4 Ways Splash Fabric Keeps it Green
As a former park ranger- it goes without saying that protecting the environment is very important to me and was a reason I founded Splash Fabric in the first place (back when it...
As a former park ranger- it goes without saying that protecting the environment is very important to me and was a reason I founded Splash Fabric in the first place- back when it was called ImpWear. Since starting this business, sustainability and eco-friendliness has been in the forefront of every decision I make running Splash Fabric; so in honor of Earth Day this week here are four ways that we run a 'green ship' around here!
1. Our fabrics eventually biodegrade.
Splash Fabric’s laminated cotton is biodegradable, but don't worry- that won't happen until long after you are done using it. It also complies with the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act (CPSIA) and has earned “Oeko-tex® Certification”, the global standard for environmentally friendly and socially responsible textile production. Our fabric is food safe. The STC testing laboratory tested our fabric and found that it easily complies with the FDA Food Safety standard CFR 175.300.
Modern Oilcloth does not comply with these consumer or environmental standards. Since it contains cancer-causing lead phthalates, the CPSIA considers it to be unsafe for use by children under the age of 12. This Mother Earth Article discusses the safety of PVC in more detail. BPA, PVC and DEHP also raise health concerns, especially in fabrics that contact food (i.e. tablecloths, placemats, tote bags for groceries, in other words all of the traditional uses for oilcloth). Oilcloth production also involves multiple toxic chemicals and processes that harm the environment and the folks who make it.
More on oilcloth vs. our laminated cotton.
2. Our products are made locally.
All of our products are made locally here in seattle using home sewers. Using local sewers reduces the heavy environmental impact that comes from long distance transportation and fuel usage. When our team finishes making a batch of the products you love so much- we go pick them up!
By having our products made locally here in Seattle, we are supporting the local economy by helping to provide living wages to local workers, while also reducing our environmental footprint- and that's what we call a win-win.
Learn more about the our local team.
3. No plastic packaging.
According to National Geographic- less than 15% of plastic is actually recycled. This isn't because people aren't recycling- but because most single use plastic isn't truly recyclable. The environmental crisis that has arisen due to the amount of plastic trash we have generated since its invention is dire and we don't want to add to it with our packaging!
Our products are shipped to you in cardboard boxes and envelopes that- as often as possible- are salvaged and reused from neighbors and friends. Living in Seattle, there are no shortage of boxes in good condition from all the Amazon deliveries and we "Shamelessly Reuse" these to cut down on the need for new boxes, packages....and trees!
Also, because our products are so hard-wearing and durable, no plastic protection is needed in the shipping process!
4. Our products last for years
It's no secret that our throw-away culture is greatly contributing to climate change. Often the products we use are produced cheaply at the expense of the environment and our fellow humans - many of the people making these products are not paid living wages and work in unsafe conditions- and therefore don't hold up to years (or even weeks in some cases) of use. We buy things to use a few times and then encouraged to buy a newer, shinier version of the same thing shortly after.
This contributes to our climate crisis in several ways- the resources needed to produce these items deplete the environment, the manufacturing of these products often produces toxic by products which then pollute the environment, and most of them end up in the landfill once they are no longer in use.
Here at Splash Fabric, we want your favorite products to last a lifetime! Often, if people buy a second tablecloth or bag, it's only because they want an additional color- because the first one they bought is still going strong after years of regular use.
At events, we often see customers out and about with Splash Fabric bags they bought years before- and they still look new! That's our goal. To give you products that you love that last.
We care about you, your family, and our planet as much as we care about ours.
Curious to hear the things that you are up to to help this beautiful Earth-