Green Products

Disappearing natural landscapes in Europe
Virgin forests are unfelled, undisturbed places.In Europe, humans have intensely transformed virgin landscapes (i.e., unfelled forests preserved in their original form). If we survey the history of land development in Europe, we discover that over the past few centuries virtually all the European forests — from Norway to Bulgaria, and Spain to the Northern Urals — have been felled, consistently and repeatedly.

They now cover only 1% of Europe. Editor’s note: 5% of America.About 2000 years ago virgin landscapes covered 80% of Europe.
Toward the end of the 19th century they had been so drastically reduced that they covered only 10-15% of their original area.
These landscapes were further destroyed in the 20th century. Now they make up no more than 1% of all of Europe. By the beginning of the 21st century, virgin landscapes were preserved only in a few geographical locations, including Europe’s northeast, the Caucasus, and Georgia.
Human activity, such as logging, is the culprit.Nowadays the destruction of virgin forests continues though deforestation, construction of new highways and industrial enterprises, and the excessive human use of mountain meadows and winter pastures. Lands that were once fertile have been reduced to “badlands” — barren, rocky, erosive land, devoid of soil and vegetation cover.

Why are virgin landscapes important?
Whit Gibbons, an environmental professor, has defined virgin forests as:

The original meaning is simple, from the word meaning “chaste,” representing a forest that has never been timbered and in which the dominant, old-growth tree species have reached their maximum ages.1

The International Union of Forest Research Organizations extends this view to include young growth:

Not all virgin forests are old growth.There seems to be general agreement that not every virgin or primeval forest is of great age; that young stands may be of virgin or primeval character although they are not old growth. These would be stands that have regenerated after natural disturbances and have not been subjected to human disturbances.2

Virgin landscapes are unique natural complexes that, among other things:

Virgin forests shelter other undisturbed landscapes, such as meadows. regulate climate; for example, they store large amounts of carbon dioxide that would otherwise contribute to greenhouse gases
maintain water cycles and freshwater resources
ensure the survival of unique and endangered species
protect one-of-a-kind mountain meadows, marsh tracts and other ecosystems within their territory
prevent soil erosion and flooding of streams
provide ecological refuges for indigenous knowledge
The size of virgin landscapes may vary. For example, landscapes in mountainous countries range from a few square kilometers to dozens upon dozens of square kilometers. It is of great significance that a landscape is a sum of smaller natural units. These units are closely interconnected and dependent on one another.

A good night’s sleep and for most of us that starts with sleeping with comfortable bedding and on a comfortable mattress, but for a range of reasons related to health and comfort concerns or simply to help preserve the environment, many people are looking for alternatives to mattresses and bedding primarily with man made materials. One solution a number of people are choosing is an organic mattress and bedding. 

What is organic  bedding and mattress’?

Bedding washes great and feels silky soft. Very lightweight organic cotton with all around elastic for safety. It comes in many bright colors and patterns to choose from.

A organic mattress is made completely from natural materials and according the National Association of Organic Mattress Industry (NAOMI) there are actually a number of quite stringent requirements for a mattress to be considered organic. Among them are

Mattress must be free of synthetic fibers
Any wool used in the mattress must be both from sheep raised according to organic standards and processed according to organic standards. As well, the wool cannot be treated with any chemicals suspected of being toxic and it must be tested free of arsenic and lead.
All cotton batting as well as any hidden inner fibers and fabrics must also be certified organic and processed according to organic standards.
Any rubber used must be tested free of benzene, toluene, phthalates, SBR, petroleum additives, formaldehyde, arsenic, plus, any glue used in manufacturing, must be free of formaldehyde and phenolated compounds.

I found a wonderful article I wanted to share with you by Jeff Lakie who is the founder of Plastic Surgery Resources

With today’s image conscious shopper becoming more conscientious as a consumer, a line of vegetarian, or vegan, clothing and footwear has emerged. First there were cruelty-free cosmetics, which generally meant that the item had not been tested on animals and didn’t contain any animal by-products. Consumers responded well to cruelty-free products and a demand for compassionate clothing soon followed and with it, a line of vegan, or vegetarian shoes.

Vegan shoes, simply put, are shoes that are made from non-animal materials. Traditionally, shoes are often made from leather, thus making it difficult for those following a vegan lifestyle to find footwear, which were cruelty-free.

Hemp is usually the most common material found in vegan shoes. It is strong, yet flexible, making it a great substitute for leather. Many shoe manufacturers have opted to use hemp for shoes and other products, which were traditionally only available in leather, such as wallets and knapsacks. Hemp is a very strong fiber, and unlike traditional textiles like cotton, it is stronger when wet. Other manufacturers use materials such as cotton, or other plant-derived textiles. Vegetan, a new synthetic material, is being used more frequently. It’s look and feel is very similar to leather, but is completely free of animal products. It’s waterproof, breathable, and scuff-resistant, making it the perfect choice for shoes.

Vegan shoes come in a variety of styles, ranging from boots to sandals. Many of these styles are made to be long-lasting and comfortable, especially if they are made using hemp. For example, hiking boots made from hemp are very durable, water-proof, and are usually as comfortable as their non-vegan counterparts. Athletic shoes are also usually made from hemp, although they can also be made from canvas as well.

There are more and more vegan products entering the marketplace, making it easy for vegetarians to find fashionable and affordable footwear, that fit in with their beliefs.

Though a bamboo towel might be a bit more expensive, there are several clear benefits it possesses over the common cotton towel.  First, bamboo fabric has the unique ability to absorb moisture and water more efficiently.  This is a natural quality of the bamboo from which the fabric is made, and compared to your standard cotton towel, will absorb more liquid and dry out faster because of its porous nature, and ability to breathe.  In addition to the obvious benefit, you can rest assured that bamboo towels were made through environmentally sound methods.  This means that the bamboo itself, the manner in which it was harvested, and the process in which it was made into fabric and dyed was natural, and throughout no chemicals or toxins were used. 

When you purchase a bamboo towel, you are not only receiving a more quality product, but helping the environment.  It’s a win-win situation.