Libby’s “Green” Measurement System Score = 3.5 (out of a possible total of 20. See June 10th posting.)
Brand: Mimi the Sardine
Product: “The Shopper” Bag
Seen at: Whole Foods, Palo Alto, CA
Source of primary material: Sweden
Manufactured in: San Francisco, USA
The “green” spin:
“Eco-coating” (listed on the label). From their website: “All of our products are made from Swedish cotton prints that have been treated with an environmentally sound coating to make them permanently water and soil resistant. Just wipe and wear and machine wash as needed. The fabrics are produced in accordance with strict environmental laws and are Oeko-Tex certified; the coating is made from acrylic and not PVC. We use no chlorine in the production process, and only water soluble dyes.”
What attracted my attention:
They reminded me of my beloved Tiogruppen (aka 10 Swedish Designer) bags, that I first picked-up in Stockholm, Sweden, in 2001, BEFORE my purchasing decisions also took environmental/social impacts into account. (Might I defend myself with the fact that I’ve always been somewhat of a prudent shopper; purchasing only what I really want/need, with a penchant for cool/distinct designs.)
Other (potentially) interesting info.:
The fabric prints offered by Mimi the Sardine, aren’t as “sweet” as Tiogruppen’s, but they’re pretty close. (The name behind Tiogruppen refers to the 10 Swedish designers who originally formed the company in 1970. Three of the original 10 designers still remain.)
Tiogruppen responded to me with the following information on their oilcloth: “Our oilcloth is…100% cotton, printed in an ISO certified printing house. The coating is PVC, but ftalat (aka phthalate) free and is classified as “Baby Standard”. Fabric production and coating is done in (Eastern Europe).” Hmm…having Googled “ISO standards”, PVC and phthalate, I’m pretty certain that Mimi the Sardine’s products are environmentally superior to Tiogruppen’s. I’ll ensure I keep using my Tiogruppen bags for as long as possible! (I do wonder whether or not Mimi the Sardine is sourcing from a fabric supplier based in Sweden, who in turn sources from Eastern Europe. Another “hmm”.)
What’s great about bags made out of coated fabric (preferably eco-friendly) is their durability; they are water and soil resistant. If I find myself in a down-pour, the contents of my Tiogruppen bag remain dry. With my Tiogruppen bags I’ve been able to take off any exterior marks with windex (I should use a more environmentally-friendly cleaner in the future), and I’ve even put them through a few cold washes (albeit the Tiogruppen website advises against this). Mimi the Sardine’s bags are advertised as being able to withstand the same wear and tear. As a bonus, Mimi the Sardine’s bags HAVE been approved for machine washing.
How Green Is...? 