Green. Eco-friendly. Sustainable. Have you seen one of these on a product lately? We’re willing to bet the answer yes. As we all become more discerning about the products we bring into our homes and lives, the sustainable movement is picking up steam.
However, while all these terms relate to awareness and social responsibility, they are different. Although the green movement is becoming a popular household trend, there are no concrete definitions or government mandates about what qualifies as a green enterprise. This makes it difficult for people like us, the consumers, to make better, healthier, more ethical choices. As a sustainable linen bedding store in Vancouver, we at Sömn Home have summarized the most popular terminology to help guide your purchasing decisions.
Green
The term green or green-friendly has become something of a catch-all. Typically applied to products that are more beneficial (or less harmful) to the environment, it's a generously used term. Today the average consumer is likely to see the term sprinkled all over the place: green fashion, green energy, green cleaners, green cereal--the list goes on.
Green is a bit tricky because it is so broad. It can cover anything from planet friendly raw materials to an inspirational corporate recycling program. In other words, consumers may have to do a bit of digging to discover how green claims specifically apply to products and practices.
Environmentally Friendly
Eco-friendly is more specific. It’s a term applied to products/processes that minimize harm to the planet. In other words, companies that employ practices to actively conserve natural resources or mitigate the effects of manufacturing on the land, air, or water. For example, when creating our Imabari eco bath towel collection, we opted for reactive dyes that are free of heavy metals. Any run-off is also treated at a wastewater facility to mitigate the risk of water contamination.
Sustainable
So, what does it mean when we position Sömn Home as a sustainable brand?
Not to brag, but sustainability is the gold standard of conscious consumerism. Beyond sourcing fair-trade raw materials grown on chemical-free farmland, we consider the whole lifecycle of every product, from start to finish. Sourcing, manufacturing, packaging, transportation, even organic breakdown, sustainability is an A-Z process.
A towel manufactured from organic cotton might be considered green. However, if manufacturing results in harmful chemical byproducts or if a lot of power is consumed during transport, it still couldn’t be considered sustainable.
Achieving a truly sustainable product means maximizing social benefits while minimizing impacts on earth, water, and land resources.
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As a design house in the Pacific Northwest, Sömn Home has created products that are generous in material, sophisticated in design, and effortlessly good looking. With our sustainable brand of home textiles, you can enjoy peace of mind, create a refined living space, and give back to artisans, growers, as well as global communities by investing in our products.
Natural-Linen Sheets
Choose from pillowcases, duvet covers, fitted and flat sheets and throw blankets. Our natural linen is woven from 100% European flax, grown without harsh chemicals or pesticides in European.
Organic Cotton Sheets
Our 100% Organic Cotton sheets are manufactured using methods and processes proven to lower environmental impact. There is zero use of pollutant dyes and colourants, which can contain harmful metal contaminants.
Eco-Friendly Bath Towels
Crafted from environmentally friendly, all-natural fibers. Made by a certified Imabari towel producer, these towels are crafted from renewable resources and meet rigorous standards for manufacturing excellence.
Moving Beyond a Trend
For conscientious consumers with high standards for their own personal health and the health of the planet, understanding the terminology can help determine the products most worthy of your hard-earned dollars.
Green might have started as a trend. But in our increasingly connected world, conscious consumerism is on the rise, so it looks like it's here to stay. Personally, that suits us just fine.