Many of the pigments used in printing inks contain metallic compounds that are harmful to the human race and the environment such as cadmium, chromium, lead and mercury.   Standard printing inks are petroleum based and used with alcohol-based solvents.  When the alcohol and petroleum evaporates it gives off volatile organic compounds (VOC) are emitted.  These are dangerous and when they mix with nitrogen oxide and sun light, it produces the petrochemical smog found above many industrial areas.

Vegetable or Soya based inks are low in VOC, around four to six percent against the 25 – 45 percent VOC emissions from petroleum-based inks that are hazardous upon contact, use a finite source and more energy than vegetable ink. When it comes to recycling, the petroleum ink takes a lot of energy and solvents to de-ink whereas vegetable and Soya ink can be removed with water and is biodegradable.

The use of vegetable and Soya inks is in the early years but great strives are being made to develop them alongside starch based lamination for many publications.  Companies are now looking to produce literature in eco friendly and sustainable ways with little enviromnental impact.

Fabric made from bamboo is incredibly soft, smooth and luxurious.  It acts to absorb and evaporate sweat in seconds so does not stick to the skin cooling it off as manmade material does.  The material is breathable in the hot weather and in the winter, like silk, keeps the body warm.  Being anti static it will sit well on the skin but does not stick and with its natural anti-fungal properties will not smell if left at the bottom of a kit bag for days.  The Japanese Textile Inspection Association discovered that the natural anti bacterial nature of bamboo killed 70% of bacteria incubated on the bamboo fabric.

Bamboo is 100% naturally grown without pesticides or too much intervention from humans and is 100% sustainable. The fibre is also 100% biodegradable and is one of the fastest growing plants in the world reaching a maximum height in 3-4 months, reaching maturity in 4 years.  It is a fully sustainable, environmental crop that can grown in poor land areas providing a cash crop for farmers in the developing world and provides a great habitat for many creatures losing their forest homes. 

As manmade materials are based on petrochemicals from non-renewable fossil fuels the supply is limited and time short.  The chemicals do lead to the material being non-breathable, thus becoming hot to wear, uncomfortable and smelly quite quickly.  This is why materials used for clothing is natural makes sense for both the person wearing and the environment.  By increasing the use of bamboo for clothing and household cloth more plantations planted, communities in the developing world grow and become secure whilst the world gains from the absence of chemicals to farm the bamboo.

 There is a growing number of manufacturers of bamboo products which is growing in scale of the number of products from socks to nightwear, tee shirts to underpants.  Try some and see for your self – it is wonderful

How many of you have passed skips and seen new building materials thrown away by the construction industry?  They have fallen into the trap that many materials for the construction of buildings are cheap to produce and not so cheap to recycle or reuse.  This is part due to the way materials are sold in massive packs when there is a need for a few.  Bricks and insulation sheets are prime examples of this.  The normal practice is to purchase pallet loads with any ‘overs’ being either used in foundations or sent to landfill.  It is a practice that is costing both resources and landfill space which are fast running out.

So what is to be done? There are small charities (view recyclingconsortium.org.uk and resourcefutures.co.uk for information of local groups )  around the country who are collecting overs from building sites and recycling them back to the industry or the general public.  They offer the use of skips or man and a van who will collect any materials they know can be recycled.  This is great news but we do need the whole industry to sit up and look at recycling the materials so quickly skipped and shipped to landfill sites. 

It will take a huge effort to move the giant that is the construction industry.  Some of the larger firms have been working to reduce their carbon footprint but there are many more who just skip and burn.  Even wood can be collected and chipped for wood heating systems or used for home projects.  I have gained permission to remove items from skips resulting in a good stock of 0-carbon firewood, shelves and section of a shed.  The use of materials destined for landfill is good for the environment, our pocket and satisfaction of a job well done (Unless me where I do try but efforts result in interesting products) One word of caution is that any item that is in the skip belongs to the builder until collected by the landfill operator who then takes ownership.  Removal of any item from any skip without permission is theft, so please ask, as most builders are more than happy to help. 

May I suggest that people get in touch with their MP to start to push through an agreement which gives guidelines to the construction trade about ways to reuse, recycle and reduce.