La mode éthique est devenue une tendance populaire ces dernières années, avec de plus en plus de consommateurs souhaitant acheter des produits qui respectent l’environnement et les droits des travailleurs. Les vêtements et accessoires éco-responsables sont de plus en plus courants sur le marché, et les pantoufles ne font pas exception.
Les pantoufles éco-responsables offrent une alternative durable et respectueuse de l’environnement aux pantoufles traditionnelles. Les marques éthiques proposent des matériaux naturels et recyclés pour leurs pantoufles, ce qui les rend plus durables et moins nocives pour l’environnement.
Parmi ces marques éthiques, on trouve Caussün, une marque française qui se spécialise dans les pantoufles éco-responsables. Les Caussun slippers sont éco-conçues à partir de matériaux naturels ou recyclés, tels que la laine, le coton bio et le PET recyclé.
La laine utilisée pour les pantoufles Caussün vient d’une Scop en Ardèche, où elle est produite de manière responsable et respectueuse des animaux. Les coloris sont naturels, le gris est un mélange du mouton noir et mouton blanc, le beige correspond au mouton blanc et le chocolat au mouton noir. La semelle extérieure antidérapante est en PET recyclé, à base de bouteilles en plastique, ce qui permet de réduire les déchets plastiques dans l’environnement.
Pour un confort extrême, les pantoufles Caussün sont dotées d’une mousse de matelas recyclée sous le talon, qui offre un excellent soutien pour les pieds. Le coton utilisé pour les doublures est également bio, ce qui permet de réduire l’impact sur l’environnement.
Les pantoufles Caussün sont conçues pour que les pieds respirent dans des matériaux naturels, ce qui évite la transpiration et les mauvaises odeurs. Et en fin de vie, les parties en laine dont la tige (partie supérieure) et la semelle intérieure seront des candidats au compost. Les chaussons sont livrés dans leur étui en fibre de bambou, qui est réutilisable puis compostable.
En plus de leur durabilité et de leur impact environnemental réduit, les pantoufles éco-responsables offrent également une meilleure qualité de vie pour les travailleurs impliqués dans la production. Les marques éthiques s’efforcent de garantir des conditions de travail justes et équitables, ainsi qu’une rémunération équitable pour tous les travailleurs impliqués dans la chaîne de production.
En conclusion, les pantoufles éco-responsables s’inscrivent dans la tendance de la mode éthique en proposant des alternatives durables et respectueuses de l’environnement. Les marques comme Caussün sont des exemples de la manière dont les pantoufles éco-responsables peuvent offrir un confort et une durabilité exceptionnels, tout en respectant l’environnement et les droits des travailleurs.
Vous adorez porter des pantoufles cocoon à la maison, mais vous ne savez pas comment choisir la bonne paire pour vos pieds ? Ne vous inquiétez pas, nous sommes là pour vous aider ! Dans cet article, nous allons vous donner des conseils pour choisir la paire de pantoufles cocoon idéale pour vous. Nous allons également parler de la marque Caussün et de la qualité de ses produits.
La taille des chaussons
La première chose à prendre en compte lors du choix d’une paire de pantoufles cocoon est la taille. Si vos pantoufles sont trop grandes, elles risquent de glisser de vos pieds, ce qui peut être dangereux. Si elles sont trop petites, elles peuvent être inconfortables. Si vous hésitez entre deux tailles, optez pour la plus grande pour plus de confort.
Le matériau des pantoufles
Le matériau est un autre facteur important à prendre en compte. Les pantoufles cocoon peuvent être fabriquées à partir de différents matériaux, tels que la laine, le cuir, le daim ou le synthétique. La laine est un choix populaire pour les pantoufles cocoon car elle est douce et chaude. Le cuir et le daim sont durables et élégants, mais nécessitent un entretien régulier. Les matériaux synthétiques sont souvent moins chers, mais peuvent être moins confortables. Chez Caussün, les pantoufles cocoon sont fabriquées à partir de matériaux naturels et recyclés de haute qualité, ce qui garantit leur durabilité et leur confort.
La chaleur des pantoufles cocoon
La chaleur est un autre facteur important à prendre en compte. Si vous habitez dans un endroit froid, vous aurez besoin de pantoufles cocoon chaudes pour vous protéger du froid. Les pantoufles en laine ou en daim sont un bon choix pour garder vos pieds au chaud. Si vous habitez dans un endroit chaud, vous pouvez opter pour des pantoufles en coton ou en lin, qui sont plus légers et respirants. Chez Caussün, les pantoufles cocoon sont conçues à base de laine vierge thermorégulatrice et de coton bio pour vous offrir un confort optimal, quelle que soit la température.
La respirabilité de nos pantoufles de rêve
La respirabilité est également importante pour les pantoufles cocoon. Si vos pieds transpirent facilement, vous aurez besoin de pantoufles qui permettent une bonne circulation de l’air. Les pantoufles en laine ou en coton sont un bon choix pour la respirabilité. Les pantoufles en cuir ou en synthétique peuvent être moins respirantes, mais peuvent être plus durables. Chez Caussün, tous les produits cocoon sont conçus pour offrir une bonne circulation de l’air et pour garder vos pieds au sec et confortables.
Le choix de la paire de pantoufles cocoon idéale dépend de plusieurs facteurs, tels que la taille, le matériau, la chaleur et la respirabilité. Maintenant il ne vous reste plus qu’à cocooner les pieds au chaud !
The Larousse defines the slipper as a “light, flexible, comfortable, often warm shoe, made for indoors”. However, this has not always been the case: the slipper has not always been a shoe as such, nor an indoor shoe. In addition, even today, the customs surrounding the slipper vary from one country to another.
Here are 5 slipper stories that will change your perception of them.
The slipper is an oriental invention
The oldest slippers that have been found to date have been discovered in Egyptian tombs dating back to the 2nd century. Originating from the Orient, the slippers would be a derivative of the slippers and were used for a long time in the Eastern world before making their way to the West.
Indeed, it was at the end of the Middle Ages that they reached Europe. It was then the peasants who would have taken advantage of them first, using them as socks to put on their wooden clogs for more comfort. This is how, little by little, slippers were invited into our homes, first used by women before gaining popularity with men.
The slipper has therefore not always been only an indoor shoe.
At one time, the word also referred to a shoe intended for the outdoors. Thus, for example, at the time of the kings of France, it was customary to adorn oneself with one's most beautiful slippers to participate in court receptions!
As for France, it was in 1795 that it saw the first slipper factory appear on its land, the Amos Establishments. Located in Alsace, these employed nearly 2,000 people during their best years. However, they definitively closed their doors in 1987, almost two centuries after their creation, following competition that had become too strong.
Cinderella's slipper might not have been glass after all
The slipper that Cinderella wears to the ball has been talked about a lot. Before being written down, the story of Cinderella was a tale passed down orally from generation to generation. However, some claim that, at the time of putting it on paper, Charles Perrault would have been the victim of a homophony of the French language: in reality the shoes would not be made of glass but of vair, which is none other than gray squirrel fur.
Several studies have been carried out on this issue. One of them looked at all the international versions of the tale, which amounts to more than 300 variants. Conclusion: only a handful of versions describe the slipper as glass. A large number of versions claim that it is made of gold, although others describe it as being made of silk or adorned with diamonds, among others. Finally, some versions leave the debate aside by not giving any details on the material of the slipper.
More recently, English students have demonstrated that, scientifically, Cinderella's glass slipper as depicted in Walt Disney's film could not exist. Indeed, the glass would make them too fragile and reluctant to support Cinderella's footsteps. In order for them to withstand the weight of the heroine, the shoes would have to have a heel of only a little more than 1cm, and it would still be difficult to walk and dance in them.
Cinderella's slipper is therefore only a symbol, although it was chosen with care. Indeed, not only does the fact that it is made of glass make it impossible for anyone with a higher shoe size to fit in it, but it also gives a delicate image to Cinderella, who would be the only one who could use them without breaking them. .
In any case, one thing is certain: Cinderella's slipper is far from resembling those we know today, like the Caussün and that we only wear at home!
The charentaise, the French slipper, was created to be slipped into clogs
Invented in the 17th century, the Charentaise is a type of French slipper originating from the Charente region. However, if its name is known to all, few know that it has not always had the same shape as the one we know today.
Indeed, originally, it was created to be used with clogs, continuing the practices of the Middle Ages. Made from scrap felt used in paper mills, it looked more like a big, comfortable sock that kept the feet warm when wearing clogs.
It was not until the beginning of the 20th century that a shoemaker in the region decided to add a rigid sole, thus giving rise to the current model.
It is also said that the slippers were nicknamed “the silent ones” because they allow you to move in silence. So, for example, servants used them to walk around their masters' rooms without them waking up.
In Japan, there are special slippers for the toilet
In many countries, such as Russia and the Czech Republic, it is customary to take off your shoes when entering a home, whether it's ours or someone else's.
However, the Japanese go even further. Indeed, they all have their own slip on slippers at the entrance to their house, and usually have slippers for guests. Their entrance hall, which is the place where you take off your shoes, is called “genkan”, a term originally used to designate the entrance to a temple. It is often separated from the rest of the house by a step. Shoes are only accepted before the walk, and it is therefore imperative to remove them to take the walk.
When they are ordered, the Japanese have the habit of putting their shoes back to the step, towards the front door. This makes it easy to put them on when going out. In the same way, the slippers are on the step, with their back to the shoes, so that they can be quickly put on without ever touching the place reserved for the shoes.
But that's not all: when it comes to using the toilet, it's important to change slippers. In fact, the Japanese have slippers provided especially for this part of the house.
Moreover, the house is far from being the only place where it is obligatory to remove your shoes. This is also the case with the doctor, but also sometimes at school, in restaurants or in the fitting rooms of stores. In this case, you will always find lockers at the entrance in which to put your shoes during your visit.
Even better: many offices ban shoes, forcing employees to work in slippers. Which brings us to the next point…
Working in slippers would make us more productive
Working in slippers would increase our well-being in the office. Indeed, not only would it increase our comfort, but it would also improve our relationships with our colleagues, bringing us closer and allowing us to know them better. We would then be happier, and who says better mood says better efficiency in general!
In any case, this is what Shoegarden and the digital communication agency Camarey claim, but a serious study on the subject still needs to be done. Perhaps you could ask for this to be carried out in your company?
Caussün is the first eco-responsible slipper that offers personalization services for companies.
If you're wondering why you should wear slippers at home, just read these 5 reasons.
1 – Slippers really reduce the risk of catching a cold or the flu
It's no longer just a grandmother's remedy: experts warn that cold feet can actually increase your risk of catching a cold or the flu. Dr Ron Eccles, director of the Common Cold Center at Cardiff University, has studied the issue for over 25 years and explains that when your feet are cold, it changes the way your body is able to fight off disease.
“Cooling the feet causes the blood vessels in the nose to constrict. The vessels constrict, it's a reflex protective action that slows the loss of heat from the body, to try to keep you warm,” he explains. “The skin turns white, the inside of your nose and throat turns white, and blood flow to the nose is reduced. The infection-fighting white blood cells are in the blood, so there are fewer white blood cells to fight the virus.”
The cold also slows the movement of the tiny hairs in your nose that filter out germs, which can also increase your risk of developing cold-weather illnesses.
Here cozy slippers will allow you to keep your feet warm and relaxed just like your vessels!
2 – Slippers keep your house clean
The soles of shoes you wear outside are dirtier than a toilet seat. They contain feces, vomit, dirt, grime and millions of bacteria that have a 90% chance of transferring to the floor of your home if you don't remove your shoes before entering. Not all that glamorous, but to keep grime from getting on your floors, be sure to remove your shoes before entering the house and to wear slippers indoors only.
3 – Wearing slippers can make you more productive
Numerous studies have shown that relaxed workers are more productive.
When you're cold your body tenses up, so there is nothing more relaxing than a good pair of warm and fluffy slippers. Put your feet in a pair of fleece slippers and you can telecommute in peace.
All you have to do is organize your tax documents, update your resume, balance your checkbook or start that novel you've always wanted to write.
4 – Booties extend the life of your socks
Socks wear out much faster if you wear them at home and walk on the floor. In addition, we know the difficulty of keeping your stock of socks afloat, especially when you find yourself far too often with an orphan sock. You know, that mystery of the sock that disappears for no reason...
Take a break from your wallet wearing slippers with or without socks when you are indoors.
5 – Slippers can prevent household accidents
Wood, tile and linoleum floors can be slippery, especially if you're wearing socks. Most slippers have a non-slip sole, like the PET felt at Caussün, which can greatly reduce the number of trips and falls that seem to occur when you rush to answer the phone, open the door, go out showering and doing a host of other things around the house.
Five real good reasons to wear slippers, and you still hesitate? Here's one last bonus!
Caussün, the organic slipper is a French brand that manufactures eco-responsible products from natural materials such as wool (origin France) and recycled materials such as foam scraps from the mattress industry.
Respectful of animals and the environment, Caussün slippers are ideal for staying warm in the best conditions this winter.
Have you ever come home from a long day at work, slipped on a pair of cozy slippers and instantly felt much more relaxed?
Many people know that wearing slippers at home is a comfortable practice that keeps your toes and feet warm, but there are also many health benefits of wearing slippers that you should know about. Keep in mind that, as with everything in life, not all slippers are created equal! There are many slippers that can keep your feet warm, but not all of them are designed the same and provide all the comfort you deserve. It is important for you to be able to decide if slippers can be a useful addition to your home routine and what you expect for your feet. Slippers can be a game changer for your relaxation routines.
Throughout the paragraphs we will teach you how the surfaces on which we walk have evolved over time, what are the main advantages of wearing slippers at home.
Stepping back: why slippers are more important today than before
Before we explain why it's good for your feet to wear slippers at home, let's first look at how the world and the surfaces we walk on have changed over time and how this relates to the importance of wear slippers at home.
You have now understood that wearing slippers at home is vital, but do you know why? To answer this question, we need to take a little step back in history. In the past, human beings walked mostly on soft, forgiving surfaces, like dirt and sand. These forgiving surfaces formed naturally to the human footprint. In the modern world, we mostly walk on hard, unforgiving, and man-made surfaces like tile, parquet, concrete, stone, and marble, to name a few. While there is nothing wrong with these surfaces, they have a different relationship to our feet that needs to be taken into consideration. Unlike a forgiving surface that naturally conforms to your foot upon impact, when your foot hits an unforgiving surface, your foot is forced to try to conform to the ground, which can lead to long-term pain and foot problems. The soft and comfortable slippers can help protect your feet from hard surfaces in your home, while providing comfort and warmth. Here we want to introduce you to everything that you and your health will gain from wearing slippers at home.
What you (and your health) will gain by wearing slippers at home
Have you ever spent the day walking around your house barefoot only to wake up the next morning with sore feet? If so, you are not the only one! Many people don't connect their foot pain to walking on hard surfaces without having a support barrier to protect their feet, and instead attribute the pain to something else they have. done the day before. And no, socks are not considered a protective barrier. Wearing slippers helps protect your feet from the ground andavoid foot pain, all in a comfortable and cozy set! At Caussün – La slipper bio, we want to make sure you feel comfortable and on cloud nine with every step and experience all the amazing benefits that wool or cotton can give you.
Below are some of the major health benefits of wearing slippers at home.
Tired of being sick and sniffling? Slippers can help!
Did you know that your feet are an important part of your body to prevent common illnesses like colds or flu? When your feet are cold, the blood vessels in your nose reflexively constrict to try to keep your body from losing valuable heat. When this happens, the skin on the inside of your nose and throat turns white due to reduced blood flow to the nose, but this reduced blood flow to the nose can have consequences. In your blood there are white blood cells that help fight infection and keep you healthy. When blood flow is reduced, there are fewer white blood cells present in the area to help protect your body from viruses. When you lose heat through your feet, your body also responds by reducing the movement of tiny nose hairs that help filter out germs that may attempt to enter your body through the air. When wearing slippers that contain wool, the temperature of your feet is naturally regulated, they are kept warm and heat loss is reduced, allowing blood to flow to the nose as it normally would and your body's defenses to better fight off disease.
True comfort is achieved
When you consider wearing slippers at home, one of your main concerns is probably to experience extreme and reassuring comfort. Whether you're at home all day, working from home or just in the evening watching a good movie, the organic slipper allows you to cocoon your feet warm.
Now you know some of the main reasons for wearing slippers at home. So… to your Caussün!
The circular economy is a new model of production and consumption that guarantees sustainable growth over time. Thanks to the circular economy, we can promote the optimization of resources, reduce the consumption of raw materials and recover waste by recycling it or giving it a second life as a new product.
The objective of the circular economy is therefore to make the most of the material resources at our disposal by applying three basic principles: reduce, reuse and recycle. In this way, the life cycle of products is extended, waste is used and a more efficient and sustainable production model is established over time. The idea arises from the imitation of nature, where everything has a value and everything is used, where waste becomes a new resource. In this way, the balance between progress and sustainability is maintained.
What is the difference between circular economy and linear economy?
Until now, we have lived with linear production models, that is, we extract, produce, consume and discard. The society we live in causes the pace of consumption to accelerate, a fast but unsustainable for the planet.
The circular economy establishes a more sustainable production and consumption model in which raw materials are kept longer in production cycles and can be used repeatedly, thus generating much less waste. As the name suggests, the essence of this model is to keep resources in the economy for as long as possible, allowing the waste we produce to be used as raw material for other industries.
What are the benefits of the circular economy?
Protects the environment: it reduces emissions, minimizes the consumption of natural resources and reduces the production of waste.
Benefit for the local economy: it can be beneficial for the local economy by encouraging production models based on the reuse of nearby waste as raw material.
Promotes employment growth: it stimulates the development of a new, more innovative and more competitive industrial model, higher economic growth and more jobs.
Promotes independence of resources: the reuse of local resources makes it possible to depend less on imported raw materials.
What are the principles of the circular economy?
Most of us know the 3R rule, essential for sustainable development and the preservation of the environmental balance: reduce, reuse and recycle.
In other words, what we get from nature comes back to it when its life cycle is complete, in a cyclical and environmentally friendly way. But did you know that there are four other rules? These 7Rs are the steps needed to achieve a circular economy:
Redesign: thinking and designing products so that their manufacturing process consumes fewer raw materials, extends their life cycle and generates less waste (or at least waste that is easier to recycle). Environmental protection is strengthened.
Reduce: change our consumption habits towards a more sustainable model. If we reduce our consumption, we avoid the production of waste, the use of raw materials, and therefore reduce the impact on the environment.
Reuse: Reuse or reallocate products to extend their life cycle.
Repair: until now, when a product broke down, we tended to replace it. However, repairing it is not only cheaper, but also avoids the use of new raw materials, saves energy and does not generate environmental waste.
Renovate: update old objects so that they can be reused as vintage, for example furniture.
Recycle: promote best practices in waste management and use what you can as raw material to make new products.
Recover: Give new uses to products that are going to be discarded, for example by using plastic bottles to create watering systems, flower pots or bird feeders.
The circular economy at Caussün
We are implementing circular economy projects throughout our value chain, from obtaining raw materials to marketing products and services. Our circular economy strategy revolves around four axes.
Product design: right from the product design phase, we apply criteria aimed at minimizing the consumption of raw materials during the manufacture of our products, extending their useful life and increasing the recycling of their components.
Resource optimization: we optimize resources and processes so that waste has new uses, both in our production processes and those of third parties. So, when your Caussun slippers have reached their lifespan, the wool parts including the upper (upper part) and the insole will be perfect candidates for compost.
Product manufacturing: we use alternative raw materials of residual origin to manufacture our products, such as organic cotton and recycled PET for our slippers, but also bamboo fiber for our bags.
CAUSSÜN will be present at the 2022 trade fairs, let's meet! We can't wait to introduce you to the unique 100% recycled virgin wool slipper of French origin.
Cendo Expo Paris 2022
September 4 to 6
Booth D13
Parc Floral de Paris, Rte de la Pyramide, 75012 Paris, France
The fight against single-use plastics is a big challenge, but not all plastic packaging is the same. Easily recognizable thanks to its number 1 symbol, PET, or polyethylene terephthalate, is the most recycled plastic packaging in Europe.
Indeed, PET bottles are made to be remade. The only plastic that can be recycled at 100% in a closed circuit, from bottle to bottle, this versatile material is the complete opposite of single-use disposable plastics.
Discovered in the 1940s, PET is extremely light and strong, making it ideal for the packaging industry. It is also completely safe for food packaging, before and after recycling, and is approved for use by governments and organizations around the world. These qualities have led to its widespread adoption in the water and beverage industries, as 70% soft drinks, fruit juices, dilutable beverages and bottled water are currently packaged in PET bottles.
Why is PET not like the others?
Thanks to its high recyclability, PET is the only plastic to have received the #1 designation. The bottle-to-bottle loop is the industry's goal. Indeed, PET can contain up to 100% of recycled material, which means that in the future, all bottles could be made from recycled PET (rPET). Again and again.
Currently, around 58% of bottles are recycled in Europe. We need to improve this situation if we want to increase the number of bottles made with rPET. By 2025, all PET bottles will be made from at least 25% of recycled PET and by 2029, at least 9 out of 10 PET bottles will be collected for recycling.
The industry is ready to contribute to the achievement ofa more sustainable future for packaging. We invest heavily in deposit-return systems (DRS) and recycling. We currently have the capacity to recycle an additional 11 billion bottles each year, but improving collection rates is key to getting the most out of it.
We want to use more rPET in our production. To do this, we need to recover our bottles. Every PET bottle sent for incineration or landfill is a waste of valuable resources. A more sustainable future is possible and recycling PET can help us get there.
The industry has also worked to improve the design of its PET bottles, reducing their weight by 40% since 2000. This improvement means more food and drink can be delivered with less plastic. Products transported in PET packaging therefore have a lower environmental impact than others, since their transport requires less fuel.
What is the most sustainable packaging material?
But it's not just other plastic packaging that PET outperforms, it also has advantages over alternatives such as glass and aluminum.
PET can be recycled quickly and requires far less energy than glass and aluminum, which means it generates up to 75 % less greenhouse gas emissions. It is clear that choosing PET and recycling it is the sustainable option. And with its 100 TP2T recyclability, you can make that choice again and again.
Although the goal is for every PET bottle to be remade into another bottle, there are times when the quality of the plastic deteriorates throughout its lifespan due to its use or the recycling process. While deteriorated PET cannot be used for food or beverage packaging, its high recyclability means it can still be reused for a number of other uses.
rPET that cannot be used to make new bottles can still be used to make polyester fibers. PETr products are used by automotive manufacturers to manufacture automotive interiors and parts such as seat belts.
rPET is also versatile enough to have a number of uses in the fashion industry. The fabric can be used to make t-shirts and thermal underwear, as well as luggage and bags and even the soles of our slippers Caussun.
PET is made to be remade. Every discarded bottle is a missed opportunity to turn this precious material into something useful. Let's put an end to waste. Recycle number 1.
The cotton industry is resource-intensive and requires huge amounts of pesticides. But how sustainable is organic cotton?
Cotton is probably already very familiar to you. It is one of the most used textiles in the clothing industry and most items in your wardrobe are probably made from it. But for something so familiar, there's a lot that many of us don't yet know about cotton. How is it produced? Is it bad for the environment? Is it bad for humans? And, when shopping, is it better to opt for organic cotton? So many questions that we will try to answer through this article.
A brief history of cotton
Originally produced in India (5000 BC), cotton is now used and worn all over the world. About 27 million tons are produced each year.
Made from the natural fibers of the cotton plant (which look like little fluffy balls), cotton is soft and versatile. To turn it into a wearable fabric, natural fibers are spun into yarn.
Thanks to innovations in manufacturing, the mass production of cotton began during the British Industrial Revolution. In the 1760s, the "spinning jenny", a multiple spindle spinning machine, was invented. She helped revolutionize the industry and, according to Historic UK, in the early 1800s cotton products accounted for around 42% of UK exports.
But that was not to last. While Britain was one of the driving forces behind the mass production of cotton, today it is the United States, China and (once again) India that dominate the industry.
How is cotton produced?
There is more than one way to harvest cotton. At the start of production, the harvest was labor intensive and everywhere was picked up and separated by hand.
Today, some countries, such as the United States, use machines to harvest cotton. Mechanical pickers and leaf removers are used. The first picks the cotton ball off the plant, leaving the rest in the ground. The second tears off the cotton balls, along with the leaves and stem of the remaining plant. Both can harvest about six rows of the plant at a time.
However, although machinery has evolved, in many countries cotton is still often harvested by hand. That's not necessarily a bad thing. Organic cotton, for example, is almost exclusively picked by hand, which ensures better quality, as no fibers are damaged in the process. Organic cotton is also much more environmentally friendly (more on that later).
But in some cases, manual picking leads to exploitation. According to a BBC report, in 2014 more than 400,000 children worked on cotton farms in India. Children are sometimes used because they have smaller fingers, but also, according to one farmer, their work ethic is better.
Venkatram Reddy, who owns a farm in Andhra Pradesh, told the BBC: “It's not possible with adults. They don't work as hard and don't show up on time. Even though we pay them both the same salary, they are the children who work sincerely and honestly.”
Child labor in cotton is not exclusive to India. In 2016, a report by the US Department of Labor revealed that child labor was present in cotton production in 18 countries, including China, Uzbekistan and Brazil.
While many brands and retailers say they do not knowingly buy cotton harvested using child labor, it can be very difficult to trace back. The BBC notes that cotton can change hands a number of times before it arrives at the mill to be made into clothing.
There is, however, a way to ensure that your cotton is produced ethically. When you buy fair trade certified cotton, much of the harvest can still be picked by hand, but workers are treated fairly and child labor is not used. Be sure to look for official fair trade certifications, like this one.
Is cotton bad for the environment?
If the cotton industry was once the pride of the British Empire, it has, like the latter, a flip side. Apart from child labor and exploitation, this soft and fluffy culture has a huge impact on the environment. Excessive cultivation depletes and degrades the soil, and uses enormous amounts of water.
Use of pesticides
Harsh chemicals are used to process cotton. While the conventional cotton industry covers 2.6 % of the earth's land, it uses 6 % of pesticides globally, as well as 16 % of insecticides. Polluted water from this industry flows into rivers and other waterways, harming not only marine life but also human beings.
The drying up of the Aral Sea has been a disaster for the surrounding communities. The Guardian reported in 2014 that dust, contaminated with salt and pesticides previously absorbed from the lake, was being blown into nearby villages, causing higher rates of throat cancer and respiratory disease.
Ecologist and sustainable fashion designer Katharine Hamnett told the newspaper at the time: "As Vandana Shiva said, 'no species has deliberately engineered its own extinction', but with industrial agriculture, we 'Have done."
Is organic cotton better for the environment?
Caussün slippers containing organic cotton
Organic cotton is not perfect because it still uses resources, but it is much better for the environment than its conventional counterpart.
According to About Organic Cotton, a resource funded by Textile Exchange, a non-profit organization specializing in textile sustainability, organic cotton uses 88 % less water than conventional cotton. According to the environmental group Hubbub, this reduction can reach 91 %. This is because most of this cotton is grown in rain-fed areas, which reduces pressure on other water sources.
Organic cotton is also kinder to the soil. According to the Organic Trade Association, when cotton is grown organically, crop rotation strategies and soil consolidation practices are used. This keeps the soil healthy, which is good for the climate. Healthy soil helps pull carbon out of the atmosphere.
Organic cotton production also does not use toxic chemicals. This last point is non-negotiable, as pesticides are actually banned in organic cotton production. Instead, crop rotation helps protect plants from disease and other threats, such as pests. Discover the eco-designed slippers by lapantouflebio.com.
Is organic cotton biodegradable?
Cotton being a plant, it is naturally biodegradable. But whether or not this process is environmentally friendly depends on the type of cotton. When non-organic cotton biodegrades, all of the chemicals used to process it flow back into the soil, damaging local habitats. Birds and other animals may end up digesting the toxins.
Organic cotton, on the other hand, is not treated with chemicals. So when it decomposes, it is less harmful to the earth. Organic cotton takes up to five months to biodegrade.
Can cotton be recycled?
Looking to get rid of a cotton garment? There are many possibilities. If the item is still in good condition, there is the obvious solution of donating or selling. Look for local charity shops or use resale apps like Depop or Vinted.
If the item is no longer in reasonable condition, you can also check with your local town hall to find out if they accept the clothes for recycling. Some retailers, like H&M and The North Face, accept old clothes for recycling.
Cotton recycling is not a perfect process. According to CottonWorks, an industry resource, cotton must be mixed with other fibers to be made into a new yarn. This blend is necessary to ensure the strength and durability of the cotton, but it cannot be permanently recycled.
One solution is to buy products that are built to last. organic cotton will last longer than conventional cotton because its quality is much better.
Currently, less than one percent of the cotton used worldwide is organic. But Liesl Truscott, director of Europe and materials strategy at Textile Exchange, says consumers can help change that by showing demand and supporting brands that choose organic over conventional.
She told Vogue Australia: “It's about big business investing in supply and creating demand. We need them to improve continuously”.
Caussün is the translation of slipper in Provençal.
And this slipper is totally ecological and unique.
Wool from French sheep (from the Massif Central) of different breeds to offer several shades of slippers: natural, ashy or chocolate.
Cork associated with wool to perfect the borders, the finishes, all padded with recycled mattress foam (from up-cycled fabric scraps).
Wool is also used for the lining.
The combination of materials and the very structure of the products ensure incomparable comfort.
The selection of these materials provides warmth and well-being while being sustainable and, ultimately, recyclable or compostable.
The creators of CAUSSÜN ensure their passion for a job well done, useful and pleasant to the end by sending their creations in recyclable 100% fabric bags, the slippers themselves are packaged in a reusable or compostable bamboo fiber bag.
Nothing is left to chance. The production is done by the world champions of shoe know-how, our neighbors and friends in Portugal.
The idea of a product that strives for perfection, useful and intelligent: here is Caussün, the eco-responsible slipper for a better world.
An ecological and unique slipper.
Fête des Mères
Jusqu’au 1er juin, 5% de réduction ainsi que de la livraison offerte sur une sélection de produits Caussün avec le code MAMOUNE