Cotton is the largest natural fiber supplying the global demand for textile products. While a significant amount of money has been spent in promoting 100% cotton products as the “natural” choice, that is not necessarily the truth. In fact, farmed the conventional way, cotton is a pesticide-heavy crop, using approximately 25% of the world's insecticides and 10% of the world's pesticides (including herbicides, insecticides, and defoliants). Organic cotton is cotton that is grown without pesticides from plants which are not genetically modified. High levels of agrochemicals are used in the production of non-organic, conventional cotton. The chemicals used in the processing of cotton also pollute the air and surface waters. Residual chemicals may also irritate consumers' skin. Organic agriculture uses crop rotation instead of agrochemicals and artificial fertilizers; and biological pest control instead of pesticides. Greater public knowledge of the ecological devastation caused by conventional cotton farming has been influencing consumers to choose organic fibers. For more reasons why organic cotton production is important to the long-term health of the planet, one good resource is the OTA.

Organic cotton is a sustainable alternative to chemically-based or synthetic fibers. There are strict standards in the United States and many other countries for organic cotton. “Organic” means the cotton is produced to a set of strict standards, enforced by certifying agents who annually inspect fields and the operation for adherence to organic standards. Though organic cotton has less environmental impact than conventional cotton, it costs more to produce.

There are a lot of companies offering “green” and “organic” products these days but after asking a few questions or doing a little more research, you’ll find that the organic content is far less than what you think at face value. We believe you’ll find our commitment to being organic and eco-friendly goes far beyond most. Our goal is to offer an entire line of products that are sustainably manufactured of 100% certified organic cotton using low-impact processing and eco-friendly dyeing. In addition, we only partner with suppliers whose factories abide by international fair labor principals and organic processing standards (i.e. Skal, Worldwide Responsible Apparel Production (WRAP), Ecological and Toxicological Association of Dyes and Organic Pigment Manufacturers (ETAD), etc.). We’re not just looking at the products we offer, but in how we run the entire business - from the way the products are made, what they are made with, and the way everything is handled and delivered to our customers. There may be a little extra cost in doing business this way, but we know it’s worth it and believe you’ll agree.

Traditional screen printing is done using plastisol inks, the preferred method for most printers because it is relatively much easier to work with compared to other inks. The U.S. screen printing industry uses an estimated 1.5 million gallons of plastisol ink every year, and between 30% to 50% of that ink contains PVCs. PVC (Polyvinyl Chloride) often referred to as "vinyl" is one of the most versatile of the plastic materials and yet most hazardous for the environment, both during production and disposal. Dioxins, one of the most toxic chemicals and potent carcinogens known to science, are created and released during the production of PVC. These days, even plastisol ink manufacturers are working on making inks environmentally friendly. Examples are certified PVC-free or phthalate-free plastisol inks, with many new versions being engineered to help reduce the impact to people and our planet.

There are some limitations to printing with organic and eco-friendly dyes and inks. Generally, most colors are available and can be matched to Pantone or other specific color requirements. Metallic colors and some other specialty colors and processes that you may see are done with plastisol and un-friendly processes and we do not offer those options at this time. In some cases (i.e. dark colored shirts), it may be suggested to use something other than a water-based ink to get the expected results. All artwork and colors will be verified prior to printing any order, with eco-friendly options ALWAYS the deciding factor in everything we produce.

Water-based inks dry more quickly than plastisol ink and have to be handled more carefully during printing. A big difference between water-based and plastisol inks is that plastisol, for the most part, sits on top of the shirt surface much like a permanent sticker with colors layered on top of one another. If you have ever touched a shirt with a large, multi-colored design printed with plastisol, you probably noticed how thick it can feel. Water-based inks, on the other hand, are much thinner than plastisol inks and soak into the garment, producing a much softer feel. On light-colored shirts, the ink is so thin that you almost can’t feel it (similar to the feel of the ‘designer t-shirts’ you can find at a high-end department store or boutique) – this is called a ‘softer hand’.

When it comes to earth-friendly apparel, typically the emphasis is simply on using shirts made of organic cotton. Although this is important, the dyes and inks used to color and print on the shirts are equally as significant. Dyeing and printing an organic shirt with harmful chemicals and a printing process that has an adverse effect on the environment is counterproductive. The most common ink used for screenprinting has been plastisol for many years. Today, many screenprinters are using more water-based inks because traditional plastisol inks have contained Polyvinyl Chlorides (PVC’s), among other chemicals and toxins. Just because a screenprinter is using water-based inks, however, does not mean the entire screenprinting process is eco-friendly. We always strive to use the most eco-friendly screenprinting ink and process possible for each application. Additionally, we have replaced traditional cleaning solutions and screenprinting components with environmentally-friendly and biodegradable alternatives. Other examples include aerosol spray adhesives used to hold the shirts down during printing have been replaced with biodegradable platen glue. Harsh solvents used for cleaning and prepping screens have been replaced with biodegradable soy-based chemicals. More innovative ways of reducing our impact, such as use of solar or wind power (already being used to power the web servers that host our website), are being explored and will be added whenever possible.

Water-based inks produce durable prints that will last a long time with proper washing (based on following the care instructions for the garment). The lifespan of a water-based print is comparable to plastisol prints based on similar wear conditions. The common misconception about water-based inks is that the print quality will not be as good as plastisol. Water-based and plastisol printing can both be viable options. We will help with recommendations for each application if you have not already made up your mind. However, we will always help guide our customers to the most sustainable option.

There are some limitations to color options since we only offer garments and accessories that are made as low impact as possible. However, we have worked hard to find a wide range of color options in the various styles that we feature. Our Product Guide, which is available to download in PDF format in the Products section of our website, shows the color palettes available in each product category. Additional colors are available depending on what style(s) you are interested in ordering. In some cases, custom colors can also be arranged.

Basically, yes. There are many options for printing including front, back and “non-traditional” placements. If you have interest in discussing options further, please let a member of our Sales team know and we can review specifics and run samples as required prior to placing your order.

• Acceptable files formats: PSD, PDF, EPS, AI, JPEG, GIF, BMP
• For Adobe Illustrator vector files, convert all type layers to outline / object layers
• 300 dpi image resolution is recommended
• Image(s) should be as close to the actual print size as possible
• Additional charges may apply to images that require resizing or modification

We work with suppliers that make shirts in a variety of locations. We feature product lines that are made of organic cotton grown in the USA as well as places such as India, Europe, Asia and Africa. We only work with suppliers that are certified and support Fair Trade and sweatshop free working environments. Recycled fabrics also vary from domestic to international suppliers. We also have 100% Made in the USA options (grown and sewn domestically). All screen printing and embroidery is done in the USA.

The price quoted per shirt typically does not change if you mix quantities in S-XL sizes. However, if you are ordering other sizes (i.e. 2XL-4XL) additional charges may apply and will be quoted specifically on your estimate and job order.

Typical turnaround time on orders is 2-3 weeks from confirmation. Delivery times can vary based on variables such as receiving print-ready artwork, order quantity, shipping requirements, receiving payments and timely approvals from our customers. Delivery times and any additional terms will be quoted on a per order basis. Rush orders will typically incur additional charges.

Once orders are complete, we usually ship Ground (1-5 business days), although sometimes small orders may be sent by US Priority Mail. Express and/or Air shipping is available at an additional charge. Shipping outside the contiguous United States incurs an additional charge, and special shipping requirements apply for APO addresses.

Our current focus is offering a B2B solution to companies and organizations that want an earth friendly branded apparel (fabric as well as decoration). Our featured garments and accessories are listed in detail in our Product Guide found under the Products section of our website. We are continuously looking at other products that we can offer that fit within our eco-friendly standards. We have plans to develop retail sales, including custom screen printed tees available for consumer purchase online. As we finalize shirt designs and retail plans we will post more information on our website at www.earthfriendlyapparel.net.

To reach our Sales Department by phone, please call (toll free) 1-800-473-1297 ext. 3. You can also email sales@earthfriendlyapparel.net. In addition, you can obtain general product and company information here on our website.

To reach our Customer Service Department by phone, please call (toll free) 1-800-473-1297 ext. 0. You can also email customerservice@earthfriendlyapparel.net and one of our representatives will get back to you as soon as possible.

There is no tax on orders shipped to addresses outside California. A Sales Tax of 8.75% applies to all orders shipped to California addresses unless your organization has a current California Seller’s Permit.

We take your privacy and security seriously. Earth Friendly Apparel Company does not rent, sell, or share your personal or company information with other companies or people.