Giving Back Gives Me All The Feelzzz

Giving Tuesday With Bedfully

So much of my purchasing life is centered on either the circular economy (resale marketplaces like eBay, First Dibs, AptDeco, Fashionphile, Vestiaire, etc.) or if I am buying new, I’m paying close attention to how products are made and if the materials and labor are ethically and environmentally sound. If you surf the Bedfully site, you’ll notice in our “Bedfully Loves” descriptions that so much of what drives us is how these various brands and makers make things.

Newsflash: Global Warming is not a hoax; and yes, you should think long and hard about what you purchase and if you can trace the sources and understand what constitutes responsible production practices, especially with things like fashion, textiles, paints, and furniture. It’s also great to know how and why to choose certain fabrics over others if you are interested in responsible consumption. For example, according to the European Confederation of Linen and Hemp, a linen shirt uses 6.4 liters of water, compared to a cotton shirt's purported 2,700 liters (700 gallons!). Needless to say, you’ll never hear me shut up about the umpteen-thousand merits of linen bedding (or even better, Hemp—which grows like a weed and requires little to no water to do so)!

Many brands meet multiple certifications for their production efforts, and they may use certain acronyms you are completely unfamiliar with (they look good, but what the heck to they actually mean?!). And so, for Giving Tuesday, not only am I spotlighting some brands and products that give back in a myriad of ways, but I am also giving you a cheat sheet of what to look for if you want to become the poster child for responsible consumption. Sock this list away in your Notes on your Smartphone so you can always reference it. None of us are perfect, but it sure feelzzz good to try. I hope you will start looking out for these descriptions from now on when you are shopping for your ZZZ’s.

Zero VOCs: Volatile Organic Compounds
These are a group of chemicals that can easily evaporate into the air and are found in many common products such as paints and varnishes. Exposure to VOCs can cause health issues and they contribute to outdoor air and ozone pollution

GOTS: Global Organic Textile Standard
GOTS is the worldwide leading textile processing standard for organic fibers including environmental criteria, backed up by third-party certification of all processing stages. GOTS certified final products may include fibre products, yarns, fabrics, clothes, home textiles, mattresses, personal hygiene products, as well as food contact textiles and more. Visit their website to learn more.

GOLS: Global Organic Latex Standard
Supported by manufacturers and various stakeholders of latex industry, GOLS became a globally recognized standard for products made out of organically grown natural rubber latex. Originally developed by Control Union, GOLS adds value to companies seeking more sustainable products. Learn more here.

FSC: Forest Stewardship Council
FSC certification ensures that products come from responsibly managed forests that provide environmental, social, and economic benefits. For a helpful infographic explaining certification, please click here.

Oeko-Tex
Oeko-Tex is a product label and certification system that ensures textiles and leather products are safe for human health and the environment: Go to their website to learn more.

FLA: Fair Labor Accreditation
This is a multi-year process that evaluates a company's systems to ensure they are protecting workers in their global supply chain. FLA offers separate accreditation programs for agriculture and manufacturing companies. To earn accreditation, companies must meet a series of milestones that demonstrate their commitment to fair labor practices. Learn more here.

RDS: Responsible Down Accreditation

This is a certification program for the ethical treatment of birds in the down industry, ensuring the feathers are taken from birds already used for their meat as food. Learn more here .