EARTH AND UNION FRIENDLY

OUR PRODUCTS

All products in our catalog ending in "CW" are printed by union labor on paper containing postconsumer waste (pcw). If paper doesn't contain pcw, it is not recycled!

Calendars
All SCW calendars are printed on recycled paper 20%-100% postconsumer waste; processed chlorine and dioxin free.

Framed posters and prints
We offer quality framing for most posters. The frames are durable metal with reinforced, screw-balanced corners, glass, foamcore and a wire hanger. The price includes both poster and framing. Each poster/framed small print is available only in the frame color indicated.

Mugs
All mugs are 11 oz. fingers friendly, union printed, and made in the USA. Available only in the color shown.

Cards
All postcards are 4x6, printed by union labor on paper containing 50% postconsumer waste, processed chlorine and dioxin free.

All notecards are 5x7, printed by union labor on paper containing 30% postconsumer waste. All envelopes are 100% postconsumer recycled paper, chlorine and dioxin free.

Holiday cards are by union labor on paper containing postconsumer waste. All envelopes are 100% postconsumer recycled paper, chlorine and dioxin free.

Packaging for cards and postcards is 100% biodegradable cellophane, not plastic.

T-shirts
We have steadily expanded our commitment to organic cotton and equitable labor practices so that now ALL of the shirts we make fulfill those criteria. The few shirts we distribute from other makers are labeled "100% cotton" because they are not organic; they are, however, non-sweatshop.

Why Organically Grown: According to 1995 data, US farmers applied nearly one-third of a pound of chemical fertilizers and pesticides for every pound of cotton harvested. When all 19 cotton-growing states are tallied, the crop accounts for 25% of the pesticides used in the US. Some of these chemicals are among the most toxic classified by the US Environmental Protection Agency. In developing countries, where regulations are less stringent, the negative impacts are even more severe.

And Sweatshop Free: The US Department of Labor estimates that 60% of garments made in the US are manufactured under conditions which violate one or more fair labor laws. Our domestically sewn shirts are made by companies that insure fair labor practices. When garments are made overseas we choose vendors who require documentation (and verification through inspection) that workplace conditions are safe, that workers are not harassed or abused, that all workers are treated with respect, and that products are never made with forced labor or child labor.

Low-Impact Dyes: The next step on the path to true sustainability involves the printing process itself. Our two new shirts (#5306, Peace; and #5295 Well Behaved Women) use water-based, low impact dyes – so no plastisol, no PVC, phthalates, or solvents. The resulting print is remarkably soft and breathable, the print will not change significantly after many home launderings, and the shirt will not shrink. We think you’ll find the slight increase in cost well worth it! For more information on this printing process, please visit www.tsdesigns.com .

More Supplier Information: Our blank shirts and totes are sourced from the following suppliers. Please visit their websites for more detailed information on their practices. www.sosfromtexas.com, www.organicapparel.us, www.econscious.net, www.ecobags.com, www.bagmakers.com, www.clothbag.com.

OUR PRACTICES

Shipping
Our shipping tubes are 100% recycled, with 66% postconsumer content. Our boxes are 100% recycled, 80% postconsumer. Packing paper is 100% postconsumer. We re-use boxes and bags whenever possible. We do not buy bubble wrap, but we do re-use what has been sent to us.

Recycling and Composting
As a building and a business we have made a strong commitment to earth-friendly practices. Most waste generated in our building is recycled. Each office or area has a basket for paper recycling and for trash. In the kitchen is a space for other recycled materials and for returnable bottles. We also compost our kitchen scraps. Recycling instructions are posted on the refrigerator.