Dyestuff Industry In India And China
World demand for dyes and organic pigments to touch $10.6 billion in 2008
According to a study on dyes & organic pigments, the worldwide demand for organic colourants (dyes and organic pigments) is projected to increase at $10.6 billion in 2008 form 4.9 per cent annually in 2003.
Generally, the dyestuff industry comprises three sub-segments, namely dyes, pigment and intermediates. The dye intermediates are petroleum downstream products which are further processed into finished dyes and pigments. These are important sources in major industries like textiles, plastics, paints, paper and printing inks, leather, packaging sector etc.
Leading players in dyes
Textile dyes have been used since the Bronze Age. They also constitute a prototype 21st-century specialty chemicals market. Three large manufacturers namely DyStar, Ciba Specialty Chemicals and Clariant are leaders in the dyes market. The biggest, DyStar, was established in a series of mergers of some of Europe’s leading textile dye businesses in the 1990s. Worldwide excess capacity and price burden, fueled by the immediate growth of Asian manufacturers, have shifted most dyestuff chemistries into commodities. Regulatory barriers have nearly stopped the progress of the opening of fundamentally new dyestuffs. Despite this DyStar, Ciba Specialty Chemicals and Clariant have grown over the past 10 years with innovative products and new chemistry is being set to endure reactive and dispersant dyes as well as in older dyestuffs such as sulfur dyes.
In 2001 the biggest individual company market shares in colourant production were DyStar (23%), Ciba (14%), Clariant (7%), Yorkshire Group (5%), Japanese (5%) and other traditional groups (3%)., and various dyestuff manufacturers comprise the largest group at 43%.
The only way to growth and to keep Asian bulk dyestuff manufacturers at bay, they say, comes straight out of specialty chemicals strategy to distinguish product offerings through collaborative work with customers and charge a premium price for particular products that gives a perfect solution. This is an effective method, provided that these suppliers produce in China, India, Pakistan, and Brazil as well as in the U.S. and Europe, and that most of the textile producers aim to maintain uniform quality and product performance across worldwide.
Europe is facing the problem of overcapacity of about 30 to 40 per cent in the market from Asia, especially China. But, experts believe, Asian manufacturers manufacture a limited number of low-cost, basic dyestuffs. Most of experts of this field believe that growth lies in innovation and differentiation. Though, of the 180,000-ton-per-year worldwide market for dispersed dyes, specialty dyes consist only about 5,000 tons.
DyStar is a major manufacturer of reactive dyes, which were developed 50 years ago at ICI. DyStar was recently purchased by Platinum Equity, is made up of the dyes business of the original ICI, as well as those of Bayer, BASF and Hoechst. DyStar has developed deep-shade dyes for polyesters. New chemistries are emerging for controlling staining from azo and anthraquinone dyes, including thiophene-based azo dyes. DyStar has also developed benzodifuranone dyes for heavy red shades. It modified azo dyes to keep up their performance when applied with the new detergents. The company also set up secrecy agreements with the leading detergent producers to test new detergent chemistry and do the required dye reformulation proactively. It has added the number of reactive groups in its fluoroaromatic Levafix CA reactive dyes. The company has also been functioning on strengthening the chromophore or color component of the dye for improved lightfastness.
Recently, DyStar has made new red dye for cellulosic fibers, Indanthren Deep Red C-FR Plus, is a new speciality dye for medium to heavy shades of red and Bordeaux, suitable for the coloration of cellulosics on continuous and yarn dyeing units as well as cellulosic/polyamide blends. DyStar Textilfarben GmbH has also introduced the classic cold pad batch dyeing process (cpb). Key developments in cold pad batch technology were started in 1957 and are still ongoing:
-Development of dosing pumps (Hoechst)
- Introduction of sodium silicate as a fixing alkali (Hoechst)
- Development of microwave and oven lab fixation method (Hoechst)
- Mathematical determination of pad liquor stability under practical conditions (Hoechst) — Optidye CR (DyStar)
- Development of silicate free alkali systems (DyStar)
The dyestuffs industry of China
In the first half of 2005, China gained a growth of 4 per cent in dyes and 11 per cent in organic pigment output. A report stated that China’s demand for dyes and pigments is expected to increase at 12 per cent annually by 2008 and output of dyes and pigments will rise by 13 per cent annually by 2008.
According to statistics, in 2004, the production volume of dyeing stuffs and pigments in China reached 598,300 tons and 143,600 tons, an increment of 10.4 per cent and 13.3 per cent over that of the previous year. The total imports and exports of dyeing stuffs and pigments were projected to be 291,200 tons and 138,800 tons; an increase of 10.64 per cent and 16.15 per cent over the same time the previous year. Hence, China has developed to be a large manufacturer, consumer and dealer of dyeing materials, pigments and dyeing auxiliary.
China becomes top importer for Bangladesh
During July-September 2005 Bangladesh imported dyes and chemical (combined) worth 3.73 billion taka ($57.5 million) from China against 2.53 billion taka ($38.9 million) from India.
DyStar expands China facility
Recently DyStar has announced to invest around USD 55 million in a new textile dyes facility at Nanjing to extend its production base in China and step up its focus on this key growth market. Situated about 300 kilometres north-west of Shanghai, Nanjing is the capital of Jiangsu Province, a key area for textile production. It will be DyStar’s third production unit in China, alongside Wuxi, where the production capacity was tripled last year, and Qingdao. This new production site will increase their growth in China. At the same time it will strengthen their international competitiveness and boost market leadership. This investment is a clear sign that DyStar is continuing to invest in its core business and will remain a reliable partner for the textile industry in the long term.
At the new production complex in Nanjing, DyStar will produce dyes for cellulosic and synthetic fibres. In-built flexibility will permit the manufacture of other dyes and extension of the infrastructure in line with requirements. That means DyStar will be able to respond quickly to the rising demand in China. The inauguration of the first plant is scheduled in the first half of 2006.
Indian dyestuff industry
In India the dyestuff industry supplies its majority of the production to the textile industry. Huge of amounts exports of dyes and pigments from India are also done to the textile industry in Europe, South East Asia and Taiwan.
Currently, the Indian dyestuff industry is completely self-dependable for producing the products locally. India presently manufactures all kinds of synthetic dyestuffs and intermediates and has its strong holds in the natural dyestuff market. India has come up as a global supplier of dyestuffs and dye intermediates, mainly for reactive, acid, vat and direct dyes. India has a share of approximately 6 per cent of the world production in dyestuff products.
Structure of dyestuff industry in India
The Indian dyestuff industry has been in existence since about 40 years, though a few MNCs established dyestuff units in the pre independence era. Like the other chemical industry, the dyestuff industry is also widely scattered. The industry is functioning by the co-existence of a few manufacturers in the organised sector (around 50 units) and a large number of small producers (around 1,000 units) in the unorganised sector.
The spreading of these units is slanted towards the western region (Maharashtra and Gujarat) accounting to 90 per cent. In fact, about 80 per cent of the total capacity is in the state of Gujarat, where there are about 750 units.
There has been a huge development in the dyestuff industry during the last decade. This has happened due to the Government’s concessions (excise and tax concessions) to small-scale units and export opportunities generated by the closure of several units in countries like the USA and Europe (due to the implementation of strict pollution control norms). The duty concessions provided to small-scale producers had given in the large ones becoming uncompetitive to some extent. Price competition was strong in the lower segments of the market. Liberalisation of the economy and large-scale reduction of duties have given the decrement of margins for smaller producers. Closing of many small-scale units in Gujarat due to environmental reasons has also helped the organised sector players to grow further.
Over six hundred varieties of dyes and organic pigments are now being produced in India (both by the organised and the unorganised sector). But the per-capita consumption of dyestuffs is less than the world average. Dyes are soluble and basically applied textile products. Pigments, on the other hand, are insoluble and are main sources of products such as paints.
During the past few years, the dyestuff industry was overwhelmed by a series of fast changing upshots in the international platform. The largest market for dyestuffs has been the textile industry. The hold of polyester and cotton in the global markets has positively created the demand for some kinds of dyestuffs. Furthermore, the demand for polyamides, acrylics, cellulose and wool has been close to stagnant. Discrepancy in the regional growth rates of textile products too influences demand. The Asian region has seen the highest development in textile production, followed by North America, Latin America and Western Europe. This shows the change in the global textile industry towards Asia. Subsequently, Asia offers dyestuff production both in terms of volumes and value, with about a 42 per cent share of the global production; the US is next with 24 per cent and Europe has around 22 per cent. Due to a wide use of polyester and cotton-based fabrics, there has been a change towards reactive dyes, applied in cotton-based fabrics, and disperses dyes used in polyester. These two dyes have been leading in all the three regional global market, particularly Asia. Moreover, the change in textile application pattern and regional developments is the amount of over capacity in the global dyestuff industry.
Within India, the leading producers in the pigments industry are Colour Chem and Sudarshan Chemicals while in the dyestuff industry the major players in terms of market share are Atul, Clariant India, Dystar, Ciba Specialities and IDI. The Indian companies together account for nearly 6 per cent of the world production.
Almost 80 per cent of the dyestuffs are commodities. Since not much technology is used, copying of products is also easy as compared to specialties. Though in the recent past, there have been efforts by global producers, with some achievement, to shift to the specialty end of the product profile. Vat dyes have always performed as specialty products, with technology working as a vital function. Now companies are focusing on the higher end of the reactive dyes segment. The inclination is now changing from supplying mere products to colour package solutions. More importance is given to innovation, production range, quality and environmental friendly products. Manufacturers are collaborating with equipment producers to offer integrated solutions rather than products.
Fiscal policies and modification in the application pattern of the global dyestuff industry have revolutionized the market shares of Indian companies. Excise concessions for the small-scale sector in the mid and the late 1980s generated many units in Maharashtra and Gujarat. At one point of time, there were in the unorganised sector nearly 1,000 units, with most of them situated in Gujarat and Maharashtra.
Though, since the early 1990s, there has been seen an ongoing decrement in the excise duty rates applicable to the organised sector. From 25 per cent in 1993-94, the excise duty rates were decreased to 20 per cent in 1994-95, and 18 per cent in 1997-98 and further decreased these rates to 16 per cent.
This continuing decrement in the duty rates smoothened the competitive edge of the unorganised sector. The organised sector, with high product range, technology and marketing reach was capable to raise its market share. But more noteworthy changes have gained through the German ban on many dyestuffs, enforced to the local pollution control laws. While the organised sector has been capable to regulating the manufacturing of dyes based on the 20 banned amines by the German legislation, many in the unorganised sector were moved out. This was amalgam by the local pollution laws, which need to establish the effluent treatment plants, and drive out companies in the unorganised sector.
The capacity and production of dyes and dye stuff was 54,000 MT and 26,000 MT respectively in the year 2003-04. The capacity and production of dyes and dye stuff was 54,000 MT and 26,000 MT correspondingly in the year 2003-04. The small scale units offer major share in dyestuff production while large units focus producing dyestuff intermediates.
Disperse and Reactive dyes represent the greatest product segments in the country covering about 45 per cent of dyestuff consumption. In the coming time, both these segments will lead the dyestuff market with disperse dyes possibly to have the greatest contribution followed by reactive dyes. These two segments will hold a greatest share in order to lead textile and synthetic fibers in dyestuff consumption. Vat segment is also projected to prove healthy growth in future.
Exports and Import of Dyestuffs
In the year 2004-2005 the exports of dyestuff industry has touched 1109 million US dollar. Exports of dyestuffs in the year 2000-01 reached to about Rs. 2365 crores and accounted to about 5 per cent of the total world trade of dyestuffs. The main markets for Indian dyestuffs are the European Union, U.S.A., Indonesia, Hong Kong, South Korea and Egypt. The following table provides data export and import of dyestuff during last few years.
Technology
The technology for dyestuff production changes largely from relatively simple (direct azo) to sophisticated (disperse and vat) dyes. Despite the fact that technology is locally available, most of it is out dated. The setback is further compounded by the fact that the nature of the process differs from batch to batch and, hence, managing the process parameters becomes complex.
The dyestuff industry is one of the largely polluting industries and this has lead to them closing down internationally or changing the units to the emerging economies. Majority of the international producers have shifted the technology to developing nations like China, India, Indonesia, Korea, Taiwan and Thailand. This shift of manufacturing capacities is because the industry is supposed to work as a high-cost and low return one. The batch processing also formulates it to a labour- intensive industry. Hence, the competitiveness of developing economies gets a boosts.
Though, in the past decade the Indian industry has made considerable development in terms of technology and production.
Restructuring
Restructuring of the Indian dyestuff industry which started a couple of years ago is still in progress. The movement was initiated by the market leader Colour-Chem Ltd. It has also come into a toll manufacturing agreement with Dystar India Ltd. There have been other arrangements, which would give improving capacity utilisation at manufacturing facilities and also to have better exposure of export markets.
Ciba India and IDI have signed a deal to market polyester and cellulose dyes. IDI has also started work with Ciba for the production and marketing of dyes and pigments. Atul products has received the acquisition of Zeneca’s 50 per cent stake in Atic Industries Ltd and started work with BAS, Germany to market 50 per cent of its manufacturing of vat dyes.
Choosing the Right Dye Mix for Your Natural Fiber Crafts And Handspinning
In my opinion, the old saying, “you get what you pay for” is not always true with dyes. I have tried more expensive dyes by Gaywool, which averaged about $14 for a canister that claimed to dye 1-2 pounds. I have dyed several pounds and still have some left. However, the dye took a long time to set, and never completely rinsed out. Yes, I followed the directions on the package. Since in this case, I dyed a wool batt before spinning, I even had dye rub off on my fingers while I spun.
I have tried fabric dyes from a fabric store that claimed to dye natural fibers including cotton and wool. These dyes were very inexpensive and I got them on sale for $1.99 a package that dyed 1 pound. In this instance again, hard to rinse out, took a long time to set. But much more than that, the color was not vibrant as I wanted, and the wool felt rough after drying. I take pride in the softness of my wool, so needless to say, this was not acceptable. I have lived and learned and now swear by W.CUSHING & CO. acid dyes.
They come in a little packet that will dye 1 pound…. or more…. I’ll explain later…. The cost is very reasonable. Starting price is around $2.95 a packet, but if you call the company direct 1-800-26-7847, they offer bulk discounts. I think the minimum is 24 packs, which will bump you down to around $1.95 each, and that is the beginning. Ask them for specifics because I know there are larger discounts. You can search for dealers on the net and view the color chart, but so far I have not found one that offers the discounts. Remember that if you are a licensed business, which I am, you qualify for “no tax”. Now… details.. the colors are vivid at full strength… if you keep adding skiens or fiber roving to pot during the dye process, you will get varying shades of the same color! This dye absorbs completely into the fiber! When the dyebath is exhausted, you will know obviously because the water will be clear. No guesswork… no extensive rinsing. And remember…. rinse at the same temperature as the dyebath to avoid felting your fiber.
This is easier than it sounds….. just let it cool completely and rinse in cold water. Don’t risk burning yourself or felting that fabulous fiber. Remember to follow the directions on the package, as you will need to ad white vinegar. Don’t think you can add cider vinegar in a pinch, it does not work! Then just experiment with the dyes. We’ll talk more about techniques.
Rug Colors and Dyes
The variations found in rugs and kilims around the world are amazing and beautiful. The color combinations present in a kilim or persian rug make it appealing to the eye and a wonderfully decorative work of art. Each color hides a meaning which contributes to it’s fascination. Early rugs and kilims of course used dyes obtained from vegetable
and animal sources. In modern times synthetic dyes (aniline or chrome) are also used
and make rugs more affordable to the average person. The following is a list of some of the most common uses of color in rugs today and from times past.
• Red is the color of fire, enthusiasm, courage, virility, faith, luck and joy. However,
it also carries the idea of sorrow and calamity.
• Orange stands for humility and piety.
• Blue symbolizes a sense of strength and power or force
• Green is used sparingly and only in place which are unlikely to be trodden on.It also means
hope, life, renewal and spring.
• Natural dyes: Vegetable and Animal
Time-consuming, pricey and tiresome are adjectives generally connected to the description of the making and using of natural dyes, both vegetable and animal. Whenever vegetable and animal sources are abundant in the area where kilims or rugs are manufactured the situation
changes and it becomes financially feasible to use vegetable or animal dyes. The sources
of these dyes may vary from country to country but the most common are the following:
• .Indigo:(originally obtained by extracting and fermenting indican from the leaves of the indigo plant) Produces Dark navy blue
• Madder: redroot of the madder plant;(produced by boiling the dried, chunked root of the
madder plant in the dye pot) Produces dark, rusty red.
• Red: cochineal insect
• Yellow: weld, vine leaves or pomegranate peel. produces muted gold
• Brown : walnut shells or oak bark
• Green: combination of weld and indigo
• Purple: hollyhocks
• Black: walnuts
• Larkspur: plant
• Henna: leaves and flowers
An observation should be made regarding slight changes in color usually seen in older rugs for this happens when the weaver starts weaving with a yarn from a different dye lot than the one previously used .This peculiarity is common when working with natural dyes since it is quite difficult to get an exact color match. Fortunately, this condition does not affect the value of the rug. It may in fact increase it’s value.
It is very common on tribal rugs to see this variation in color and is a unique characteristic of hand made rugs. The exact “recipe” used by a particular rug maker was a closely guarded secret which passed from generation to generation, or sometimes died with the passage of time and the rug maker. The nomads who made kilims could not produce a large batch of dye, therefore sometimes the color would vary from lot to lot in that way as well.Also the type and quality of wool was a factor in the final color result.
Long ago dyers realized that as more wool was dyed in a single dyepot, colors became weaker and weaker. Dyers use this notion of depleted dyes to their advantage. The first dyeing produces a deep, strong color. Subsequent dyeings in the same dyepot produce lighter,
softer colors
• Synthetic Dyes: Aniline Dyes
Aniline dyes were speedily adopted in the carpet industry due to their low cost and easy-to-use characteristic. The use of them was not limited to a specific area but spread throughout the world. In the last years of the nineteenth century aniline dyes were strongly acidic which damaged the quality of the rug by destroying the natural oil in the wool causing the rug to wear off in no time. In addition, the colors ran when the kilim was washed or faded if the rug was exposed to sunlight.
Because of these problems, aniline dyes are not used as much as they used to be. Nowadays they are used in the dyeing of inferior-quality rugs. If you do not know whether your precious kilim or persian style rug was aniline dyed. You should rub a damp cloth over the pile. If the rug was dyed with a good-quality vegetable or chemical dye it will not rub off onto the cloth, but if it does then your rug has been dyed with aniline.
• Synthetic Dyes: Chrome Dyes
At present, oriental rugs are dyed with Chrome dyes. In contrast to natural dyes, these are simpler to use, quite cheaper and their dye is much easier to match. Chrome dyes offer a greater range of shades and colors which are colorfast. The natural oils of the wool are not removed so the kilim will not be worn off as fast as an aniline dyed one. Although chrome dyes are widely used, in the past there were also complaints with them because their colors were harsher than the hues of natural dyes. This was corrected by the implementation of a light chemical wash which is done to most rugs before being exported to ensure the richness of the rug.
Rugs which are dyed in this way can never achieve the soft hue of a rug which is dyed with a natural dye. The rug fades a bit over time, depending on it’s exposure to the sun and general use, but the color which it achieves as a result is warm and unobtainable in any other way. The next time you look at your treasured rug or kilim, think of how it was dyed and appreciate it’s beauty all the more. Kilims and rugs are wonderful to behold!
c 2206 Bill Kernodle
Bill Kernodle is a rug enthusiast,art lover,world traveller and owner- operator of Revelation Imports.com.You may see what he has to offer on rugs,antiques,gifts,collectibles and hand made items from around the world.
Hair Loss From Straighteners or Dyes
Ladies, over-treated hair is the leading cause of hair loss in women. Take a break from hair dyes, perms, relaxers, and the likes. According to the FDA, over the counter dyes and chemical treatments tend to be the highest of all complaints. Are you one of the many people that dyed their hair, only to have it fall out in clumps? You’re not alone. It has happened to many people. Now, what can we do about it?
Stop using relaxers. Whether these products contain lye, or are lye-free, they still do serious damage to you hair. Both products contain chemicals that ‘fry’ your hair. While that may sound harsh, it’s simply the truth. If you must use a relaxer, take precaution. Read the directions and follow them thoroughly. If you have sensitive skin, apply a thin layer of petroleum jelly to the calm to prevent irritation.
Unfortunately, there’s very little you can do to bring your hair back to its natural state. If you’ve noticed thinning and bald patches from excessive hair dying, stop dying your hair! Let your hair heal itself. It will take several weeks before you notice re-growth, unless, of course–you do more damage during the healing process. Then it will take longer. The moral of the story: be good to your hair, and it will heal itself over time.
Carefully comb wet hair, avoid brushes. Do not rush through the combing process. Whipping a comb through your hair pulls on the hair’s follicles. As does eleastic bands or pony tail holders. Remobve them carefully. Do not yank them out of your hair. In addition, do not use curling irons or blow dryers on a regular basis. Especially if you’ve noticed thinning or bald spots. Absolutely need gel or hair spray? Try alcohol-free styling products. The alcohols in gel and spray only makes dry damaged hair more susceptible to further breakage.
Should you decide to dye your hair. Try a semi-permanent hair dye, which will wash out in six to eight weeks. You should ALWAYS avoid metallic hair dyes. These are the culprits for a lot of hair related horror stories. Leave all dyes on for the specified amount of time. If the bottle tells you twenty-five minutes, don’t leave it on for thirty. Those extra five minutes can actually take its toll on your hair, promoting further damage. Always do a strand test to make sure that you’re not allergic to the dye you purchased.
The High Environmental Impact And Cost Of Home Improvements
Home improvements are expensive, there is no doubt. Even with the magazines, books and television shows dedicated to showing us how to decorate for less or revamp a room using a few power tools and sheets of MDF, the bottom line is still rather high. But, improvements must be done if not to actually improve the home, to at least maintain it as life begins to wear at the walls, appliances and flooring.
There are other costs of home improvement as well that are often overlooked. Moving beyond monetary implications, many home improvements have an impact on the environment as well. You may not realize it, but when you rip out old carpeting or throw out worn out appliances, they go to the same places as the rest of your trash - landfills. The lumber you are using for projects is often treated with harsh chemicals and paint can be harmful, especially oil based paints, if it gets into the water supply.
Avoiding Damage
Of course many of these side effects of renovation and improvements can not be avoided. To build a deck, you must use processed lumber, or treat raw wood yourself. When carpet is old, it must go. It is always wise to look into the recycling options in your area to see if appliances can be repaired and resold or scrapped rather than just taken to a landfill.
When it’s time to begin installing new features in your home, make your choices with an eye on the future. New carpet may be the least expensive flooring option, next to linoleum, but when you’re ready to replace it again in five years, you’ll be faced with the same problem. Hardwood floors last forever, but damage sometimes irreplaceable hardwood trees. Laminate flooring may be an alternative, but the chemicals used in manufacturing are no laughing matter.
Making the Right Choice
However, there are eco-friendly solutions, such as Envirochoice Bamboo flooring. Bamboo Floors are not only as long lasting as hardwood, but are environmentally friendly as well. The flooring is made from easily replenishable bamboo in countries where the plant is considered a weed - which it technically is. The manufacturing process is far easier on the planet than other flooring options as well.
Fortunately, bamboo has more going for it than its origination. It is actually very stylish and attractive. The flooring resembles wood complete with grains and comes in a wide variety of colors and textures. The options are almost limitless. And bamboo flooring is very reasonably priced thanks to the overabundance of its raw materials and simple refining process. This helps lower all of the costs of remodeling - financial included.
Flooring aside, there are many other opportunities to give a nod toward the environment while redecorating. When landscaping, use plants native to your area to decrease the amount of water needed for maintenance. Consider limiting the grass coverage is possible to again limit the use of water. Select only energy efficient appliances, and find ones that have a long life and are easy to repair to avoid throwing them out in a few years. Opportunities to save both money and a little piece of the environment abound in home improvements. Be sure you’re doing your part.
10 Easy Ways to Make a Positive Environmental Impact
How Can I Make Simple Changes That Positively Impact the Environment?
Easy Ways to Go Green
It’s the New Year. Again. Many of us decide to make changes in our lives around this time - that’s no surprise. Often, the resolutions we create for ourselves are dramatic, powerful, even overwhelming. Losing lots of weight, going vegetarian, quitting smoking - we all have our Ace in the hole. Too many years pass, however, when we lose sight of these lofty goals and before the end of the first quarter, we’re already off our game and back to smoking, back to sleeping in, off the daily scheme of going to the gym.
This isn’t a post about how to stay on track with your goals. This isn’t about making smaller steps in between milestones or pinning up a huge calendar to your wall and filling it up with black X’s every time you complete another day on the plus side.
Achieving the Goal of Going Green
I like to think about the goals I want to achieve in as realistic a manner possible. That means - what will actualizing and accomplishing my goals look like on a Tuesday at 1:30 in the afternoon, or a typical Saturday morning at 9:43. That’s more real to me, and consequently more manageable. My goal for this year? To go more green, in as many ways possible. Like many, I am willing to work for it, but I wonder if there aren’t others who would make positive changes if they were easy to accomplish, and didn’t involve too much work.
Big differences are often made with tiny, incremental shifts - one can’t tell just how much of a positive impact is being made by looking at a few of those small steps, but taken in an aggregate form, the impact can be tremendous.
That said, here is a list of ten tiny, realistic steps that I am going to take this year to go more green. If we all do what we can to even uphold a few of these things, the positive impact on our environment would be huge.
Ten Easy Ways to Positively Impact the Environment
1.) Support Farmer’s Markets
Buying local has a dramatic impact on both your health and the environment. While you achieve the goal of supporting local, organic, independent farmers, you also have the opportunity to eat seasonally and raise the bar for yourself in terms of healthy eating habits. By the way - have you ever tasted a plum, or a tomato, or even locally grown, organic salad greens? You’ll never shop at the super market again if you have taste buds.
You’ll be filling your body with produce that is at its freshest, and increasing your consumption of organic produce is incredibly beneficial. The National Resources Defense Council notes that much of the U.S. produce will travel an average of around 1,500 miles before it makes its way into your super market. The negative impact on the planet is huge - think of the pollution alone that is created in that transport.
2.) Toilet Paper
Seriously. Find it online or at your super market, local Trader Joe’s or Whole Foods. If your super market doesn’t have it - take a second and speak to customer service about ordering it, and do it every time you shop there. They’ll stock it eventually. We’re talking about toilet paper made with recycled paper. The impact on the environment in terms of the total number of trees saved each year is huge. Your bumm won’t know the difference.
3.) Cold Water Wash
Don’t personalize your laundry - sure, you like to take a warm bath, but do your old sweat socks, boxer shorts and yoga pants know the difference? A really simple thing to change in your daily or weekly routine, and the environmental impact is great. Procter & Gamble notes that if we all started to use cold water in the washing machines, we could save enough energy to light two and a half million homes for a year.
4.) Bad Bottled Water Habits
How’s this for facts: According to National Geographic magazine, Americans buy approximately 7 billion gallons of bottled water a year. This amounts to roughly 22 billion plastic bottles that eventually get thrown away, and often not in the recycling bin. Consider the (yearly) 1.5 million barrels of oil that it takes to produce those plastic bottles - this amount is enough to fuel nearly 100,000 cars for an entire year. Ways to improve? Buy a water filter and drink tap water that has been properly filtered. Order large bottle service from an organization like Arrowhead or Sparkletts, and drink from a glass at home or at work. At the very least, recycle the plastic bottles that you do use - always.
5.) Re-use Gift Wrapping Paper
Unwrap gifts with a little concern, or teach your little ones a new environmental lesson before they make a mess with the ripping into birthday or holiday packaging. The amount of paper that could be saved is astronomical, if each of us were to recycle wrapping paper from just a few gifts each year.
Get a bag or a box, and start saving bows, ribbons and neatly folded, carefully removed gift wrapping paper. No one will know the difference. Trust me. And if they do, you have the perfect opportunity to bring up a conversation about conservation, without sounding overbearing. They’ll feel great to have helped out without having done anything.
6.) Grocery Bags
When they ask you if you want paper or plastic, just say neither. Spend a dollar at the store and buy a re-usable cotton or hemp bag, and keep them in the trunk of your car for shopping. For a look at the environmental impact of both paper bags and plastic bags, read these former Green Eggs blog posts. Get creative with your kids and find blank canvas bags online - this will give your kids a chance to be creative, and paint or decorate the grocery bags to personalize them.
7.) Houseplants Can Be Your Friends
It has been noted that many green house plants can assist in the process of removing indoor air pollutants if you cultivate and care for them indoors. Plants like English ivy and others such as golden pothos practically grow themselves. Don’t worry - they’re harder to kill than keep alive. And they’ll be helping keep you alive as they fight environmental toxins in the home.
8.) Eliminate Junk Mail
Hate the junk mail that comes in your mail box just about every day? For most of us, that pile of materials goes directly into the trash. For others, it goes directly into the recycling bin. Neither party ever reads any of it, and yet it still shows up every day. Take a second and visit the Direct Marketing Association’s Mail Preference Service to register not to receive junk mail any longer. The process may take a few months, but eventually, you won’t get so much trash in the mail.
9.) Buy Bulk
Tea drinker? Couple of trips to the local coffee house every morning? Eat cereal or oatmeal? Next time you buy tea, for instance, think about choosing loose leaf over packaged tea. Reducing the amount of packaging materials that you use can make a big difference to the environment.
Think about packaged tea - there’s the card stock paper box wrapped in plastic, the paper inside, the plastic that is often wrapped around the tea bag, the tea bag, the string, the tiny staple and the tea tag. All of those materials get disposed of, typically not recycled, and much of it can be eliminated by buying bulk loose leaf tea and using your own tea infuser.
10.) Green Your Driving
No - I’m not going to make a blanket statement that we should all run out and buy a brand new Prius - it’s not going to be possible for everyone and it isn’t the only way to green up your vehicle. Further, there’s no reason to make people feel bad about failing so miserably right out of the gate when it comes to efficient vehicles.
If you can afford it, buy a hybrid. But there are plenty of other ways to do something about fuel consumption and vehicle pollution. Carpool if and when you can - you have to get over identifying with your vehicle and your alone time first, but it’s worth the small sacrifice. Bike to work if you can; you’ll be getting exercise and helping the planet at the same time.
Or just plain drive smarter when you get behind the wheel - get timely tuneups and keep your tires inflated to the proper pressure to ensure maximum gas-saving efficiency. If you take long trips on the highway (out of the way of traffic), then switch to cruise control to improve your mileage. Curb your urge to drive like your car is a weapon - take off from stops less aggressively, brake more gently and slow down when you can. The speed limit isn’t so bad. And get out of the drive-thru: either quit the fast food or park the car and walk it.
Final Thoughts on Easy Steps to Going Green
Taking meaningful yet small steps towards going greener this year can lead to real, measurable and positive change for the planet. A few easy questions here and there, changing a habit or two, educating yourself and making smarter choices - a little bit at a time is really all that it takes. Think about the many millions of people living in America, making one collective change all at once - that alone could pay huge dividends for our future.
Financial Success or Environmental Mission? Now You Can Have Both
Have you ever wished you could create a financially secure future doing something that helps the environment? Usually we have to choose between what we do for money and what we do to support the environment. Now, at least one opportunity provides both.
Imagine having a service you can offer over the internet, from the comfort of your home, that people have been waiting for at least 30 years. Imagine your prospects forwarding your marketing materials to people they know because they feel good about referring your service and are motivated to do so by a bigger mission.
It may sound like a dream opportunity, but wait…it gets better.
Now you can offer people solar power for their home. They can pay less for clean, renewable electricity from the sun than they pay now for dirty electricity from nuclear and coal plants. Who wouldn’t want to do that?
With global warming being given top priority and all the talk of building more nuclear and coal plants, people are looking for a better solution. Now you can offer them a solution that supports the environment and saves them money.
As an Ecopreneur (ecological entrepreneur) you get paid for educating people about solar power for their home. In fact, you can get paid three ways.
You can earn a substantial installation and retention bonus when their solar power system is installed and at their first anniversary for providing great customer service (from the comfort of your home).
You receive 5% of your customers’ monthly electricity bill every month for the life of their contract. If you ever wanted a commodity your customers would continue buying every month, year after year, this is it.
The third way you can get paid is by supporting a team of other Ecopreneurs doing the same thing. When you invite, train, and support other Ecopreneurs to make the same offer and build their team, you receive a percentage of your team’s sales including a 50% matching bonus on those you personally invite and 25% matching bonus on those they invite.
Just when you thought it couldn’t get any better, it does. There’s no cost or obligation to participate as an Ecopreneur. That’s right…no start up fees, no annual fees, no quotas, no website fees, and no purchase required. You don’t even have to be a customer yourself. The company even provides professional marketing materials free to download and create yourself.
Okay, I know you’ve probably been waiting for the “other shoe to drop.” Well, here it is. This opportunity is so ground floor that, as of this writing in December 2007, we are still in the pre-launch phase of our development. We are scheduled to officially launch in the Spring and we already have over 25,000 customers.
Getting involved while this solar wave is still just beginning to swell will position you to ride this enormous wave of grateful customers all the way to the bank, the beach, and beyond.
Some may choose to wait and see how we do. I personally am thrilled to be part of such an enormous grassroots movement to upgrade America to solar power.
I can’t imagine being better positioned for what will prove to be a service everyone will have. Remember not so many years ago no one had cell phones and now it’s hard to imagine life without them. Going back a bit further, when the refrigerator was introduced, everyone was still buying ice for their icebox and now it’s hard to imagine life without a refrigerator. The same will be true for solar power and we’re positioned to provide it for the masses.
You can look back and say, “I was there and played a part.” or “I had a chance, but didn’t take it.” The choice is yours. We live at a critical time in our planet’s history. Your actions matter…even the ones you don’t take.
What Is An Environmental Chiropractor And How Do They Help?
An environmental chiropractor is a person who takes into consideration of things in the environment. Certain allergies can be created from things that exist only in the outdoors, and these practitioners also know which things in the wild will be able to help solve the problems. This type of a practitioner is of natural treatment type, and they like to use other forms to help detoxify the body of impurities. Often, they work with spinal misalignments, dysfunctions and subluxations that affect the neural integrity.
An environmental chiropractor will give special detail attention to the physiological and biochemical aspects of the body. He will look closely at the structure, spinal area, and musculoskeletal, neurological, vascular, emotional and environmental relationships. They know how to incorporate into the overall treatment philosophy and they believe in total body wellness. This also includes fitness, nutrition and psychology aspect. All of these focus areas play an important roll with how our body reacts.
An environmental chiropractor is based on academic and clinical training with formal certification. They received the training by going through an accredited chiropractic college, and they have learned how to give a diagnosis and know how to do natural therapeutic procedures. These treatment procedures can include the adjustment and manipulation of articulations and the adjacent tissues of the human body. They work with the spinal column, and this includes the manual treatment of spinal irregularities for relief of related functional disorders.
The chiropractor uses a drug-free system so they work in a non-surgical science aspect. There are no pharmaceuticals involved or any type of surgery, and they are well trained to provide diagnose and consult with. They are well trained and able to refer people to other health care providers if require.
These chiropractor cares about every aspect of your daily life. This helps to give you the best benefit so you can benefit a great deal from the care you receive from a person who looks at your life so in-depth. Even modern medicine doesn’t look as closely at your life to help you as oppose to an environmental chiropractor.
Once the environmental chiropractor has you feeling good, the main goal is to keep it maintained. This is beneficial as you don’t want the pain to keep coming back.
Environmental Debate - Real Versus Artificial Christmas Trees
What you need to know to make an eco-friendly choice this Christmas season. Did you know that an acre of Christmas Trees produces the daily oxygen for 18 people?
As the holiday season draws near, many families engage in an all too familiar debate: Buy a real tree, or buy an artificial one? There are benefits and drawbacks to both choices.
There is no question that nothing can replace the cozy holiday ambience of a real tree. Real trees have a unique look and a delightful pine scent that no artificial tree could ever hope to imitate. There is also something special about bundling up and going shopping for the perfect real tree. In addition to being aesthetically pleasing, real trees are environmentally friendly. They are usually grown on Christmas tree farms located throughout the United States and Canada. Each time a tree is harvested, new seedlings are planted. Used trees are, of course, completely biodegradable.
As anyone who has ever had a real tree in his or her home can tell you, however, there are some drawbacks to having a real Christmas tree. First, the pine needles shed like a long-haired cat in summer. While the tree is up, expect to have your vacuum out at least every other day. Real trees also require watering and daily monitoring to ensure that the tree is not getting too dry. This leads to the conclusion that real trees are lovely to look at and environmentally friendly, but they require a lot of work.
Artificial trees, while being more convenient than real trees, do require a fair amount of storage space each year. They also require assembly that can be time consuming. Artificial trees are significantly more expensive than real trees, especially those that are more realistic looking. The pros of artificial trees are that they last much longer than real trees, they don’t require any maintenance, they are more economical because you don’t have to pay for them every year, and there are many different types to choose from.
Ultimately, when it comes right down to it, it is up to the individual to decide whether a real tree is better than an artificial tree or vice versa. There are many pros and cons to take into consideration before purchasing either one. In the end, what matters is that you are happy with the tree that you chose, regardless of what your reasons were for choosing it.
Quick Tree Facts
- There are approximately 30-40 million Real Christmas Trees sold in Canada and the U.S. every year.
- An estimated 175,000 Real Christmas Trees are sold via e-commerce or catalogue and shipped mail-order.
- North American Real Christmas Trees are grown in all 50 states and Canada. Eighty-five percent (85%) of artificial trees sold in the U.S. are manufactured in China.
- Real Trees are a renewable, recyclable resource. Artificial trees contain non-biodegradable plastics and possible metal toxins such as lead.
- For every Real Christmas Tree harvested, up to 3 seedlings are planted in its place the following spring.
- There are about 550,000 acres in production for growing Christmas Trees in Canada and the U.S. Each acre provides the daily oxygen requirements of 18 people.
- There are about 22,100 Christmas Tree growers in Canada and the U.S., and over 100,000 people employed full or part-time in the industry.
- It can take as many as 15 years to grow a tree of average retail sale height (6 - 7 feet) or as little as 4 years, but the average growing time is 7 years.
Storm Water Management Products
Keeping track of the evolving world of storm water regulations can be daunting tasks for industries that must adhere to these changing regulations. Adapting storm water programs and products that are approved to address specific area of pollution is an ongoing operational requirement.
The statues on the municipal level might impose stricter standards and schedules for industrial and municipal storm water control that are geographically specific.
However the national standard is consistent and is known as the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES). The permitting program controls pollutants discharged into surface water such as lakes, ponds, streams and even the ocean.
Phase I of NPDES was designed for cities with populations of more than 100,000. The NPDES also targeted large industrial and construction sites. The statues required that industries and construction sites begin treating storm water runoff from their locations.
Phase II of NPDES was announced in December 1999 and required that more than 5,000 municipalities and all new developments one acre or larger implement BMP’s for stormwater treatment to the maximum extent that was practical. Specialty products are available that help companies comply with NPDES statues.
Storm Drain Products
Oil leaks from vehicles in parking lots can be managed effectively with drain filters and drain covers. Drain filters and covers are simple devices designed to remove waste from storm water before it can become a problem in the water system. Filter inserts and storm drain covers help companies comply with NPDES, 40 CFR 122.26 (1999) when used within the Best Management Practice stipulated in Storm Water Pollution Prevention Plans.
These types of product are useful for:
*Industrial Facilities - keep oil and other contaminants from entering storm drains.
*Construction Sites - capture eroded soil and wind-blown debris.
*Parking Lots - collect oil, fuel and other contaminants that drip from cars.
Held in place by a metal grate, filter products can effectively remove coarse sediments, oil, grease, litter and debris from storm water. Parking lots tend to be sources of oil, hydrocarbons and other water pollution. Cars and trucks drip oil and grease on to the surface of the cement or asphalt and is carried into the catch basins by rainwater.
Most of these catch basins ultimately drain into streams, lakes, or ground water aquifers. A drain filter works great for parking lots, vehicle storage/service areas, construction sites and industrial plants. Because these areas produce large amounts of sediments, oil, and other pollutants, the EPA has very stringent requirements that are imposed on these types of sites.
A major concern for the EPA is the oil that can be transferred to catch basins and storm drains. Industrial locations must exercise extreme caution to prevent oil from getting to these areas. Oil skimmers and absorbents are useful in providing a solution for these problems. Companies that produce these waste comply with NPDES, 40 CFR 122.26 (1999) by preventing pollution at its source.
Stormwater Management Products are a key component in the compliance and implementation of EPA’s Clean Water Act. The overriding concern and utility of these storm water products is to protect the quality of U.S. waterways by reducing the discharge of sediment, oil and chemicals into storm drains, surface water and groundwater.