Pop it in the compost bin!

If you’re like me you will have enjoyed a warm glow when you drop your clothes off at the clothes bank. 

There’s a virtuous warmth to be had in knowing that our clothes will have another life.  Every garment donated means less strain on the environment. I often think about the journey of each piece, from the store rack to the hands of someone in need. Sometimes I wonder if my old jacket might end up warming someone on a cold night, or if my outgrown jeans might become someone’s new favorite pair. For instance, the UpWest clothing shop is always a reminder of the potential for reuse and the power of small actions in making a difference

The warm glow was chilled by the recent coverage that our discarded clothing has found its way Kantamanto in Accra, Ghana, one of the world’s largest secondhand clothing markets.  The lagoon nearby is one of the most polluted waterways on earth.

Our mission in Turtle Bags is to limit our impact on the planet. This means seeking out the most sustainable materials. The most sustainable to produce and the most sustainable to dispose.

We make our bags and wipes to last: As I write, I am still putting our string bags through the wash after over a decade of robust use.  However, there will come a time when they are beyond use and repair and you’ll be wondering what to do with your worn out bags.

When you are done with your Turtle Bags or Turtle Wipes they can be disposed off in your own compost heap or handed over with your green waste collection to your council collection.  The bacteria, fungi and small invertebrates of the compost heap will work their magic breaking down the cotton into smaller and smaller fragments.  The fresh compost left after several months is in a slower state of decomposition; it’s rich with microorganisms and nutrients such as nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium. With the help of potato peelings, coffee grounds and egg shells our bags will soon be looking more like this …

 

 

 

 

Why our bags and wipes are perfect for circular design, is their simplicity.  Made from one ingredient: organic cotton, there is nothing to unpick or dismantle.

There’s no chemicals to worry about contaminating your garden or the council compost.  When our organic cotton is certified through GOTS (Global Organic Textiles) they are not just looking at the conditions that the cotton is grown in.  GOTS standard covers environmental, technical, and social criteria across a brand’s entire supply chain.

So you may be wondering well surely not much difference between conventional grown cotton and organic cotton?  Below is a list of some of the insecticides and pesticides found in regular cotton

Chemicals in Regular Cotton: not found in Organic Cotton

• Insecticides: bifenazate, imidacloprid, esfenvalerate, acetamiprid, abamectin, bifenthrin, thiamethoxam, propargite, buprofezin, thiamethoxam, fenpropathrin, novaluron, naled, dimethoate, diflubenzuron, fenpyroximate, pymetrozine, imidacloprid, methoxyfenozide, dicofol, pyriproxyfen, methomyl, chlorpyrifos, malathion, hexythiazox, flupyradifurone, aldicarb, phorate, dinotefuran, and the list goes on…

• Pesticides: fluometuron, pendimethalin, prometryn, aldicarb (super hazardous), acephate, phorate (super hazardous), cyfluthrin, glyphosate, MSMA, ethephon, endosulfan (super hazardous) tribufos, paraquat, and the list goes on…

For scouring and washing these three more chemicals can be added to the list above: hydrogen peroxide, ethylenediamine tetra-acetate (EDTA), alkylphenol ethoxylate (APEO), chlorine

By choosing organic cotton you are choosing to bypass all these chemicals from your life and your garden.

It makes sense that our Turtle Bags and cosmetic wipes are grown in a sustainable way that they can be put back in the soil when they’ve composted and help more growing.

If you would like more information about fabrics and how they impact the planet there are some good resources out there: visit sustainablejungle.com who make it their business to take a careful look at the life cycles of modern fabrics.