney Christian, a health scientist for Cardno ChemRisk. While BPA is no longer used in making baby bottles, sippy cups and infant formula packaging, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration allows for its use in other food packaging and maintains that it is safe to do so.
Why should you avoid BPA?
BPA is a chemical with estrogenic activity (EA), meaning it mimics the estrogen hormone. Chemicals with estrogenic activity “have been reported to have potential adverse health effects in mammals, including humans, especially in fetal and infant states,” says Dr. George Bittner, a professor of neurobiology at the University of Texas at Austin who has served on many National Institutes of Health panels. Some bad effects of any EA chemical, including BPA, are early menarche, reduced sperm counts, altered functions of reproductive organs, obesity and increased rates of cancer, Dr. Bittner explains.
What does BPA-free mean for safety?
While you might conclude that products marketed as BPA-free are safe for your child, Dr. Christian points out that just because a product doesn’t contain BPA doesn’t make it safe. “In fact, there is considerable concern over the use of BPA substitutes and BPA polymer alternatives because they are largely understudied,” he says. BPA-free products don’t contain BPA, but they still contain chemicals, asserts Dr. Bittner, who is also founder of the testing company CertiChem. “BPA is just one set of chemicals that have estrogenic activity,” he says. CertiChem found that 70 percent of products that are BPA-free still leach EA chemicals into beverages and food.