There is nothing better than lying on 300 thread count bed sheets. No, that’s wrong. There is nothing better than lying on ethically sourced 300 thread count bed sheets. Usually this means that the fibres used in these sheets are organic, are sustainable, and have a low impact on the environment because of the way that they were farmed and then manufactured.
Basically the cotton that goes in the sheets was grown using manure and not fertilizer, kind of gross, I know but also kind of cool? Anyway, this kind of cotton is healthier, stronger, better quality fibre. Some of these labels are Fairtrade Cotton Standard, Better Cotton Initiative, and Organic Content Standard.
The fair trade movement generally means that the products are made by local artisans. These products are manufactured in transparency, wages are allocated appropriately, and the sale of these products doesn’t hurt or take away from opportunities for local communities that make them. You may have heard of fair trade when buying coffee or chocolate especially. Some of the most visible labels to look out for when considering fair trade are Fairtrade Certified Textiles, Fair Trade USA, and World Fair Trade Organization.
The mining of metals and gemstones is mostly done in poor countries, and if you have seen the movie “Blood Diamond” with the gorgeous and environmentally passionate Leo Dicaprio, you would know that the mining industry is no bueno when it comes to environmental degradation and exploitation of local people for cheap. Two labels to look out for when buying jewellery are the Signet Responsible Sourcing (SCS) audit, and the Responsible Jewellery Council logo. There has been some criticism surrounding the lack of transparency of supply chains, and there can be a lot of work to still do when it comes to shiny things like jewellery but this is a good start.
Leather and wool can be ethically sourced too. It’s sort of the same concept behind free range chickens that live in a cute idyllic farm. These animals are treated well, are not abused, and the products you get from them, be it their skin or something that grows back like wool is sourced by causing the least amount of trauma to the animal. If you wanna be perfect you could go vegan, but by buying ethically sourced wool and leather you are actually supporting local farmers and communities that have relied on this source of income for generations. Watch out for the logos of The Leather Working Group, and The Responsible Wool Standard.