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5 Tips on How to Do Your Laundry More Sustainably
Did you know… A typical garment is washed and dried 20 times during its lifecycle and worn about 55 times. If a piece is used along let’s say 4 years, that means it’s used only once every 2 months for two days and then washed. That is not much and it has a lot to do with the worsening quality of clothing and our poor laundering habits. And do we really need so much clothes that we wear each piece only an average of 6 times a year? Generally, the greatest factor in the environmental impact of a piece of clothing is laundering. Other factors, growing, processing and disposing, take a bigger portion with pieces made of materials that don’t need much washing or pieces that are hardly used. Micro-plastics One of the environmental problems with laundering is micro-plastics. Anything that contains plastic spreads micro-plastics especially during washing. It spreads with waste water and finally end up in lakes and oceans where they are eaten first by fish and then by people. Natural materials don’t have that problem and by using organically grown fibers you can also make sure no chemicals are left behind in nature or on the skin of person wearing the garment. Washing frequency The washing of a polyester blouse for example uses around six times more energy than is needed to make it in the first place. So just by washing the blouse half as often cuts the environmental impact close to 50 percent. Drying Tumble drying is responsible for 60 percent of the usage of energy and it is also damaging to your clothes and cause them to wear out quicker. So you might want to consider moving to line drying for environmental reasons… Temperature The washing directions on clothing tell you the highest possible temperature in which the garment can be washed. Most of the time that temperature is 40 degrees Celsius. Doing laundry at a lower temperature reduces energy consumption by 10 percent for every 10 degrees Celsius reduction. So just by lowering the temperature to 30 degrees Celsius you have made a 10 percent cut in the environmental impacts, without compromising in cleanliness. Detergent Biodegradability and concentration are key in picking a laundry detergent. Concentrated detergents include fewer chemicals and less packaging: they contain only what is needed unlike regular non-concentrated detergents that are “bulked-up” with fillers to make it seem like you get more for your money. So follow the dosage in your detergent package or maybe add a little less than is instructed to your washing machine. As it turns out, not even laundering is free from environmental consequence. The best way to downsize these consequences would be to simply not wash our clothes as often. This is another reason why Merino Wool is such a super material. Eco-friendly Merino Wool Merino Wool is a naturally dirt- and odor-resistant fibre. It breathes and lets moisture evaporate freely, so not rain nor sweat can disturb its capability to keep you warm and fresh. After a serious hike, it is best to let your Merino Wool beanie or other piece dry and air-out but no washing is needed. If you want to freshen up your Merino piece, maybe tighten it up or reshape it, you can put it in lukewarm water with a drip of gentle detergent and press it around a bit. Some products can be washed in a washing machine but a gentle soak is always enough to clean Merino Wool pieces. So the good news is, you as a human being that wears clothes (I’m going to assume you wouldn’t be reading this if you didn’t) have a lot to say in the environmental issues caused by laundering. Take good care of your clothes: air-out non-stained items, store your clothes loosely, use eco-friendly detergents and materials plus wash in lower temperatures. The last laundry tip is, as the saying goes: air out your dirty laundry regularly but in private...
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4 Must-See Winter Holiday Destinations In Finland
The glorious time of walking on powdery (I mean wet) snow, drinking beverages that all taste like cinnamon and wondering what kind of teacups your mother-in-law would like for Christmas, has come upon us. To celebrate the upcoming holidays we have listed our Must-see Top 4 Winter Vacation Destinations in Finland. So you can blame us instead of your significant other when it's raining ice and the best attraction in town is closed. “Dang that ecological and ethical VAI-KØ the Beanie Maker!!”, you’ll yell. So let’s get to it! First up is… 1. Repovesi The Repovesi national park is one the most popular camping destinations in Southern Finland, and no wonder. The hills and valleys, small lakes and deep forests are quite magical but easy to access. The park can be accessed by car from three locations: Lapinsalmi, Saarijärvi and Tervajärvi. The Mäntyharju and Repovesi area has a lot of little cabins, simple huts and also beautiful villas and B&B places, such as Villa Aurora. You can also rent a sauna in the wilderness for a night or just a couple hours and enjoy the stillness of Repovesi with no hurry. Mäntyharju town has that small town charm with its own little movie theatre Kino that is run by the youth in town. Mäntyharju’s kids have in turn designed a forest playground that is located near the city centre. It has a cross track, sledding hill, jungle gyms and balance boards. How cool is that! Mäntyharju cross-country skiing tracks run along lakes, hills and campsites where you can warm up and grill some sausages with the locals. The tracks start at Vola Golf course. Next we’ll go north, way north. 2. Pyhä Tunturi (Sacred Fell) This place is especially significant to our Communications Lady Riina, who spent her childhood Easters in Pyhä and grew to love the Lappish scenery and skiing. The elected ski-resort of the year has 8 lifts, 14 slopes and the longest slope is 1,8 kilometers long. The lift ticket is also valid at Ruka, that is another great ski-resort two hours south-east of Pyhä. To VAI-KØ Pyhä hold a special place our heart because of their green values. They are a partner of Protect Our Winters (check out VAI-KØ X POW Beanies here!) and hosted the People’s Climate March of Finland in April. Pyhä operates on green electricity and is a carbon-neutral ski-resort. They also use ‘snow fences’ that are designed to collect the natural snow flying in the wind that is then used in slopes. This practice increases energy-efficiency and is the reason for the great condition of Pyhä slopes. For madcaps Pyhä offers seven backcountry (or off-piste) skiing areas and innumerable places around the national park. No previous experience is needed, the ski-school instructors will teach you everything you need to know to begin adventuring off-slope. Even kids can participate! The area around the national park is known for its history of being a sacred place for the Sami people and the rich geology that can be marvelled in the rocky canyons and treeless fell tops. The deepest fell canyon in Finland is between the two highest tops of Pyhä and is called Isokuru (the Big canyon), it is a great hiking destination for both families and more hard-core hikers that can easily continue to Noitatunturi (the highest peak in Pyhä) from Isokuru. In winter time the path is not maintained professionally but is still popular. Snowshoes and cross-country skis can also be rented for easier access. If hiking and skiing is not enough, adventure company Bliss Adventure will take you fatbiking, ice-climbing and will walk you through winter survival tips and tricks all in a fun and safe way. On the other side of the maiden of Finland’s waist is... 3. Ylläs The Ylläs-Pallas national park in Kolari has two separate ski-resorts that are connected and with one ski pass you get access to both, which means 29 lifts and 61 slopes all yours. The area entails 330 kilometers of cross-country skiing track of which 38 kilometers are lit. The fell range of Ylläs-Pallas is almost a hundred kilometers long and the scenery has been chosen as one of Finland’s national landscapes. Three nature centers (Hetta, Äkäslompolo and Pallas) will help you with any questions and navigate you through trails, wilderness huts and resting places. I guarantee you won’t get bored! If Aurora Borealis or as we Finns call them, revontulet, is on your bucket list Ylläs is a great place to cross that off. The street lights are turned off in Ylläs every night at 10 p.m. from November to mid February, which makes Northern Lights spotting easier, now all you can hope for is clear skies. To help you spot the phenomenon the Ylläs Aurora app will notify you when other users report seeing Northern Lights. Admiring and photographing the Aurora is great but so is snowshoeing, reindeer sledding, ice-swimming and floating in drysuits under the flickering night sky. For last by certainly not least, Ylläs farm animal yard in Koninjänkä is home to the only camel in Lapland among 40 other species. That’s a must-see right there! Kolari, next to the ski-resort, is an active little town that has all kinds of activity days for kids and adults from cross-country skiing competitions to Santa meetings and local nature photography exhibitions. Go say hi to the warm inhabitants of Kolari and tell them we sent you! On your way back south (that is if Lapland didn’t charm you and you haven’t already ended up moving to Kolari), you should definitely spend a night or two in… 4. Porvoo Picture: Visit Porvoo The historical town of Porvoo is located east of Helsinki and is known for its 18th and 19th century woodhouses and cute little shops and cafes. The old stone church is from the 15th century and the city plan originates to the Middle Ages. Coffee and beer brewing is trending in Porvoo and the town Christmas lights gather both Finns and tourists on weekends. Their wide selection on boutique hotels and B&Bs make spending a weekend in Porvoo an enjoyment and art exhibitions, museums and artist home shows will keep you entertained. Two things to do in Porvoo in December is to visit the Bosgård Christmas food market (from 18th till 22nd) and to join the Vanha Joulu (Old Christmas) tour that takes you from Vanha Raatihuoneentori around the ambient alleys to the old times and the roots of Christmas traditions in Porvoo. Pro Tip: Public parking spaces in Porvoo are free of charge every weekend before Christmas starting at the end on November! Now, don't hold up, share your fav domestic winter holiday destination! Hurry!
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Could Localism Beat Globalism?
Did you know that the t-shirt you just picked up at a local shop travelled once around the globe to finally end up in your closet? Sounds ridiculous doesn’t it, but it’s true. A village of people made your clothes The fast fashion way of doing textile production means every work stage is done in the cheapest way possible. When this strategy is taken to the extreme, it can mean that every seam in a piece of clothing is sown by a different person, in a different factory, in a different city, in a different country. Now try tracing the social and environmental impacts of each of those operators. Seems impossible, right? In addition to low traceability transporting fabric back and forth causes ‘invisible’ pollution and uses resources that are not counted in the charts and numbers where environmental effects are presented to the consumer. Global trade don’t know your taste Textile sector’s sustainability issues, to say it nicely, are linked to the scale of production and consumption in addition to its use of resources. Large-scale production, global trade and internationally available goods mean that we are sold the same styles and materials no matter where we live. And it really seems that we are not happy with what we get since buying and discarding is happening in an ever accelerating pace. Now, don’t get me wrong... Global fashion taste or availability are not the problem. Fast fashion is and it is often promoted by huge companies that collect the profits and leave a big environmental and social mess behind. The best alternative ways of doing clothing, to me anyways, could be going more Light and more Local. I'll tell you more about Light Design in my next blogpost, but let's jump into Local Design. Keep reading, I’ll tell you how this applies to your life! LOCAL DESIGN Designing local has a lot to do with sustainability and connection. It comes down to sustaining communities with jobs in the designing, manufacturing and disposal stages of a product and sustaining the environment with responsible production. When businesses are smaller and work in touch with their communities it allows us to see and sense the effects of our own actions on each other and the environment. We are quicker to suffer the consequences of irresponsible business behaviour or enjoy the benefits of sustainable production. What I mean by that, is that the more connection we have to the company we buy our clothes from, the better we know if they are treating their people and the environment fairly. Localism also represents an opportunity for distinctiveness with relevant and native designs that increase our connection to the clothing. Which in turn makes us use the piece more and take better care of it. This logic is totally opposite to the disposableness connected to fast fashion. For example, VAI-KØ beanies are designed in Finland, inspired by Finland and made in Finland. So owning a beanie of ours allows you to have a piece of Finland in your wardrobe, and knowing that can make you more connected! And so the beanie isn't just a beanie anymore, it means something. How could Localism threaten Globalism I am not here to suggest that local production will replace global production but the consensus seems to be that rather than replacing, localism could complement, learn from and then start to influence globalism. A properly scaled production system would allow a diversity of alternatives to thrive and wealth to spread more evenly across areas and social groups. Local production and design also doesn’t mean dropping of the trend-bandwagon. Mainly because of this great thing called the Internet (I’m sure you’ve heard of it) which allows consumers to easily connect with local producers that in turn are able to make specialized and even customized items. Localism can actually offer more and better alternatives to consumers than Globalism and its everything-for-everybody-at-any-cost type of fast fashion approach. What are your favourite pieces of clothing and what makes them important, how do you connect to them? Sources: Sustainable Fashion and Textiles (2008): Kate Fletcher
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Ethically Made - Supervised by Certificates
In a world full of snappy slogans and endless promises, I’m sure you too are wondering, can I trust my favorite brands when they vow to be eco-friendly and ethical. And what are these certificates everyone’s talking about, are they as legit as they claim to be? That was me not long ago. And let me tell you something, learning about sustainable living and how to make better purchases is much more effective and fun together. I’ll walk you through my research. Shall we? As the ecological and ethical problems of the clothing industry have become better known and the issues a topic of public discussion, new kind of answers have emerged and gained common awareness. Many questions of transparency and the lack of information available to customers can be answered with the use of certificates. VAI-KØ uses materials certified by bluesign and GOTS that are two of the strictest in the clothing industry. Certificates such as these determine higher standards for the production of clothing that are then closely supervised. In countries like Finland the legislation protects the rights of workers but in other places where those kinds of laws are lacking or non-existent, certificates are a great way to ensure fairness and influence the surrounding society. That means certificates don’t only ensure the fairness of products made by companies working with the certificate but in many cases, the ethical and ecological standards work as an example for companies outside the certificates and they can seek consultation on how to become more and more people- and eco-friendly. Setting standards Bluesign tackles both ethical and ecological matters regarding the making of a clothing which means the consumer can enjoy safe, high-quality products, no health risks or constantly wondering who made my clothes and in what kind of working conditions. The standards are much higher than those set by legal obligations: “only components and technologies are applied that have the lowest possible impact on human health and environment” (bluesign policies). But what does “lowest possible impact” mean exactly? I’ll tell ya! 1. Minimised usage of energy and raw materials In practice this means textile companies reduce their ecological footprint by optimizing energy and material input per kilogram of manufactured textile. Minimising the resources used decreases the environmental impact AND it automatically adds value to the products with cost efficiency. That means more bang for your buck! 2. Controlled water emission Protecting the natural circulation of water is key in sustainable textile production. That’s why water emission control consists of returning purified water into the water cycle and minimizing the aquatic impact. Practices such as using wastewater treatment technology are fundamental! Water is a matter of life and death to all life on Earth. So regulating the usage and emission of water has a huge impact on the health of both nature and our fellow humans who live in the areas surrounding textile factories. These demands are supervised with ongoing compliance controls and strict sewage limit values. 3. Controlled air emission When talking about health, air is quite important, right? Can’t breathe with no air! Bluesign system has tackled this issue by specifying strict criteria for substances and components used in the production of textiles. The aim in all of this is to reduce CO2 emissions in all stages of manufacturing. This requires that the exhaust air must be cleaned and recycled by adequate environmental technology. It’s the only way to go in order to protect the climate and the quality of the air we breathe! 4. Supervised working conditions Everyone deserves to work in safe and healthy conditions. The reality is, living in this world of ours is not always safe or easy. So the least we can do is demand that the people making our clothes are safe in their workplaces and give them one thing less to worry about. This is why bluesign has set strict guidelines for the safeguard of textile industry employees. Working conditions are constantly supervised and assessed to detect local problems and update safety measures. And if necessary, appropriate measures will be imposed. These things might seem to like a no-brainer but sadly occupational health and safety factors such as safe chemical-handling, noise, dust or emergency training are too rarely taken into consideration in the textile industry. Therefore the bluesign system has set training programs for employees concerning the storage and handling of harmful substances as obligatory. 5. Consumer safety As a result of the previous four principles, bluesign products meet the high expectations of safety, performance, and quality that the knowledgeable clients of today have. You never have to worry about the product getting wet and leaking icky chemicals or losing its color, they are always safe to use even on the sensitive skin of children. What’s up with all these chemicals — criteria for chemical safety Going through these standards it seems to me that chemicals play a big role when it comes to the health of our planet and every living thing in it. So let’s dig a little deeper with these chemicals… To determine whether a chemical substance conforms to the bluesign sustainability standards a detailed risk assessment of contents and its specific environmental impacts are executed. Conclusions are based on the strictest calculated values and the specific conditions in which the chemicals are used are taken into consideration. Then each applied chemical component is rated (this is called homologation): “Blue” category: components meet all of the bluesign® criteria and requirements “Grey” category: components shall only be used under certain appropriate conditions “Black” category: components do not meet the bluesign® criteria Just blue, grey and black. No misunderstandings or unnecessary explanations, either a substance meets the bluesign requirements or it doesn’t. Simple isn’t it? Demanding more than “okay” Sustainability is often associated with being environmentally responsible but social responsibility is a great piece of this puzzle. That is why bluesign system partners commit to the observance of UN Global Compact, the international initiative supporting universal social and environmental business principles. But what I love about bluesign is that they don’t settle for being fair, they go further. That’s what The Best Available Technology -concept is, going the extra mile. It means that the latest locally available technological solution has to be implemented. This means the latest, safest and most ecologically efficient machinery and technology is used. And that benefits everybody! This concept creates an environment of continuous improvement and that is crucial to all development, of labor rights, of sustainable manufacturing, of new alternatives, you name it. You’ve got the power! Transparency is the only way to go. And that actually gives YOU (yes I mean you) the power, because: -Upon request, every partnering operator must provide blue sign with documents and samples proving the abidance of standards listed above -The tracing of fabrics and semi-finished goods must be ensured with the bill of material -“We don’t know” or “The info is not available” are not acceptable answers. P.S Have you ever taken a closer look at the packaging of the products you use? Well we have! One of the bluesign principles is to use sustainable and environmentally friendly materials in packaging. In VAI-KØ packaging that means no PVC, recycled is the best and less is more! Sources: https://www.bluesign.com/industry/bluesign-system/principles https://www.bluesign.com/industry/bluesign-system/criteria
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Sustainable Fashion Brands: How to Recognize Them & Avoid Greenwashing
Finding and recognizing the truly sustainable fashion brands behind polished slogans and greenwashed marketing is not an easy task. In this article, we have gathered 3 easy points to check while shopping plus a compact materials guide to go by. Dark Truth Behind Green Marketing Many of us have heard, that the textile industry is the world’s second most polluting industry. But did you know that it’s run by us: we, individuals and consumers show to big corporations what sells and what matters with our consuming habits. As long as we only crave for more and cheaper it will keep on going. That is the law of demand and supply. But what is there to be done? A few days ago my friend showed me a new jacket she had bought. Not because she had bought something new but because she was proud that she had bought an eco-friendly jacket. But while being proud she was a little unsure if the fashion brand really was as sustainable behind the green marketing. And that’s what led me to my topic. My friend, like many others, has just woken up to the realization that they have to change their shopping habits in order to save this planet and have their fellow humans treated fairly. To buy from sustainable fashion brands and even more important to buy less. But the problem is: How to recognize a sustainable fashion brand when there’s so much greenwashing in the industry? The Definition of Sustainability Mike Schragger, the founder, and director of the Sustainable Fashion Academy (SFA) simplifies that a 100% sustainable brand is a brand that ensures its business model is fully circular and renewable. And that its workers have fair working conditions and salaries. This sustainability definition challenges each and every fashion brand & company to some serious work in the area of sustainability. And to be honest: we always take more from nature than we give back. Yet we need clothes. So lets focus on finding the sustainable fashion brands that are truly making good choices environmentally and ethically. This list of three steps is dedicated to my friend who bought an eco-friendly jacket and all of you who are looking to make more sustainable clothing choices.
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Ekovilla: 4 hyvää syytä siirtyä luomuun
Mielikuvista riippumatta villa ja kaikki sen tuotannon vaiheet ovat aina yhteydessä luontoon, eläimiin ja ihmisiin, eikä jälki ole usein kovin kaunista. Kuten kaikilla tekstiiliteollisuuden kuiduilla, myös villalla on omat ekologiset ja eettiset seurauksensa.Hyvät uutiset ovat kuitenkin, että vastuullisilla tuotantotavoilla negatiivisia seurauksia voidaan vähentää huomattavasti!
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What Does "Live Alternative" Mean to Us
This summer we spent few weeks on the road on our self converted campervan doing simple things: hiking, talking, making dinner, listening to music and just listening...
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Selfish freedom?
Every generation is hungry for something. Ours might be hungry for, not cars nor houses, but for adventures and once in a lifetime experiences...
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Am I Ready?
watched a video on Facebook a while ago, entitled "Everybody dies but not everybody lives". It made me think about my life and whether I had the courage to do the things I’ve been dreaming of for a long time...
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