Frequently Asked Questions:
1. What are PeopleTowels?
PeopleTowels is a new concept in sustainability and the latest Green fashion statement. These reusable personal hand towels are made of lightweight, 100% organic cotton, perfect for the environmentally conscious consumer. While this concept may be new to the US, personal hand towels have been used extensively throughout Japan for decades.
2. Why would I use PeopleTowels?
You already use cloth grocery bags, switched to reusable water bottles, changed all your light bulbs to CFLs and recycle – what else can you do that is not too expensive, fits in with your lifestyle and is good for the environment?
3. How do I know that PeopleTowels meet environmental standards?
PeopleTowels are manufactured according to the Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS) which is extremely robust. It covers the use and processing of organic fiber, as well as social, environmental and quality criteria. GOTS is a voluntary processing standard developed to work towards bringing global uniformity to sustainable textile processing.
GOTS establishes the standard for organic and fair trade practices. Control Union Certifiers issue the actual certification for the items produced using the above standards. The factory that manufactures PeopleTowels also holds certifications from Ecocert and Flocert, as well as GOTS and CUC formerly Skal.
4. What are PeopleTowels made of?
PeopleTowels are made from 100% Certified Organic Cotton, purchased from the Chetna Project. The cotton meets all the GOTS standards and is certified by CUC, formerly Skal.
5. Why Organic Cotton?
There are many reasons to use organic cotton. Three percent of the world’s farmable land produced more than 50 billion pounds of cotton in 2007 and twenty five percent of all insecticides that are manufactured are applied to these crops. In fact, cotton is the most heavily sprayed field crop on the planet. One third of a pound of toxic chemicals are used to produce one pound of cotton fiber. By purchasing organic cotton, you save our land and water from being polluted by thousands of pounds of toxic chemicals. All of the cotton for PeopleTowels is purchased from the Chetna Project, a 3000 member organization in central and eastern India, dedicated to the organic and Fair Trade cotton supply chain. The mission of the Chetna Organic Farmers Association COFA is “Improving the livelihood options of small holder farmers from rain-fed regions by supporting them to adopt sustainable agriculture and empowering them as informed stakeholders in ethical supply chains.”
6. What is Fair Trade?
Fair Trade is a beneficial process that also upholds ethical promises, including the abolition of child labor and equal pay for men and women. The farmers become partners in their own growing business and all workers are paid a fair wage for their work. These organizations also give back by supporting community projects related to health, education, and economic development.
While FairTrade cotton sells for about 70% more than conventional cotton, it’s grown without the use of harmful pesticides. When these positive elements are combined, the outcome is a quality product we feel benefits our customers and the world.
1. What are PeopleTowels?
PeopleTowels is a new concept in sustainability and the latest Green fashion statement. These reusable personal hand towels are made of lightweight, 100% organic cotton, perfect for the environmentally conscious consumer. While this concept may be new to the US, personal hand towels have been used extensively throughout Japan for decades.
2. Why would I use PeopleTowels?
You already use cloth grocery bags, switched to reusable water bottles, changed all your light bulbs to CFLs and recycle – what else can you do that is not too expensive, fits in with your lifestyle and is good for the environment?
3. How do I know that PeopleTowels meet environmental standards?
PeopleTowels are manufactured according to the Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS) which is extremely robust. It covers the use and processing of organic fiber, as well as social, environmental and quality criteria. GOTS is a voluntary processing standard developed to work towards bringing global uniformity to sustainable textile processing.
GOTS establishes the standard for organic and fair trade practices. Control Union Certifiers issue the actual certification for the items produced using the above standards. The factory that manufactures PeopleTowels also holds certifications from Ecocert and Flocert, as well as GOTS and CUC formerly Skal.
4. What are PeopleTowels made of?
PeopleTowels are made from 100% Certified Organic Cotton, purchased from the Chetna Project. The cotton meets all the GOTS standards and is certified by CUC, formerly Skal.
5. Why Organic Cotton?
There are many reasons to use organic cotton. Three percent of the world’s farmable land produced more than 50 billion pounds of cotton in 2007 and twenty five percent of all insecticides that are manufactured are applied to these crops. In fact, cotton is the most heavily sprayed field crop on the planet. One third of a pound of toxic chemicals are used to produce one pound of cotton fiber. By purchasing organic cotton, you save our land and water from being polluted by thousands of pounds of toxic chemicals. All of the cotton for PeopleTowels is purchased from the Chetna Project, a 3000 member organization in central and eastern India, dedicated to the organic and Fair Trade cotton supply chain. The mission of the Chetna Organic Farmers Association COFA is “Improving the livelihood options of small holder farmers from rain-fed regions by supporting them to adopt sustainable agriculture and empowering them as informed stakeholders in ethical supply chains.”
6. What is Fair Trade?
Fair Trade is a beneficial process that also upholds ethical promises, including the abolition of child labor and equal pay for men and women. The farmers become partners in their own growing business and all workers are paid a fair wage for their work. These organizations also give back by supporting community projects related to health, education, and economic development.
While FairTrade cotton sells for about 70% more than conventional cotton, it’s grown without the use of harmful pesticides. When these positive elements are combined, the outcome is a quality product we feel benefits our customers and the world.
