What is an Organic Rug?
An organic rug is a rug made without harmful chemicals and certified by a third-party agency like GOTS (Global Organic Textile Standard). Not only does GOTS certify the product, and every stage of its production, it also requires that workers, including farmers and fabricators, are treated fairly.
When buying home furnishings, please ask:
Who made this? What is it made from?
What makes a rug organic?
1. Raw materials are from traceable, certified organic producers.
2. Cleaning or scouring raw materials uses biodegradable cleansing agents.
3. Water is used in a sustainable way throughout processing.
4. No synthetic agents or oils are used in spinning process.
5. Yarn is dyed using Global Organic Textile Standard approved dye stuffs.
6. Farmers and Fabricators are treated fairly.
7. Rugs are finished with no harmful chemicals or detergents.
People care about indoor air quality. They're making a connection between a chemical-free home and better health. Do you really want your new carpet off-gassing chemicals into your home? Do you want your baby crawling on it?
Skip the Chemicals…
Some of the common harmful chemicals found in conventional (non-organic) rugs:
1. Synthetic Fungicides and Pesticides, which are harmful to farmers and the environment.
2. Harmful Cleaning Agents, which may include bleach and formaldehyde, are used to remove impurities from raw wool or raw cotton before dyeing
3. Synthetic Toxic Dyes are used to dye cotton or wool yarn
4. Topical chemical treatments to reduce moths and stains as well as flame retardants
When we walk on rugs, the abrasion causes small particles to enter the air. If the rug is made with, or treated with any harmful chemicals, these chemicals will enter the air. In addition, if we walk barefoot, or sit or lie down on our rugs, we may be exposing ourselves to harmful chemicals.
When you buy an organic rug, you are choosing a product that is better for your health, better for the environment, and better for the artisans who made it.