Ditto Hangers in Children's Sizes Now Available on Amazon

If you need new hangers, JUST SAY NO to plastic or wood and wire, and try out these Ditto cardboard hangers. The children's size has just been made available on Amazon. GreenEdge Kids has been using them for its organic children's clothing since inception in 2008, solely for events and tradeshows. With all the packing and unpacking and moving of the hangers, we do lose a few, but do consider them to be a very durable product.

The garment and dry-cleaning industries generate a huge number of plastic hangers (see full article below), and Ditto is addressing this widespread problem with post-consumer recycled cardboard hangers that are fully recyclable. Wire and wood hangers are somewhat biodegradable, but not at all recyclable because the wood and wire are not easily separated.

Following, is an entire article written by Gary Barker, founder of Ditto Hangers (Green Heart Global Inc.). It's fantastic:
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How Many Hangers Does it Take to Fill a Landfill?

By Gary Barker

Founder GreenHeart Global

We all love clothing shopping. It’s a way to wind down and to buy something nice. The shirt or blouse or pair of pants we buy and take home. The hanger we don’t.

So where does that ubiquitous plastic and wire hanger go after you buy your shirt? Probably tossed into a cardboard box under the counter along with the previous sale’s hangers. And where does the box go at the end of the day? 85% of the time it gets thrown into the dumpster behind the store. Hundreds, perhaps thousands of hangers daily—per store. And where do the hangers in the dumpster go? Carted off into our municipal landfills.

Repeat that in thousands of clothing stores and outlets and you’ve got upwards of 8 billion polystyrene and polycarbonate hangers clogging our landfills—every year. How many is 8 billion hangers? It’s enough to fill the Empire State building from basement to observation deck—4.6 times!

But why is that? Aren’t the hangers in perfectly good shape? Why don’t they reuse them?

Within the last several years a new trend has become standard in the clothing industry called “floor ready garment systems”. That means hangers are put on clothing overseas at the factory and shipped to the store already on hangers. It’s cheaper to do it there then it is to do it here.

Since every article of clothing has its own hanger, there’s no use for hanger once the article is sold. So in the box they go.

But they’re plastic hangers. Isn’t plastic recyclable? The short answer is yes, but the practicality of it is a big no.

The reality is the clothing companies don’t really pay for the hangers. It’s the clothing manufacturer that pays for the hanger and includes it in the price of making the clothing. So the manufacture’s incentive is…? That’s right, the cheapest hanger they can find. The cheaper the hanger, the more profit they make. So clothing manufacturers in China, Indonesia, Pakistan, India, Israel, Northern Africa, Central and South America send their clothing on THEIR version of the cheapest hanger. They all kinda look alike, but they’re made of up to 7 different types of low-grade plastic: polystyrene (6), polycarbonate (7), K-resin (7), polypropylene (5)—all together in one retail store.

Even if they’re thrown into a recycling bin at the clothing retailers recycling them is difficult if not impossible. Separating the different types of plastic is not practical on a rapidly moving recycling line (typically moving a foot a second). Since they all look alike (a requirement of a certifications system for hangers called VICS-Voluntary Interindustry Commerce Solutions) it’s impossible to see what the number is on the hanger without picking up each one and searching for its tiny number. (And since the hangers are made all over the world, lots of them don’t have numbers on them at all.)

Remember the manufacturer who bought the hanger because it was cheap? The material in the hanger is cheap too. Low-grade plastic and low-grade metal. And there’s all this other stuff to separate like non-slip rubber pads or gripper clips or paper labels. It’s a headache for recyclers who are in the separations business to make a profit. The hangers gum up the machinery, break into parts along the way and are made of multiple, low-grade materials. Who wants to deal with that? So hangers are typically banned from recycling centers. They’re the Kryptonite of the recycling world.

So there lies the box of plastic hangers lying in the landfill with all the 8 billion other hangers. But they don’t just lie there quietly. Polystyrene, the most common material used to make hangers, leaches benzene, a carcinogen, into our drinking water. Benzene is the active ingredient in cigarette smoke. Polycarbonate, another popular material of hangers, leaches bisphenol-A, a hormone disrupter, into the ground water. Polycarbonate was recently banned in Canada for use in making water and baby bottles. Bisphenol-A has become a very prominent concern from health officials, whose testing has shown that the vast majority of people have this chemical in their bodies, most likely from plastic sources.

And how long do these plastic hangers sleep quietly in these landfills? It is estimated that it would take from 800-1000 years for these plastics to break down in anaerobic landfills, and possibly longer. That’s 40 generations necessary to break down these plastics.

All for a very short time on the rack.

All for a simple hanger.

by Annie Kaskade
www.greenedgekids.com

USA Made Eco Play Dough

Playdough is great for building fine motor skills in children, yet, many playdoughs contain toxic dyes, they're contained in nonrecyclable plastic, and they're imported from China. And once you've tried the eco version, it's hard to go back. A few companies to check out:

Eco-Kids make a natural playdough, fingerpaint, and puzzles in the USA. The playdough is $20 for an Eco-Dough tube (6 3-oz containers), or roughly $1.11 per ounce. For a bit more ($30 or $1.67 per ounce), you can specify gluten-free, soy-free, or dairy-free (or all of the above) for those with allergies. Only plant, fruit, and vegetable dyes are used, and the containers are fully compostable.

Organic Fun Dough also makes a non-toxic playdough in compostable containers, although it doesn't assert vegetable-based dyes are used. It is a little more expensive, at $1.29 per ounce ($9 for 7 ounces), but nearly the same price.

Both companies are providing USA-made products, and are family-owned small businesses. With a few options, you should be able to purchase tax-free and hopefully low shipping no matter what state you live in.

If you're on a tight budget, you might want to just make some yourself...it's not that hard! There are several recipes out there, but the one I have successfully used is as follows:

Play Dough Recipe

4 cups flour

1 cup salt

4 cups water

4 tablespoons oil

1/2 cup cream of tartar

Mix all ingredients in a sauce pan. Cook and stir over low/medium heat until play dough is completely formed and no longer sticky. Allow to cool slightly before storing in an air tight container or zip lock bag.

You can use beet juice or green vegetable juice to dye the all-natural way, or else use food coloring for the not-too-toxic approach (food coloring is better than other dyes out there, but it not entirely non-toxic).

by Annie Kaskade
www.greenedgekids.com

Fashion Retailers Changing Tactics

The recession is changing the way people shop, and thus the way retailers do business. A recent article in the New York Times highlights some of the shifting trends:

• Better customer service
• Fewer items in stock
• Fewer sizes available
• Shorter lead times on seasonal items (e.g. bathing suits in stores in May or June, not March)
• Regional stocking (catering to regional differences in demands)
• More value-based styles

Some of these things should never have been sacrificed in the first place! GreenEdge Kids has also focused on the following, to bring more value to customers:

• Multi-season styles and colors
• Multi-use styles, like reversible dresses and skirts
• Styles with accommodating fit and durable material, so they last longer
• Made in the USA designer kids' clothes that make a difference

Recession is hard on all of us, but as far as we're concerned, the outcome for customers and for the environment is a good one, and we hope these new retailing strategies are here to stay.

by Annie Kaskade
www.greenedgekids.com

The Story of Stuff

When I talk to kids (and adults) about the environment, I always want to provide information that provokes real change...but I find that there are three basic concepts that kids need to first understand, before they can really act with passion and meaning:

(1) Spiritual/emotional connection to nature that is only developed through spending time in it
(2) Connectedness of the world, and the relationship between one act and a faraway result
(3) Belief that individual change can make a difference

The Story of Stuff is an educational video that that teaches kids about overconsumption, and the impact of their choices. Organic children's clothing is a huge improvement over conventional manufacturing, though just using less is the best for the environment. Following is an excerpt from the May 10, 2009 New York Times article on it:

The thick-lined drawings of the Earth, a factory and a house, meant to convey the cycle of human consumption, are straightforward and child-friendly. So are the pictures of dark puffs of factory smoke and an outlined skull and crossbones, representing polluting chemicals floating in the air....

Which is one reason “The Story of Stuff,” a 20-minute video about the effects of human consumption, has become a sleeper hit in classrooms across the nation....

The video was created by Annie Leonard, a former Greenpeace employee and an independent lecturer who paints a picture of how American habits result in forests being felled, mountaintops being destroyed, water being polluted and people and animals being poisoned. Ms. Leonard, who describes herself as an “unapologetic activist,” is also critical of corporations and the federal government, which she says spends too much on the military.

Ms. Leonard put the video on the Internet in December 2007. Word quickly spread among teachers, who recommended it to one another as a brief, provocative way of drawing students into a dialogue about how buying a cellphone or jeans could contribute to environmental devastation.

If you haven't read it already, find out how organic designer kids' clothes improve the polluting garment production process.

by Annie Kaskade
www.greenedgekids.com

Kids Do Protect the Environment

While we are busy driving our kids around in our cars, accelerating global warming, it's good to know that kids may help dig us out of the mess we are making. A very interesting research article by Nickelodeon (March 27, 2009 Article with Source: Nickelodeon Kids and Family Research, Jan. 09; Touchstone Research, Jan, 09. Quant Sample size: N = 500):

Kids and teens are well aware of world issues, especially those concerning the environment. In fact, this is one area where kids and teens feel they know more than their parents. This is particularly empowering for them, as they often play the role of educator, happily showing off their knowledge and taking on leadership roles.

Kids and teens clearly see the importance of taking an active role in making a difference, with several of them saying that change and activism will start with their generation fixing what adults have "messed up." On a deeper level, they realize that making a difference now directly affects their futures and, therefore, they feel a responsibility to do something. This sentiment is more powerful among kids and younger teens. Older teens become skeptical about how much of a difference they can actually make.

According to respondents, the three biggest problems facing the world today are the economy (67%), job loss (65%) and war (60%). But, when asked which problems they feel they can help with the most, kids and teens said protecting the environment (64%). Because world problems are so overwhelming, it's often difficult for them to feel they can make a difference. However, kids and teens state they care about the issues and understand they must "start small." A boy in grade four stated bluntly, "World problems are too big for me to fix." Therefore, they are actively searching to get involved in ways they feel they'll see tangible results. This typically is easiest by starting in their communities and neighborhoods.

contributed by Annie Kaskade

www.greenedgekids.com

Organic Cotton Textile Art

There are plenty of organic cotton textile suppliers out there, but few who have focused exclusively on textile art. Harmony Art is an exception worth noting. Oddly, I discovered Harmony Art when I went my gym (in Del Mar, California) one day, and there was an exhibit of her mulit-media artwork in the commercial space by my gym. I liked it, and called and emailed to ask her more about it....from there, I discovered her organic textile art, and now quickly recognize it when organic clothing designers choose it for their designs. Harmony Art uses only certified organic cotton, and creates unique textile designs, which can be used for many purposes. Eco Ditty, the U.S. manufacturer of organic cotton sandwich and snack bags, exclusively uses Harmony Art's designs.

by Annie Kaskade
www.greenedgekids.com

Eco Crafts Ideas for Summer

After hiking, swimming, playing, etc., kids need a cool break in the heat of summer. Some cool craft ideas I found that you might want to try (most are from Ziggity Zoom Parents, but I thought these were outstanding):

Egg Carton Buggy Mobile



Gem Jewelry Box. What Child does not enjoy having a place to put their special things? Make this Cute box Gem Covered for a girl or use outdoor items like rocks for a box for boys. Use buttons, or other household items and a box that would otherwise get thrown away. You can also make a box for a gift or to put a gift inside of it.

Make a Mini Purse. Why buy a purse when you can make one with left over felt and cord? Use fabric you already have and save money and let your kids be proud of making something themselves.

Sock Puppet We love to encourage kids to be imaginative and what better way than with puppets. Instead of buying puppets- find a few old socks and cut our fabric, felt and yarn to decorate a few and transform the socks into puppets your child will love- make a dog, monkey, tiger, princess, pirate or anything else you can thing of.

Twig Pencil or Crayon Holder Are you or your kids into the outdoors? Well make this great pencil or crayon holder for the desk out of recycled and found items. It looks great on a grown-up or kids desk!

Straw Necklace Every Little Girl likes jewelry- so why not use those left over straws to make a fun necklace craft with your kids.

Leap Frog Fun Kids have unlimited energy. So make a game they can play outside or even inside on a cold or rainy day- Leap Frog Fun. Use Foam sheets or If you have old Yoga Mats or Rubber Floor from when your kids were younger you can use that too.

Hula Girl Dress Up out of Recycled Pillowcase Kids love to dress up and play pretend. Rummage throw your closets and find a few old pillowcases. Add a little felt or fabric and make a few cuts and you have an instant costume for your child- what a fun way to recycle something old.

Make a Knight Outfit out of a Recycled Pillowcase Every boy likes to pretend to be a pirate or policeman. Find an old pillowcase and recycle it to make a pillowcase costume for your child. What a great way to rescue a wasted pillowcase that is no longer being used. 2008-2009 Copyright- Ziggity Zoom, LLC Check back often for new Green ideas, recycling and reusing ideas for you, your kids and your family.




Have fun being creative!

by Annie Kaskade
www.greenedgekids.com

Learning Benefits of Summer Hikes for Eco Kids

Camps can be good, and often a necessity for working moms...but summertime is also a chance for kids to take a break and experience the outdoors. While safety is paramount, free time and the ability to explore is shown to promote creativity and focus in children. From Richard Louv's recent article (May 1009) in Orion Magazine:

A growing body of scientific evidence identifies strong correlations between experience in the natural world and children’s ability to learn, along with their physical and emotional health. Stress levels, attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder, cognitive functioning—and more—are positively affected by time spent in nature. “In the same way that protecting water and protecting air are strategies for promoting public health,” says Howard Frumkin, director of the National Center for Environmental Health at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, “protecting natural landscapes can be seen as a powerful form of preventive medicine.” In October, researchers at Indiana University School of Medicine, Indiana University–Purdue University at Indianapolis, and the University of Washington reported that greener neighborhoods are associated with slower increases in children’s body mass, regardless of residential density.

While I'm a Richard Louv devotee, I also read an interesting compilation of Thomas Jefferson's writings recently, which strikingly impart so much of the same value:

Take a great deal of exercise and on foot. Of all exercises walking is the best. A horse gives but a kind of half exercise, adn a carriage is no better than a cradle. No one knows, till he tries, how easily a habit of walking is acquired. A person who never walked three miles will in the course of a month be able to walk fifteen or twenty without fatique. I have known some great walkers, and had particular accounts of many more; and I never knew or heard of one who was not healthy or long lived. Love of repose will lead, in its progress, to a suspension of healthy exercise, a relaxation of mind, an indifference to everything around you, and finally to a debility of body, and hebetude of mind, the farthest of all things from happiness.

Richard Louv brings modern attention to an age-old concept. So when you're drumming up things for your kids to do this summer, why not a simple hike or walk on the beach? It's amazing what you can find when you're looking around...kids love it, and it's mind-enhancing.

Don't forget the sunscreen and the hats!

by Annie Kaskade
www.greenedgekids.com

Students Create Work of Art on Organic Shopping Bags

GreenEdge Kids is a big fan of creative textile design as well as organic cotton bags. Following is some recent news from the well-known School of Fashion:

Textile Design students in the School of Fashion at Academy of Art University have taken the organic shopping bag craze one step further by using the bags as canvases to create pieces of art. The students have produced over 100 totes by printing their original designs onto 100% organic cotton bags using eco-friendly water-based ink.

Bag details:
• Made in the U.S.A.
• 100% organic cotton. Eco-friendly water-based ink.
• Two sizes: 18" W x 14" H x 5" D or 16 ¼ “W x 14" H x 4" D
• Each bag is $40.00 with all profits going to the student scholarship fund.

According to the EPA, an estimated 500 billion to 1 trillion plastic bags are consumed worldwide each year. Not only are the students attempting to change those numbers, they are urging that their one-of-a-kind creations be re-purposed as pieces of art when retired as shopping bags.

Inside each bag is the following 'Care Instructions' statement - I am a one-of-a-kind creation made with love by an Academy of Art University Textile Design student. Only the most earth-friendly cotton and dyes were used to produce me. Fill me with groceries and picnics. The day when I become too threadbare to be worn, re-purpose me into a print for your wall. The planet will thank you for creating art and not waste. As an added karmic boost, all profits go to the student scholarship fund.

Press Preview: Thursday, May 21st at the Academy of Art University Annual Spring Show Opening Night Reception from 4:30 - 6:30 pm at 601 Brannan Street at 5th Street.

Open to Public: Thursday, May 21st - 7:00 - 9:00 pm at 601 Brannan Street at 5th Street. The bags will be on sale at this venue for one week until May 28th. Hours: Monday - Friday: 9:00 - 6:00. Saturday: 9:00 - 5:00. Closed Sundays.

After May 28th, bags may be purchased at the 79 Gallery, 79 New Montgomery Street. (Same hours as above).

Additionally, Eco Citizen Boutique, 1488 Vallejo Street, will be selling 23 select bags. Hours: Monday by appointment. Tuesday through Saturday: 11:00 am - 7:00 pm. Sunday: 12:00 noon - 6:00 pm.

Established in 1929, Academy of Art University is the largest accredited private art and design school in the U.S. with over 13,000 students throughout San Francisco as well as nationally and internationally through the growing online program. Over 2,000 fashion students study under the guidance of experienced fashion professionals.

The School of Fashion houses ten areas of specialization: Fashion Design for Womenswear, Menswear, and Childrenswear; Technical Design; Textile Design; Knitwear Design; Accessory Design; Costume Design; Fashion Illustration; Fashion Journalism; Fashion Merchandising and Visual Merchandising.

Eating Organic in Today's Economy

Despite the fact that trend toward organic food is unwavering, many of us struggle to pay the bills for it. The latest report from Mom Central (May 2009) states that "95% of Moms have changed their food habits in the last 6 months" to cope with the challenge. Here's what other moms are doing, as reported by Mom Central:

• Clip coupons
• Shop at several stores to find lowest prices
• Buy less food in general (waste less)
• Grow your own food
• Buy in bulk
• Eat less meat, more vegetables and beans
• Eat less packages foods, more "from scratch"
• Buy lower cost brands
• Eat out less often
• Eat leftovers more frequently
• Pack lunches

Having worked for years in the environmental, water and wastewater industries, and having more friends than I can count with cancer, auto-immune, and fertility issues, I am firmly entrenched in the belief that we should prioritize organic food, reliably clean water, and clean air in our lifestyles. These are the most direct routes of daily environmental chemical exposure to your body, and a suspected cause of all immune disorders and cancers.

It's hard and sometimes unrealistic to maintain a perfectly green lifestyle on all fronts...but eating organic is more important now than ever before. For help packing lunches in organic cotton bags and resusable stainless steel containers, please see GreenEdge Kids.

by Annie Kaskade
www.greenedgekids.com

GreenEdge Kids Summer Clearance Sale

One comment we get often, is "why can't organic clothing be more affordable?" Many people want to buy designer organic children's clothes, but just don't have enough the budget for it. Besides buying less, shopping the sales is best strategy there is.

While GreenEdge Kids has sales and specials every month, the June Summer Clearance Sale has especially deep discounts to take advantage of. With 60-75% off retail prices, and free shipping over $75, you can shop now, and save!

By Annie Kaskade
www.greenedgekids.com

Eco-Friendly Girls Sun Hats and Accessories from Ecozini

If you've ever looked for eco-friendly sun hats for kids, you know there's not really that much out there that's truly eco for kids older than about 6 months...and if you live in Southern California, Florida, or mountain country, your kids need hats they are willing to wear...a.k.a. stylish.

Thus the vintage reversible sunhats by Ecozini for the older girls are a fabulous find...designer Jessica Clute's own girls did some great modeling of the Ecozini accessories at the Chicago Green Festival in May. The Ecozini line includes eco sun hats, eco string backpack bags, as well as several other tween bag/purse styles, all made from vintage pop culture materials. Ecozini is made in the USA by work-at-home moms.

by Annie Kaskade
www.greenedgekids.com

2009 Organic Children's Beachwear

Though we are still looking for eco-friendly sun hats and bathing suits for kids, we love the organic children's clothing selections for summer this year. Adorable tanks, shorts, and pants from designer Sarah Waldo Organics....the polka dot beach dress from designer Kite Kids for apres-swimming...plaid skater shorts from Sustainable Kids.

A wide-brimmed sun hat is the best protection from the sun, so whatever you can do to get your kids to wear one is good. GreenEdge Kids sells a USA-made certified organic cotton baseball hat, as well as natural sunscreen for kids.

by Annie Kaskade
www.greenedgekids.com