Tips for Buying Green, Eco-Friendly Products

There are no universal certifications or standards to identify green, eco-friendly products and only a handful of ecolabeling organizations (listed at the end). So when you are out and about trying to buy green, just ask some of the following questions. 

Is the production process eco-friendly?
Think about pollution, the natural resources it takes to get the product on the shelf, are recycled materials used in the production, Human Rights and the treatment of animals.

How safe is the product?
Read the labels and keep your eyes open for chemicals or hazardous materials that are part of the product or have been used during production. Is the product safe for the environment, look for biodegradable ingredients or materials.

How much waste does the product create?
Consider the packing material and rapping the product comes in. What options do you have to despose the product after it wears out. Is the product recyclable ? 

Ecolabeling Organizations:
Green Seal, USDA organic certified, Rainforest Alliance, Energy Star

Tribal Textiles-Zambia

We are always on the search for additional unique, handmade, socially responsible produced products that we are proudly offer on World Travel Art .

Back when we were living in Tanzania, we came across fabulous fabric that was drawn and hand painted, then finished into stunning wall hangings, table cloth or linen, from Zambia. After some diligent research we finally found a wonderful source in Tribal Textiles and will soon be able to offer a variety of the beautiful products they produce.

Gillie Lightfoot, Director and Owner of Tribal Textiles, started the company more than 20 years ago as a hobby in a small Zambian Safari Camp she was living in. Having an artistic background, she experimented with different techniques and dyes. She was inspired by the wildlife around her and started to become engrossed in the textiles. Six years later she moved to Mfuwe, a more accessible area with more development and infrastructure. From that point on, the company was growing and has now a workforce of over 100 Zambians involved in the lengthy process of producing one of these stunning painted pieces of fabric.