http://www.pollackassociates.com/fabrics/green-design.

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Recycled
These fabrics, without any additional backings or chemical finishes, utilize post-consumer and pre-consumer
recycled polyester, and are themselves recyclable. The American mills that weave these designs have
programs to minimize and recycle salvage waste and shipping materials, assess dye protocols and reduce
energy use.

Rapidly Renewable
Rapidly renewable materials are typically harvested within a 10-year or shorter cycle. These natural fibers
include cotton, sisal, flax, ramie, hemp, jute, wool, silk, mohair and bamboo.

Cradle to Cradle
In a sustaining "Cradle to Cradle" cycle, defined by William McDonough, an American architect, and Michael
Braungart, a German chemist, products are designed in such a way that they can become, at the end of
their useful life, biological or technical nutrients that are completely safe for human health and the
environment. Rather than working from the old industrial models of "Take-Make-Waste" or "Cradle to
Grave", their consultancy firm, McDonough Braungart Design Chemistry (MBDC), founded in 1995, has
defined a "new industrial revolution" based on the design principles of nature, where everything is designed
to be a nutrient for another life form and where "Waste Equals Food". They believe the same can be
accomplished in closed loop manufacturing systems and maintain that recycling is not enough - it is just
"doing less bad" since recycled products still contain toxic chemicals.
Following the principles of MBDC, the Swiss mill Rohner Textil AG developed Climatex Lifeguard FR, a
special fabric quality and manufacturing process. The fiber content is 60% worsted wool and 40% viscose, a
man-made cellulose fiber derived from renewable beech wood, which is integrated with an environmentally
compatible flame retardant. Climatex fabrics are completely biodegradable and can therefore be returned
to the earth as compost rather than landfill. To get to this end, every part of the manufacturing process has
gone through a rigorous environmental protocol. With the cooperation of Ciba-Geigy, one of Europe's
leading chemical companies, Rohner analyzed over 4,500 of their dye formulas; only the 16 that passed the
MBDC protocol, with run-off safe enough to drink and to enter the water system, are used for these fabrics.
Additionally, selvages and waste yarn are developed into secondary products, such as felt liners and
insulation material, which take advantage of their inherent flame retardant benefits. In July 2008, the
Climatex fabric division of Rohner was acquired by the Swiss mill Gessner AG.

http://www.pollackassociates.com/color_search_results.php?type[]=20

ECO TEXTILES
Hardy Organic Hemp From O Ecotextiles
Seattle-based O Ecotextiles, which was named one of BuildingGreens 2008 Top-10 Green
Building Products, is one of a select few companies out there completely dedicated to green
fabric. Their mission statement sounds like a good plan to us: "O Ecotextiles wants to change
the way textiles are made by proving that it's possible to produce luxurious, sensuous fabrics in
ways that are non-toxic, ethical and sustainable."

Designed by Emily Todhunter, Hardy Organic Hemp is made of 100 percent long fiber hemp,
sustainably harvested by independent farmers in Romania--a country that has farmed hemp for
generations. Although hemp must be imported (and therefore has a bigger transport carbon
footprint), it is particularly easy to grow in most climates and resistant to bugs. No pesticides,
insecticides, fungicides, or synthetic fertilizers are used during farming, and the fabric is spun at
a local facility without water or "chemicals inputs of any kind."

Abacus From Knoll Textiles

Climatex From Rohner Textile
Swiss manufacturer Rohner Textil addresses several different eco factors with Climatex, which
carries the prestigious Cradle to Cradle certification from MBDC. The certification requires
environmentally safe, healthy and recyclable materials, renewable energy resources during
manufacture, responsible handling of water, among other criteria.
Made of mostly Ramie, a rapidly renewable tropical herbaceous perennial in the nettle family
used some 4000 years ago in Egypt, Climatex Lifecycle is completely biodegradable--down to
all of its chemical constituents. In addition, waste material is recycled during production.
The firm's newer product, Climatex LifeguardFR, is made out of wool and renewable beech
wood, without harmful chemicals. The fact that it meets the stringent fire retardant requirements
required for aircraft makes it particularly innovative, as this is something particularly hard to do
without toxins.
Both Climatex Lifecycle and Climatex LifeguardFR have the highest Cradle to Cradle
certification: Gold.

Ocean Collection from Oliveira Textiles

For whimsical eco textiles, look no further than Oliveira Textiles. The firm's debut Ocean
Collection is made of sustainably harvested and rapidly renewable hemp, (like
Ecotextiles, it is sourced from Romania), and organic cotton grown, harvested, and
woven in Turkey. Check out our interview with founder Dawn Oliveira.

Hallingdal From Kvadrat

Danish firm Kvadrat is a major source for luxury textiles in the international market, and
boasts a strict "environmental compendium (PDF)." Six of the firm's textiles are
particularly green. The 70 percent new wool and 30 percent viscose Hallingdal by
Nanna Ditzel, as well as Hacker and Molly, are stamped with the EU Flower
designation, meaning manufacturing, chemical composition, and quality is checked by
independent bodies in order to comply to strict ecological and performance criteria.
More interested in biodegradable? Flora, Kosmos, and Helix, all by Fanny Aronsen, are
labeled "Good Green Buy" by the Bra Miljval (or Falken), a Swedish eco label backed
by the Swedish Society for Nature. This means contents can easily breakdown at the
end of the product's lifecycle.

. Sensuede

Billed as the "the first luxury faux suede that's eco friendly, enviro-conscious and
earth-conscious,"
Sensuede is made entirely from recycled polyester fibers. The fibers come from both
post-industrial and post-consumer sources, including PET soda and water bottles.
Production does not include harmful solvents or toxic waste and the material is highly
stain resistant (marks can be rubbed off with a brush or an eraser), making it
long-lasting.

Mod Green Pod

All the gorgeous fabrics from Austin, Texas based-Mod Green Pod are made of 100
percent certified organic cotton grown in the United States. Geared towards the
residential market, the firm also does all weaving and water-based printing locally,
slashing its carbon footprint and keeping energy consumption low. Pigments, while
imported from Germany, are non-toxic and comply with Global Organic Textile
Standards, which ensures no dangerous chemicals such as formaldehyde (wrinkle-free
agents), PBDEs (flame retardants), or PFOA (i.e. Teflon/Scotchgard) off-gassing.
http://www.treehugger.com/sustainable-product-design/11-eco-upholstery-textiles-revol
utionizing-the-global-market.html