What Is the Most Eco-friendly Material On Earth?
Your Guide to Green Materials
How much do you know about eco-friendly or organic materials? Granted, buying things made from recycled paper or plastic is a good start, but did you know there are materials out there that are even more green than that? Recycled, repurposed, and reused items are considered eco-friendly because they don’t require new resources in order to be used, or made into something else. However, there are other materials out there that are even more eco-friendly because of one thing: sustainability.
Sustainability is how people and nature can co-exist, or live together in productive harmony. It is the act of give and take that ensures continuation of life on this planet—all forms of life. Part of this process includes the length of time it takes for a resource to replenish. The less time it takes, the more sustainable the resource is.
For example: say you cut down a forest of Oak trees and a forest of Bamboo plants. It takes at least 10 years for an acorn to grow into a mature Oak tree, but it only takes 3 years for a Bamboo plant to mature. This makes the Bamboo more sustainable because it takes less time to re-grow.
Let’s take a look at some of the natural materials available on this great, green Earth and see what makes them so eco-friendly:
Bamboo
This is considered the most eco-friendly, natural material on the planet. Why? Well, Bamboo is actually a type of grass that can be harvested every 3 years and will regenerate new shoots after harvested, with little to no aid from fertilizers or pesticides. Needless to say, it is a great, renewable source. What’s more, Bamboo can be used to make everything from the clothes you wear to the floorboards you walk on. The only downside is that the majority of Bamboo products are shipped from China, so that’s something to consider when doing your green shopping.
Clay
This is one of the oldest known natural materials ever used and it may even be found in your back yard. Clay has been used to make a variety of items for thousands of years. This extremely versatile material can be used to make your dishes, decorations, and homes. It can ease an upset stomach, or be used to patch a leaky dam. Mixed with a little water, heat, and perhaps other minerals (like sand or gravel), and there’s no end to the possibilities of what clay can be used for. It even comes in a variety of colors, ranging from dull grey to a bright orange-red.
Cork
Looking for some new green products? Put a cork in it! Cork is another great, renewable source. Cork comes from the bark of the Cork Oak Tree, which provides habitat and food for a variety of wildlife, and the tree even has insecticidal properties. Best of all, the Cork Oak Tree does not have to be chopped down to harvest the cork material! Cork can be used for walls, toys, handbags, and a lot more than wine bottles. You can also waterproof cork to extend its usage life.
Corn
Yes, that yellow food on your dinner plate is also an eco-friendly material. It’s hardly a secret that the world is in need of more biodegradable material; landfills packed with Styrofoam simply don’t cut it anymore. Fortunately, corn is biodegradable and can be found in eating utensils, library cards, and let’s not forget your vehicle. Remember: ethanol gas comes from corn!
Felt
I’ll bet some of you completely forgot about felt. Well, it’s not just for craft projects for the kids anymore. This stuff can be used to make bags, coasters, and even that special tar paper for your roofs. There are numerous ways to make felt, including wool made from recycled PET bottles and the traditional way of Central Asia, which involves matting, condensing, and pressing the organic fibers together while wet.
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Hemp
Yes, Hemp comes from the same plant family as marijuana; no, it will not get you “high”. Now that we have that myth out of the way, Hemp has been in use for thousands of years. This plant can be found in skin care products, jewelry, clothing, and more. It really should be no surprise though: it produces 250% more fiber than cotton per acre and 500% more pulp fiber than from forest wood! No wonder this plant has been in use for so long.
Organic Cotton
Yes, cotton has gone organic and all cotton sold as “organic” in the US must adhere to very strict federal regulations on how the cotton is grown. For example: organic cotton is grown without the use of pesticides or synthetic fertilizers, which means a lower impact on the environment. It should also be noted that worldwide organic cotton farming has increased by over 150%! Found in everything from clothes to bed linens to rugs and more, it’s no wonder this material is known as “the fabric of our lives”.
Rice Hulls
A rice hull (or husk) is the hard, protective covering of rice grains and although they may be small, do not underestimate their usability! These little wonders can be used for: building insulation, pillow stuffing, fertilizer, fuel, bags, or just your standard pot for indoor plants. It is another biodegradable material and none of it is wasted because it can be recycled back into the production process, or simply used as compost (if nothing else).
Soybean Fabric
Yet another material that comes from food, soybean fiber comes from the leftover pulp found in tofu and soy milk production. While that may seem a bit strange, it should be noted that this pulp contains 16 amino acids that offer great nutritional value for our skin. As for the fabric itself, it is very soft (comparable to silk) and can be found in clothes for babies and adults.
Teak
I am not an advocate of logging; in fact, I am thoroughly against it. However, for those of you that desire wood products, if Bamboo isn’t an option, then plantation-grown Teak is the next best choice. Plantation-grown Teak is a sustainable material because it is replanted after harvesting and extremely durable. The plantations also have to adhere to strict government policy regarding tree size, replanting, and so forth. Teak contains natural oils that make it resistant to termites, pests, and even the weather. It is great for outdoor furniture and decks (including on boats) and indoor items, like flooring and countertops. This material may have a great number of uses and convenient durability, but like Bamboo, much of it comes from Asia, so shipping is also a factor when considering how eco-friendly it is.
Now, let’s take a look at materials that come recycled or from repurposed items:
BPA-Free Plastic
BPA (Bisphenol A) is an organic compound found in a lot of plastics—and it tends to seep out of the plastic and into the food or beverage contained within. The problem is this compound is an endocrine disruptor that has been known to mimic the body’s hormones and lead to some nasty health effects (cancer, obesity, and birth defects). Infants and toddlers are at particular risk because not only are a lot of their bottles and dishware made from plastics, but they can also become exposed to BPA while in the mother’s womb.
The good news is that not all plastics contain BPA! Keep an eye out for plastics and even aluminum products that have “BPA-free” written somewhere on the label. Why aluminum? Well, many cans and bottles have plastic liners inside that contain BPA—make sure you only use containers (even Tupperware) that are BPA-free. BPA-Free plastics are generally safer options and will most likely not leach BPA.
Recycled Aluminum
Did you know that aluminum recycling was a common practice nearly 100 years ago? That’s right: since the early 1900’s, aluminum has been recycled and it doesn’t just come from your soda cans. Recycled aluminum can come from computers, house siding, cookware, bikes, boats, and even aircrafts. The best part is recycling does not damage the aluminum’s structure, so it can be recycled and reused indefinitely, as if it were brand new. Plus, recycling aluminum uses only 5% of the energy it would take to manufacture new aluminum.
Recycled Cardboard
If you’re an avid recycler, then you know that cardboard is definitely on the recycling list. There are 2 main types of cardboard: paper board (cereal boxes) and corrugated (brown packing boxes). Both types can be recycled and made into different stuff, like coasters, journals and even more recycling containers. Imagine that.
Recycled Glass
One bottle of glass is packed with a lot of energy. How much? Well, recycling that one bottle of glass can power:
- a 100 watt light bulb for an hour
- a computer for 25 minutes
- a TV for 20 minutes
- and a washing machine for 10 minutes
Glass comes with a couple different recycling options; mainly clear or colored. It also can be recycled or repurposed indefinitely and turned into jewelry, light fixtures, counter tops, and more.
Recycled Paper
The facts and statistics I found on paper consumption in the US are absolutely staggering:
- To produce the nation’s Sunday newspapers every week, half a million trees must be cut down.
- The amount of wood and paper we throw away every year is enough to heat 50 million homes for 20 years.
- Americans consume at least 85 million tons of paper every year. If all that paper was recycled, we could save at least 250 million trees per year!
- It takes 17 trees to create 1 ton of paper. If you were to save those 17 trees, they would absorb 250 lbs of CO2 from the atmosphere each year; however, if you burn that 1 ton of paper, it will add 1,500 lbs of CO2 to the atmosphere.
- Recycling half the world’s paper would free 20 million acres of forest.
The list goes on from there, but I think you get the idea. There is no need to cut down so many trees to create new paper, when we can easily reuse and recycle the paper we already have. Oh, and here’s one more interesting fact for you: more than 5,000 products can be made from recycled paper, including: egg cartons, animal bedding, planters (for seeds), hospital gowns, tissues, masking tape, coffee filters, and of course, more paper. Money can also be made from recycled paper, which is definitely something to think about the next time you go shopping.
Recycled Polyester
Technically, this should fall under plastic and I’ll tell you why. Recycled polyester comes from plastic products, not the fabric. More specifically, it comes from plastic products that have the number 1 in the center of the recycle symbol. However, these products are known as PET or PETE (Polyethylene terephthalate), which is a thermoplastic polymer resin of the polyester family. PET products can either be recycled into more plastic products (cleaner bottles, food containers, cosmetics, etc.), or turned into something entirely new. In fact, did you know plastics with the #1 label can be turned into yarn? First, they are sterilized, dried, and crushed into tiny chips. Then, the chips are heated in a vat and forced through spinnerets. Finally, they are spun into yarn and dyed (non-toxic). This yarn has been used to make carpets, furnishings, clothes, and more!
Reclaimed Rubber
It’s no big secret that rubber is bad for the environment. Decomposing can take thousands of years and burning tires will release unwanted gases into the air. Yes, part of what makes rubber comes from trees, but that’s where the natural part ends. In fact, one tire alone contains the equivalent of 2 gallons of oil—also not good for the environment. Fortunately, rubber can be recycled and has been for some time now. Whether on your cars or on your feet, rubber can be turned into: mulch for playgrounds, sidewalks, shoes, and (of course) new tires.
Okay, now that you have a pretty good idea of some of the eco-friendly materials out there, how can you tell the difference between them and the fakes? As always, the answer is simple: check the label! Here are a few tips to keep in mind:
- Plastics have numbers that range from 1 to 7; the lower the number, the more eco-friendly and recyclable the plastic will be.
- Cosmetics and cleaners will typically have a bunch of chemicals in their ingredient lists and WARNING or CAUTION labels on their containers. Avoid these and look for products with natural ingredients, no parabens, and eco-friendly labels like: USDA Organic, Fair Trade, Cruelty Free (Leaping Bunny), or Vegan.
- Check the tags on clothing and other fabric items. You’ll find what the product is made of listed there and if it’s also Fair Trade. Remember: certain material, like organic cotton, must follow strict guidelines in order to even have the organic label on the product.
- Electronics and appliances should have the EnergyStar and/or EPEAT logos somewhere on the product.
For a more extensive list, check out this guide from GreenYour.com.
Interested in green building materials? Check out Planet Green’s Green Material Guide.
Think you’re a green materials expert? Take their quiz to find out!