Art | Resources
EWG is Rethinking Cancer
This week Environmental Working Group launched a new website called Rethinking Cancer
It’s all about preventing cancer in the first place, instead of finding a cure.
And I totally agree with this approach. I’ve been working to that end for more than thirty years.
If you are concerned about cancer, this is a good place to start to get some ideas about what to do.
What Is Lyocell (Tencel)?
Question from B J
Hi Debra,
Could you please tell me what it is? There are a ton of clothes made out of it this year.
Debra’s Answer
Tencel has been around for quite a while. I remember when it first came on the market in 1997. I was doing some consulting work for Esprit de Corps in San Francisco and they were looking at Tencel.
There are actually three categories of fibers:
- natural fibers – fiber as it occurs in nature
- regenerated cellulose fibers – cellulose from plants put through industrial process
- synthetic fibers – industrial an-made fibers made from petroleum
Tencel is akin to rayon and modal in that they all start as natural cellulose from plants, thus their generic term is “regenerated cellulosic fibers.” Bamboo actually is another one.
The difference between “regenerated cellulosic fibers” and actual “natural fibers” (cotton, linen, silk, wool, and others) is that the natural fibers are actually fibers taken directly from the plant and spun into yarn, whereas the regenerated fibers start as plants but get turned into an industrial product before they become yarn and then fabric.
If you go to the Tencel website , you will see that they call Tencel “botanic fiber” because the raw material—word—comes from Nature. And it does. But as Tencel, the natural material is no longer in it’s natural state. The website also states that solvents are used in the process of turning wood into Tencel.
Tencel is an “eco-friendly” fabric because it saves resources and recycles it’s solvent. The wood comes from single-species tree farms.
Tencel was the first cellulose fiber to utilize nanotechnology for performance.
I personally wear natural fibers as my first choice and occasionally wear regenerated cellulose fibers as a second choice if it’s something like a scarf that I really love. But since natural fibers are widely available, I just wear natural fibers.
While there do not seem to be any known health effects from Tencel, I wouldn’t recommend it for anyone with MCS. Many readers have written in saying they react to Modal (that post seems to be lost).
I also don’t recommend clothing made from Tencel. There are manywebsites that sell clothing made from organic cotton plus Tencel or Modal, and I don’t list them on Debra’s List. There’s just a wholeness about natural fibers that have health benefits of their own, and I don’t want to alter that.
Here are some articles with more information on Tencel:
Tencel: Sustainable but not necessarily healthy gives a good overview about Tencel, benefits and concerns
Eco-Fiber or Fraud? Are Reyon, Modal, and Tencel Environmental Friends or Foes? puts Tencel in the context of the history of regenerated cellulose fibers.
Tencel or Lyocell ecofriendly — caution for those with MCS. Not recommended for MCS.
Haven Natural Brew Soil Conditioner Teas
A special line of all natural soil conditioning tea, from manure harvested exclusively from the by-product of Haven owned livestock. “Haven Livestock Producers, since 1924, has ‘only’ raised natural grass field livestock. Our livestock is raised through rotation on native and permanent grass pastures. For generations Have Livestock Producers has been committed to raising our livestock free of antibiotics, growth hormones and pesticides.” Unfortunately, their meat is not available for online purchase. Click here.
EcoStatic Adhesive-Free Slickynotes
A “slick” alternative to post-its, these note papers have an electrostatic charge that makes them stick. Because they have no adhesive, you can write on them front and back. “You can stick to any smooth, dry surface like drywalls, windows, wallpaper, wood desk, doors and more. Their stable electrostatic charge lasts for weeks. Stick, re-stick and slide them around.”
Rawclates
Chocolate bars made from raw, artisan stoneground cacao, coconut sugar and superfoods. “All of Rawlates’ handcrafted gluten free, kosher artisan chocolates are made locally in Brooklyn, NY, created with a passion for pleasing the most enthusiastic chocolate lover…Hadara blends her 25 years of expertise in culinary arts and healing practices to create each unique Rawclate.” I tried these and they are delicious. Very low glycemic. Soy-free, dairy-free, non GMO, organic.
Scratch and Peck Feeds
Got backyard chickens? This feed will produce the best eggs. All of our feeds are soy free and canola free, while our Natural Free Line of products are also Corn Free. Our feeds are completely raw with our limited processing technique. We source grains organically grown and we mill to order in the Pacific Northwest. When you use our Certified Organic Feed, you can rest assured that you are protecting your animals, your family and your health because “you are what your animals eat.”
The Simply Co
Unscented or Lavender Laundry Detergent, make from baking soda, washing soda, organic castile soap and organic essential oils. “We’re all about keeping it simple. No SLS. No dyes. No 1-4 dioxane. No EDTA. No petrochemicals. No Chlorine. No Phosphates. No DEA. No formaldehyde. No optical brighteners. No synthetic preservatives. No animal testing. – EVER!”
Fruition Seeds
Over 200 varieties of certified organic open-pollinated, GMO-free seeds, customized to thrive in the Northeast USA.
Zosimos Botanicals
“Our skilled Artisans handcraft mineral makeup and natural skincare in a 100% wind-powered studio. Healthful cosmetics are mindfully created in small batches using pure mica, certified organic essential oils, waxes, herbs, certified organic fruit extracts and floral waters. Zosimos Botanicals gives you the absolute freshest nontoxic cosmetics possible…we are dedicated to reducing our customers dependence on chemical exposure “ Make-up, hair care, skin care. Trial sizes available.
Oristand
Turn your sitting desk into a standing desk for only $25. This well-designed industrial-grade cardboard box sits on top of your desk, bring your workspace to the proper height to use when you are standing. “No screws. No assembly. No instructions.” Looks like you can set it up in seconds.
