Tie Me Up…But Skip the Peanuts
I warn you now that this post is entirely about green cording. If you are expecting circus clowns or hot male models…not going to happen. Homer is as close as you’re going to get today. (For those of you drama-fiends, there may be a mini rant half way through if you pay close attention.) If you are still here than you are probably a little geeky too and thrilled when you find a product that does a job AND isn’t going to make the planet implode. Up until now, I have been hand braiding bamboo yarn for my bags’ drawstrings. It was the only eco-thing I could find that was strong and flexible enough for tying and untying. The problem? Extremely time consuming. The final blow? A health food store contacted me and started throwing out 3 digit numbers for bag requests. Little ol’ Needle can’t braid all that people. So I sent out a little green sewer’s SOS here on the site and to some possible suppliers. Here’s what I found.
First Up...Waxed Natural Hemp Twine. This twine is made by Ecolution. It is 100% hemp, which by nature is a more environmentally friendly crop than most conventional fibers. A solid green choice. It is made, however, in Romania. Not sure if that is a deal breaker, but something to consider. It is strong, flexible, and easily unties. It has a unique smell…kinda sweet and earthy…like a horse. 
Not sure if I dig it. [Okay...here is the mini rant as promised...the distributor who sent this to me, who will remain nameless, sent it packed in Styrofoam peanuts!!!!!!!! Now...in his defense I did not request it to NOT be packed in peanuts. I also didn't request for it to NOT be packed in a gerbil's rump....but details, details. It never even crossed my mind that it would need such protection. It is basically rope- it could have been mailed in a paper bag. So...the "ecological solution" arrived here in a cushy little sea of waste.] Now I haven’t completely ruled this out for other things. I suppose if someone is a die-hard hemp or horse-ass fan I could use it upon request.
Next up…and the winner I hope….Organic Cotton Cording made by On the Surface. I would have never found this company if it weren’t for a suggestion by Jabster, a brilliant reader. The rep sent me samples right away and I LOVE them. They have the perfect shade of olive. They are incrediblly strong and still small enough to easily feed through the tops of the bags. 100% organic cotton. Sweeeeeeeeeeeet. Just put in a big ol’ order and can’t wait to kick back and NOT braid. (Really hard to drink wine when you’re twisting yarn.) They are also sending me some dyed nuts…more on that later. A lady can’t reveal ALL her secrets in one post.
For those of you who REALLY like the smell of horse plop when you shop, put a little note in your order and I will gladly give you hemp cording instead. I am that good. I also promise you that even if you do not explicitly tell me to NOT pack in a gerbil’s butt, I will still choose a recycled paper envelope. I am committed to 100% gerbil-free packaging.
Gervis the Gerbil says say no to unnecessary gerbil packaging!
Hi there,
I’ve been enjoying your site. As a fellow crafter/artiste I’d be interested to get the contact info for On The Surface – I didn’t see it via a google search.
Also, it was fun to read about your vermicomposting – this is something I just started in the last month too. So far so good.
Thanks again,
Robyn
I’m thrilled that the On the Surface cording worked for you! I continued obsessively looking for the 100% recycled address labels, but the best I could find were blank ones on to which you would have to print you address. I think you said you had already found those, anyway. I’m always happy to help someone drink a glass of wine
. We have a pet rat at our house (in addition to the 4 cats, 2 dogs, and rabbit), and he would also like equal time to express no rat-butt packaging, either.
I generally remember to send this note with all my orders…which I originally found on the worsted witch:
Please use minimal and recycled packaging. Kindly do not include any catalogs, inserts, flyers, shrinkwrap, bubble wrap, packing confetti, plastic “pillows,” or styrofoam peanuts. (You can use crumpled up newspaper if padding is necessary.) Please do not include me in any mailing lists or exchange lists you may have. Thank you!
Welcome Robyn…here is the link On the Surface
Jabster…I really hope it all works out. Waiting for the shipment now. It was a GREAT tip. As soon as it comes and I get back from vacation I will send you a bag as a Thank You. I would have linked to your site but the access was blocked. Oh…and assure your rat that I promise not to use rat rectums either.
Beany..I like the idea of having something prepared because honestly 1/2 the time I forget or assume plastic won’t be included…like for a rope. Come on! Who could have seen that coming!
King Arthur packs its flours with paper (I order it online). Because flour needs padding. I’m glad its only paper and not plastic…but seriously does flour need padding?
awesome – thanks for the Surface link!
Robyn
Beany- What is the advantage of ordering on-line? Cheaper? Better selection? I use King Arthur too. Even my dinky stores carry it so I never thought about ordering it. I love the basic recipe on the white flour bag but I swap out for all whole wheat. It is better than the recipe on the whole wheat bag. I need to get my hands on their big recipe book.
Oh…and it is quasi-local for us East Coasters. Although…they do not say exactly where their grain comes from…just the US.
The advantage of ordering online is bulk. The last time I bought flour I bought a 50 lb bag that got delivered to me. Even with shipping the cost was less than $1/lb.
I asked about where their flour was grown and they responded:
“The wheat grown for King Arthur Flour is grown in a number of locations but not in Vermont. Most of the hard red winter wheat is grown in the Midwest; soft spring wheat is grown in the Southeast. We process both naturally grown wheat and organic wheat. http://www.kingarthurflour.com/flour/home.html“