Low-carbon lifestyle in China: fad or return to tradition?

OKIsItJustMe

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Mon Dec-29-08 11:43 PM
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Low-carbon lifestyle in China: fad or return to tradition?

http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2008-12/29/content_10575396.htm

Low-carbon lifestyle in China: fad or return to tradition?

www.chinaview.cn 2008-12-29 14:46:18

By Xinhua writer Yuan Ye

BEIJING, Dec. 29 (Xinhua) -- Lin Hui always checks the small tag attached to clothing when he shops. He wants to see what kind of fabrics have been used.

"I prefer cotton clothing," explained the Beijing-based website editor. "I heard the production of polyester fabrics consumes too much oil and energy, which is not green."

Whether cotton fabric is truly greener, or more environmentally beneficial, than polyesters remains a subject of debate. But Lin's attitude is clear - he wants to reduce greenhouse gas emissions such as carbon dioxide.

"What I do may be trivial, but if everyone tries to live a low-carbon life, the result will be really big," said the 35-year-old.

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diane in sf

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Mon Dec-29-08 11:59 PM
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1. I prefer wearing cotton myself, but hemp would probably be less carbon intensive.

When I traveled in India 10 years ago people were pushing polyester manufacturing plants because they took less petroleum and other chemical inputs than growing fields of cotton. I wonder about organic cotton growing vs normal commercial and also water consumption issues of growing cotton vs hemp especially in arid places like India and the Middle East.

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silverojo

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Tue Dec-30-08 01:25 AM
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3. A lot of people are allergic to hemp

If someone like my mother walked into a store with many displays of hemp clothing, she'd have such a severe allergic reaction that her throat would close.

Cotton is popular for a reason.

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NJCher

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Tue Dec-30-08 12:27 AM
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2. cotton is an environmental nightmare

but oh, how I love my cotton clothing.

But google "cotton environmental effects" and there will be plenty of articles to tell exactly why it is so hard on the environment.

I recently wrote an article on this topic and the exciting thing is that there are textile mfr's out there who are constructing fabrics with plants like bamboo. Bamboo has few to no environmental pests, unlike cotton. I actually interviewed a number of these mfr's over the phone and they were very excited about how they have almost made the mfr'ing process chemical and pollution free.

Next time you are in a clothing store, ask if they have anything made from bamboo. It's a very interesting fabric--stretchy, absorbent. Takes bright colors well, too.

Cher

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