SUSTAINABILITY

At Saplings, we believe that there is a better way to shop - a way of doing business that benefits all who come in contact with us.  We are not just lessening the impact on the planet, but rather we aim to improve the environment, our children, our economy and our lives.  By focusing on providing products that are either organic or reusable (aka sustainable) we are conducting business in a way that makes a difference to the people and environment around us. Aspects of Sustainabliliy: Fair Trade   |   Organic Cotton   |   Locally Produced   |   Eco-Fill   |   Alpaca Fiber   |   Polypropylene Fair Trade Fair Trade is a strategy for poverty alleviation and sustainable development, through fairness and global social responsibility in international trade. Fair Trade means a direct trading partnership, based on transparency and mutual respect, that benefits marginalized artisans and their communities directly, through fair, living wages and local socio-economic development, while fostering worker's rights, gender equity and environmental stewardship. SA8000 is an international standard for improving work conditions, based on the principles of thirteen human rights conventions. This includes ongoing auditing of work places to ensure a number of criteria are adhered to regarding child labour, health and safety, discrimination, disciplinary practise, working hours, wages etc. Goals of Fair Trade: Improve the livelihoods and well being of producers by improving market access, strengthening producer organizations, paying a better price and providing continuity in the trading relationship. Promote development opportunities for disadvantaged producers, especially women and indigenous people, and to protect children form exploitation in the production process. Raise awareness among consumers of the negative effects on producers of international trade so that they exercise their purchasing power positively. Set an example of partnership in trade through dialogue, transparency and respect. Campaign for changes in the rules and practice of conventional international trade. Protect human rights by promoting social justice, sound environmental practices and economic security. (Fair Trade Toronto) return to top Organic Cotton Organic cotton is grown using methods and materials that have a low impact on the environment.  Organic production systems replenish and maintain soil fertility, reduce the use of toxic and persistent fertilizers, and build biologically diverse agriculture (Organic Trade Assoc. 2006). According to Dr. David Suzuki, "If we want the next generation of Canadians to have the same opportunities that we have enjoyed, we have to start changing now. That means including the social and environmental costs of our actions in all of our decision-making processes. It means focusing on the creation of genuine wealth, like health, education and the state of our environment, rather than just the accumulation of more stuff. It means moving from being wasteful and complacent, to being efficient, modern, and thoughtful." By choosing organic, you are choosing to decrease pesticide use. This directly benefits you the consumer, farmers and farm workers, mill and factory workers, and the environment. Every time you choose organic, you choose to support a healthier way of life for you, your family, and the planet.  You are creating green homes and natural living. Food, cotton, textiles, and even a bouquet of flowers – it all makes a difference! Buying organic is supporting sustainable living and farming practices, creating a demand for governments to change farming practices from pesticide-oriented to organic. Certified organic cotton and other crops are grown and processed by organic standards, which means that no synthetic pesticides (insecticides, herbicides, fumigants, fungicides, or miticides) may have been applied to the land where an organic crop is grown, a crop already in the field, or to the crop after it is harvested. Organic farming increases natural diversity, encouraging birds and other animals that would be poisoned by synthetic pesticides. At the current moment 25% percent of the worlds pesticides are used for the production of conventional cotton.  To put this in perspective cotton as a crop accounts for only 3% of the worlds crop production.  These chemicals are closer to home than you may think.  By not using these toxic chemicals organic agriculture minimizes children's (and adults) exposure to toxic and persistent pesticides in the soil which they play, the air they breathe, the water they drink, and the foods they eat.  Organic is much more than just a catch phrase. Why Organic Cotton Production Is Important To The Long-Term Health Of The Planet: Cotton uses approximately 25% of the world's insecticides and more than 10% of the pesticides (including herbicides, insecticides, and defoliants.). (Allan Woodburn) Approximately 10% of all pesticides sold for use in U. S. agriculture were applied to cotton in 1997, the most recent year for which such data is publicly available. (ACPA) It takes roughly one-third of a pound of chemicals (pesticides and fertilizers) to grow enough cotton for just one T-shirt. (SCP) Fifty-five million pounds of pesticides were sprayed on the 12.8 million acres of conventional cotton grown in the U.S. in 2003 (4.3 pounds/ acre), ranking cotton third behind corn and soybeans in total amount of pesticides sprayed. (USDA) Over 2.03 billion pounds of synthetic fertilizers were applied to conventional cotton in 2000 (142 pounds/acre), making cotton the fourth most heavily fertilized crop behind corn, winter wheat, and soybeans. The Environmental Protection Agency considers seven of the top 15 pesticides used on cotton in 2000 in the United States as "possible," "likely," "probable," or "known" human carcinogens (acephate, dichloropropene, diuron, fluometuron, pendimethalin, tribufos, and trifluralin).(EPA) return to top Locally Produced We strive to source products that are crafted, designed or produced locally.  Most of our products are Canadian made, and many produced in southern British Columbia. Here are some things to consider when deciding to shop locally... Locally owned businesses build strong neighborhoods by sustaining communities, linking neighbors, and by contributing more to local causes. Local ownership means that important decisions are made locally by people who live in the community and who will feel the impacts of those decisions. When shopping locally, you simultaneously create jobs, fund more city services through sales tax, invest in neighborhood improvements and promote community development. Entrepreneurship fuels economic innovation and prosperity. A multitude of small businesses, each selecting products based not on a national sales plan, but on their own interest and the needs of their local customers, guarantees a much broader range of product choices. return to top Eco-Fill Americans use over 4,500,000,000 lbs of plastic bottles per year and only 1,000,000,000 lbs are recycled.  Eco-fill regenerated fibers is a step towards becoming part of the solution.  Eco-fill is regenerated PET (PolyEthylene Terephthalate) fibers from processing discarded bottles.  Bottles are recycled into durable fill for our bedding, pillow and mattresses. What is PET? PET is the type of plastic identified by #1 on or near the bottom of bottles and containers. It is commonly used to package of soft drinks, water, juice, peanut butter, salad dressings and oil, cosmetics and household cleaners. Most popular brands utilize PET plastic for their packaging worldwide. PET, or PolyEthylene Terephthalate (known generically as polyester, although this is the name of a whole family of polymers) came into prominence in the 1950s as a textile material. Its strength, temperature tolerance and wear-resistance made it an ideal replacement for or addition to natural fibers such as silk, cotton and wool. PET is an inert plastic and does not leach harmful materials into its contents -- either when a beverage is stored unopened, or when bottles are refilled or frozen. The PET container has been safely used for 20 years and has undergone rigorous testing under FDA guidelines to ensure its safety as a food and beverage container suitable for storage and reuse. There are no risks with heat of freezing of PET, since it is an inert material. Are Phthalates A Problem In PET? No. "Phthalates" (pronounced THA-lates) are a class of chemicals that include three subsets, each with different properties. PET or polyethylene terephthalate belongs to one of these phthalate subsets, but not the one most commonly associated with the term. Orthophthalate is the phthalate subset most commonly referenced and discussed in popular literature and on internet sites; it has been the subject of some negative press. Often used to make various plastics more flexible, this type of phthalate is also called a plasticizer. PET does not contain plasticizers or orthophthalates. Plasticizers are never substituted for terephthalates used in the manufacturer of PET, nor are the two ever mixed. This is why PET packaging is selected by companies for a wide variety of product applications because it is safe, strong, shatter-proof, and recyclable. It is also why it is ideal for mattress cores. Is there BPA in PET? No. There is no connection between PET plastic and Bis-phenol A. Bis-phenol A is not used in the production of PET material, nor is it used as a chemical building block for any of the materials used in the manufacture of PET. Bis-phenol A is used to make polycarbonate, a different plastic from PET. return to top Alpaca Fiber 100% natural, organically grown alpaca wool comes from ranches around BC and Alberta.  Alpaca fiber is hollow, making it one of the warmest natural fibers available.  It is also very light and soft, requiring the addition of some sheep wool to hold the fibers apart and provide more loft.  This incorporates more air into the duvet, acting as an insulator.  The shorn animals are raised in a pesticide free environmnet and their wool is a renewable resource.  No chemicals, dyes or bleaches are used when the wool is processed.  The entire product is 100% biodegradable at the end of its long life. Alpaca fiber's porous nature is naturally dry and clean which prevents dust mites and other allergens from settling in, creating a hypoallergenic product.  Alpaca wool is also naturally lanolin and oil free.  The answer to the inevitable question "Are the alpacas hurt in the proces?" is a guilt-free "NO".  The shearing process may be a bit stressful, but it's not painful. return to top Polypropylene Repositionable wall decals are currently very popular in the world of home décor, particularly children’s rooms.  Saplings wasn’t ready to jump on the band wagon until we could find a product that we could feel confident met the Saplings Difference. Most wall decals on the market are made from vinyl. Vinyl wall decals are made of polyvinyl chloride (PVC).  "PVC products contain and can leach toxic additives like phthalates, lead, cadmium, organotins, and other volatile organic compounds (VOCs), which are associated with reproductive and developmental problems, central nervous system damage, liver damage, and other adverse health effects.  During manufacturing and waste incineration PVC releases dioxins into the air.  Dioxins are linked with cancer, diabetes, endometriosis, birth defects, infertility, and immune-system depression.  The strange smell when you open your new package is due to the off-gassing of chemicals from the vinyl product.  Toxic chemical off-gassing from PVC products may contribute to respiratory irritation, damage to the central nervous system, liver and kidneys, nausea, headaches and loss of coordination." (sourced from www.toxicnation.ca) PVC is labelled as #3 plastic and cannot be recycled.  This is definitely NOT the type of material we should have near our children let alone in their bedrooms. Saplings was thrilled to find wall decals produced from polypropylene.  This plastic is labelled as #5 and IS recyclable.  Polypropylene is also phthalate and lead free.  Wee Gallery wall decals are a safe alternative to wall decals made from vinyl.  Wee Gallery products are tested regularly for product safety and are 100% made in the USA. return to top