Kelly's Healthy Home

Are you curious about the fabric choices out there to create a happy and healthy home? It’s top of mind right now for me, so I thought I’d share some helpful tips.

Over the last 6 months, our adorable, sweet, destroying puppy Charlie has chewed a lot of things. One of his favorite ‘treats’ is to nibble on pillows and blankets. Now, I do practice what I preach and have sewn many to salvage them-restore & reuse, right?! Actually my husband helped sew one of my favorite (aka a little more expensive) blankets this weekend- he’s the best!

But some things were straight up-destroyed. So when I find myself needing to replace, I aim to support companies that have high standards as well.

What I like to look for when shopping are companies that are ethical and sustainable. A label you might see on food and textiles is “Fair Trade.” According to Fairtradeamerica.org, “Fairtrade puts more money into the hands of farmers and workers through a unique pricing model, sets and monitors rigorous standards at every step of the supply chain, supports producers through local and regional expert networks, and creates demand for ethical goods in countries like the US.” I like this as it’s ensuring the employees are treated and paid fairly. It’s a reminder that all of our ‘stuff’ comes from somewhere. It’s grown, manufactured, boxed, shipped and delivered. All of those components have employees and also creates waste– hence why I don’t like to by new if I don’t have to.

The type of material is important for toxins ands overall sustainability too. For example, cotton really isn’t super sustainable, it requires a lot of water and resources. Certified organic cotton, is better for the soil with less chemicals, better for farmers and requires third party certificate. If you want cotton, look for GOTS or BCI certifications. Other great materials are Hemp and Linen. Hemp is a wonderfully diverse plant. It is  one of the fastest growing plants and doesn’t need herbicides or pesticides. It can be grown with less land and a third of the water used for cotton as well as sturdier than cotton. It’s a great option for pillows, blankets and clothes. Linen, comes from the fibers of the flax plant: it thrives in poor-quality conditions, requires less water than cotton, and doesn’t need fertilizer’s and pesticides. Both linen and cotton are biodegradable.

I have zero affiliation, but am a true fan of West Elm for their sustainability fabric options. When searching for bedding, look at the filter options! I have the European Flax Linen Blanket- definitely recommend! I just bought pillow covers for our living room to replace our eaten ones (eye roll…).

There are plenty of other great companies that are GOTS or BCI certified such as Avocado, PACT, plus many more option. Simply search for specific certifications and types of items you’re looking for and the internet will deliver.

Wondering what the least sustainable materials are? Cotton, silk, wool and leather. As a vegan, I won’t buy or wear three of those, but beyond my ethics, they also require a lot of resources, water and chemicals to grow and process. If you love a leather couch for example, check out second hand first!

Now, wish me luck in having my new items last for many many years! #dogmom