Recycling cotton can save gallons of water.
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Purchasing green clothing reduces toxic chemical and dye exposure while lessening a family's carbon footprint. While your budget may not accommodate purchasing all certified-organic cotton clothing, mixing organic purchases with used clothing and avoiding certain fabrics can significantly green your child's wardrobe. Try involving older children with their wardrobe purchases by encouraging them to research environmentally friendly clothing manufacturers that create clothes in styles they like. Many traditional retailers now stock green clothing for kids.
Visit a thrift store or a consignment shop to buy used clothing, or organize clothing swaps with friends or other parents at your children's school. Reusing existing materials is an important green principle, and certainly the cheapest option.
Buy clothing made from recycled materials. Many eco-clothiers use recycled cotton, especially in denim products, and cutting-edge sporting-goods companies sell fleece spun from recycled plastics. Purchasing any type of recycled clothing diminishes the energy and water footprints associated with your purchases. (See References 1, page 194)
Patronize garment makers whose clothes do not require dry cleaning. Furthermore, look for fabrics that dry quickly or respond well to line-drying to reduce the amount of energy that your clothes dryer consumes, as the dryer is one of the most energy-intensive appliances in the home.
Avoid buying polyester clothing. The manufacture of polyester consumes 10 times the energy used to grow and spin organic cotton clothing. (See References 1, page 194)
Dress your kids in clothing made with OEKO-TEX-certified dyes. Dyes that meet these requirements do not use heavy metals and have higher absorption rates, which means less dye and fewer fixatives needed for each garment. (See References 1, page 197)
Avoid purchasing leather products; most leathers are cured using carcinogenic toxins and create large volumes of polluted wastewater. (See References 2)
Buy hemp clothing. Growing hemp uses less water than cotton and requires few fertilizers or pesticides. Hemp is particularly good for infant summer clothes because it is cooler than cotton. (See References 2, page 117)
Reduce pesticide exposure by buying organic cotton clothes. Organic cotton clothing can provide a base layer to prevent exposing your child's skin to chemicals present on other clothes. Organic cotton also does not use chlorine bleach, which can irritate a child's skin (see References 3, page 244).
Tips
- Create a wardrobe for your child that relies on layering and overall versatility to get the most use from your purchases. Children often outgrow clothing before it can wear out. Buying unisex clothing for infants can also help you reuse clothing if you add to your family.
Amy A. Whittle is a freelance writer who specializes in home improvement, green living and pet care issues. Her work has been published by Woman's Day.com, the Huffington Post and other online and print publications.
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