T-Shirts for a Cause

Bamboo

grows quickly with little water and does not require pesticides to thrive; however it takes more energy and chemical processing to turn bamboo into soft fabric

expensive to produce

Hemp

does not require excessive water or pesticides, but
is generally grown overseas and must be transported to the U.S.; transporting uses fossil fuels, which release greenhouse gases

fabric is rough, wrinkles easily and color is often not rich

Organic cotton

partially watered by rain and supplemented with irrigation; harmful chemicals are not used to deal with weeds and pests

expensive to produce

Vegetable dyes

made from plants and
require lots of water to use, but contain fewer harmful chemicals than traditional dyes

colors fade easily

Low-Impact dyes

contain no or few toxic chemicals and can be used at a low temperature, meaning less energy is used to heat the water involved in the dying process

expensive

Domestic manufacturing (made in the U.S.)

minimal energy used in transportation

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higher labor costs

Overseas manufacturing

more energy is used in transporting goods from oversees, which contributes to the release of greenhouse gases

lower labor costs, but companies must pay additional taxes and shipping costs

Made with no recycled materials

may take more energy to process materials

may have negative impacts on the environment; is not eco-friendly; may require more effort or expense

Made with some or all recycled materials

may take less energy to process materials; diverts some materials from landfills

may require more effort or expense