Alternative fabrics hit the action-sports market

Grasping at Straw

Surf's up, dude -- and so is action-sports apparel makers' interest in alternative fabrics. (OK, that was a stretch.) Clothes made from organic cotton, hemp, bamboo, and even recycled plastic bottles are hitting the action-sports apparel market. Sustainability will "definitely be the next big wave," says the oh-so-punny Don Brown of Sole Technology, parent company of Etnies. Not so active but still want to get gussied up in sustainable style? Scientists at the University of Nebraska plan to develop apparel from chicken feathers and rice straw. But you won't look like you just had a roll in the hay: the feather-based fabric will resemble wool, while the straw-based fabric will have the look and feel of linen or cotton. The researchers envision markets for feathers and straw in everything from carpets to automobiles to building materials. And you never know when tar-and-feathering might come back in vogue.

straight to the source: Planet Ark, Reuters, Alexandria Sage, 14 Sep 2006

straight to the source: Terra Daily, 13 Sep 2006

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Comments: (4 comments)

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Polluting the atm to counter polluting the atm?

I guess it might work, but have we really evolved to such a point of insanity that we are ready to cut off our nose to spite our face?

Wouldn't it make more sense to curb CO2 pollution?

What difference would 50 years make? Does anyone think we would suddenly become responsible stewards of the land then if we are unable to now?

If we can't stop our bad habits with a little common sense, then perhaps it would be best to just let nature run it's course.

by bdemello at 7:32 AM on 16 Sep 2006

Good Idea

There are a number of ideas floating around to actively cool the Earth (http://www.nytimes.com/2006/06/27/science/earth/27cool.html?ex=1309060800&en=516dc103cf6b4861&am p;ei=5090&partner=rssuserland&emc=rss).
There is a danger that these ideas will give the false impression that we can simply build our way out of the problem. Every scientist I've heard comment about the ideas is careful to point out that active cooling is not a magic bullet. They all say that this must go hand in hand with reducing CO2 consumption.

It would be nice if we could solve the problem by just reducing our emissions, but this is very unlikely to happen. Despite the fact that we've known about this problem for years ("After the Warming" came out in 1989) we have done very little. None of the protocols currently being discussed (let alone adopted) would solve the problem. This is not a problem caused by the consumption of an obscure set of particulates (like the destruction of the ozone layer) but rather a set of materials that often define an individuals standard of living. Taking the bus, driving a Prius, living in a small apartment and eating local vegan food might help, but it will not be enough. The lifestyle change required would have to be immediate and drastic; I doubt most people would accept it until it became too late.

Even if the developed countries convinced people to change their habits and be extremely more efficient, we would have to somehow convince the poor people of the world to do the same. This could be even more difficult, as we would have to allow them to leap frog our route to economic progress. Again, it would be great if this would happen, but I seriously doubt it will.

Generally speaking, I am an optimist. I believe that the people of the world are progressing (although the last five years may represent a "two step backwards" period before another "three steps forward"). However, I can't realistically see how global warming will be slowed or stopped in time with reductions alone. Nor can I accept the loss of the natural world that will occur because of such warming. The only way I believe the people of the world can solve this problem is with a combination of emission reduction and active cooling.

by RossBleakney at 9:49 AM on 16 Sep 2006

Institutional Change

Most of the time, we seem to be discussing only the personal changes people need to make (and I am not picking on anyone person here, but responding to a general tone in Gristmill postings).

This is dangerous.

We need to realize that insitutions can have a major impact (AND MUST!) by making changes.

For instance, requiring corporate, military and government fleets to use hydrogen powered cars would have an enormous impact.

We need to get away from putting all the onus on individuals.

patrick

by bookerly at 8:15 PM on 16 Sep 2006

SO2 is no solution

I know SO2, SO2 makes acid when mixed with water, that is no friend to the environment nor animal or plant life, it is not even good for minerals. So that is not a good idea. I say try again.

i am not ready to say we can not build our way out of this problem but I think in order to build our way out we are going to have to build wind energy, photovoltaic, geothermal, and tidal power along with the associated transmission, demand control and storage systems. I think that SO2 solutions are so silly as to not be funny.

by ffletcher at 1:08 AM on 17 Sep 2006

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