So you wanted to know…
Why are ‘the ethicurean’ produce bags different to other produce bags?
Most produce bags available are made from plastic netting. Despite often being made from recycled PET plastics or being made in Australia ( from plastic net ‘fabric’ sourced from China), purchasing plastic bags maintains the demand for plastics. Recycled plastics definitely have a place in the market, most sustainably as larger structural goods which have a very public lifecycle and demand recycling. Smaller items, such as net bags are not readily recyclable and are therefore highly prone to being lost to the recycling system. The only option for your plastic net bags once their lifecycle has passed is the landfill and worse, if lost in the environment, your plastic net bag has the same outcome as any plastic bag.
If you are not upcycling plastic netting to make your own produce bags, then we highly recommend investing in 100% biodegradable, sustainably and ethically produced, minimal net energy, long-lasting cotton bags. We have made a conscious choice to source our cottons from India and not China, where fair wage and organic certification is trusted and organic cotton is grown with minimal irrigation and hence reduced carbon inputs (no intensive water pumping).
What’s better about recycled, organic Indian cotton?
If you are concerned about the whole lifecycle of your purchases, then our recycled organic or unbleached fair wage cotton bags made in India provides you with the most sustainable option available for non up cycled bags. Our bags travel to Australia by sea, ensuring that the carbon footprint of your bag is minimal. Recycled organic cotton is sourced from the ‘shop floor’- the organic cotton ‘fluff’ produced in making other organic cotton garments is collected and rewoven, almost neutralising the waste in cotton processing. Additionally, buying cotton product from India and not Australia is a much more environmentally sustainable option. Cotton grown in Australia is not a sustainable commodity option, due to not only the amounts of water required to grow cotton in our environment, but additionally, the lack of sustainable irrigation methods used currently in Australian cotton production, even for organic cotton, is far from ethical. Like other water intensive products, such as rice, cotton is actually best sourced from climates where the natural ecosystem provides optimum growing conditions.
These bags look and feel good.
Why fair wage and not Fair Trade?
‘Fair Trade’ is a registered trademark and social movement. Committing to buying Fair Trade products is desirable not only for reasons of ethical investment but consumers are guaranteed the goods they are purchasing are ethically procured. The Fair Trade trademark is used on many products which are on-sold but as we manufacture directly and are not purchasing or trading with this registered trademark (which is very expensive to purchase and prohibitive to small business), Fair Trade labeling does not apply. Purchasing from smaller suppliers who operate using a ‘fair wage’ system but who are not purchasers of the Fair Trade trademark, is a great way to show support for sustainable, ethical and socially responsible businesses. Our fair wage manufacturer provides their employees with guaranteed and extended health care, a living wage, guarantees a minimum age for workers, community development projects and supports employee children’s education. Our SKAL/GOTScertified organic cotton manufacturer provides similar worker rights and conditions as SKAL /GOTS certification regulates not only organic production but ensures companies also adhere to a set of social responsibilities for their employees: extended health coverage, retirement benefits, pension plans (under government programs), vacations and holidays to all its employees. It also ensures that least damage is caused to the environment due to their manufacturing activities. Corporate social responsibility from one end of the chain to the other is important to us.
Are ‘the ethicurean’ cotton products certified organic?
Yes, all ‘the ethicurean’ cotton goods labelled as ‘recycled organic’ are made from EKO (formerly SKAL) certified recycled organic cotton. The use of the EKO Quality Mark is restricted to organic companies certified by Skal. The EKO Quality Mark is only allowed on products containing more than 95% organic ingredients. It cannot be used on agricultural products under conversion to organic production. EKO products as a European Standard meet all the international GOTS standards . The Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS) is recognised as the leading processing standard for textiles made from organic fibres worldwide. It defines high level environmental criteria along the entire supply chain of organic textiles and requires compliance with social criteria as well.
What is an upcycled produce bag?
Our upcycled produce bags are made for those of you who do not want to purchase new product and have a passion for the principle of upcycling but dont sew, can’t sew, have no sewing machine or don’t have the time to upcycle yourself. Our upcycled bags are made from heat and solar sterilised, reclaimed, 100% biodegradable fabrics (cotton, linen, silk, hessian). Upcycled naturals arriving in store soon!
Its’s a great idea, but I don’t want to pay for the weight of the bag
No problem. Just take along an extra bag and get your bag weight deducted from the total or remove the produce to be weighed or tell the the weight of the bag. Most markets and shops are happy to serve you, the customer. Additionally, they are not paying for the use of their plastic bags.
How do I care for my produce bags?
As these produce bags are made from natural fibre, caring for your bag as you would a piece of clothing or other household ‘softies’ is essential. Wash bags in cold water to minimise shrinkage and dry thoroughly. To ensure a long life for your bags, make sure they are not damp from produce when they are not in use as this encourages mold growth. Air bags on a chair/rack after use before storing in your shopping bag.
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