"Acrylic fiber production is energy intensive and calls for a heavy consumption of water (Fletcher, 13). Environmental issues surrounding the fiber are unclear, although 'it is thought that a significant number of production chemicals (including the base ingredient acrylonitrile) have a high potential for creating environmental problems if discharged untreated' (Fletcher, 13). Acrylonitrile, the base ingredient in acrylic fiber, may compromise the health and safety of workers without proper safety measures, as 'exposure occurs mostly from breathing it in the air. Acrylonitrile primarily affects the nervous system and lungs' (ATSDR). According to the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR), 'the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) has determined that acrylonitrile may reasonably be anticipated to cause cancer in people' (ATSDR)." (Social Alterations: Fibre Analysis by Mary Hanlon Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 2.5 Canada License)

Biodegradable is a term applied to products that have the ability to break down safely and relatively quickly by biological means into raw materials, which can be absorbed into the ecosystem. For example wood and bamboo are biodegradable, while plastics are definitely not. (www.whiteapricot.com)

The total set of greenhouse gases (GHG) emissions caused by an organization, event or product. For simplicity of reporting, it is often expressed in terms of the amount of carbon dioxide, or its equivalent of other GHGs, emitted. (wikipedia).

A scheme consisting of a certification standard and certification system as related to specified processes to which the same particular scheme applies. The certification scheme should contain at least: a standard; a clearly defined scope; a certification system, including auditor qualifications, audit length and minimum content of audit report

Fabric dyeing and bleaching procedures typically use toxic chemicals like chromium in some wool dyes. Chromium, a heavy metal, threatens our drinking supply when it is not properly disposed of duringthe dyeing process. Chlorine bleaching can be harmful as well; it is been linked to dioxin pollution, which causes birth defects. The leather tanning industry generates 800,000 tons of chrome shavings annually, and much of this chromium waste ends up in landfills. ( mslk.com )

Color grown cotton contains no dyes but is grown in natural colors such as honey, red, purple and mocha. South American Natives were known to have used color grown cotton. In the past decade, these color grown cotton fibers have become available for textile manufacturing. (www.ecofashionworld.com )

While leather is a natural fibre, the processing it entails from raising the livestock and tanning, to garment assembly and distribution, is among the most taxing and environmentally harmful in the world. Categorically speaking, more tanneries are listed on the Environmental Protection Agency’s Superfund list for priority cleanup than any other type of business. In fact, to evade increasingly stringent North American toxicity standards, over 95% of tanneries have moved overseas where regulations are more lenient or altogether undefined. A tannery permanently contaminates the structure and land it occupies, rendering the site - and often neighboring sites - permanently toxic and defunct.

The tanning process (the steps taken to convert the putrescible skin into well preserved, highly durable material) involves chemically altering the protein structure of the skin so that it cannot return to rawhide. The use of chromium sulphate began in the mid 1800s, and became popular for the very soft and highly pliable leather it creates. Chemicals involved in the “unhairing” process alone include Sodium sulfide, Sodium hydroxide, Sodium hydrosulfite, Arsenic sulfide, Calcium hydrosulfide, Dimethyl amine and Sodium sulphydrate.

Chromium (VI) is the most persistent toxin used by the leather industry. It is a known carcinogen with the following documented human health effects: skin rashes, upset stomachs and ulcers, respiratory problems, weakened immune systems, kidney and liver damage, alteration of genetic material, lung cancer and death (source: Organic Leather) – because of this most tanneries have switched to chromium (III) which is considerably less toxic but it commonly oxidizes into chromium (VI) during the tanning process and so the finished product contains harmful toxins.

Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR), also known as corporate responsibility, corporate citizenship, responsible business and corporate social performance is a form of corporate self-regulation integrated into a business model. Ideally, CSR policy would function as a built-in, self-regulating mechanism whereby business would monitor and ensure their adherence to law, ethical standards, and international norms. Business would embrace responsibility for the impact of their activities on the environment, consumers, employees, communities, stakeholders and all other members of the public sphere. Furthermore, business would proactively promote the public interest by encouraging community growth and development, and voluntarily eliminating practices that harm the public sphere, regardless of legality. Essentially, CSR is the deliberate inclusion of public interest into corporate decision-making, and the honoring of a triple bottom line: People, Planet, Profit.