Sisal Sustainability and Environment Issues

Sisal the sustainable facts

Before looking at the benefits of using sustainable sisal products perhaps we should look at the problems and disadvantages of using traditional flooring covers this is some information provided by a site(King County Washington State) on sustainability of in particular floor coverings. Whilst these apply to carpet type materials similar problems can be eperienced with other forms of flooring.

This table shows the problems with synthetic floorcovers

Chemicals commonly used in the manufacture of synthetic carpeting	Symptoms associated with exposure to the previous chemicals
Provided by carpet manufacturers	Provided by hygenists
ethylbenzene formaldehyde methacrylate acid methyl methacrylate acrylic oligomers tetrachloroethylene toluene xylenes 4-phenylcyclohexene acetonitrile azulene benzene biphenyl 2-butyloctanol-1 cyclopentadiene-ethenyl-2-ethylene 1,3,5 hexadecanol hexamethylene triamine 1-h-indene 1-methylnaphthalene 2-methylnaphthalene 1-methyl-3 propylbenzene 2-methyl-4-tridecene 5-methyltridecane octadecenyl amine (oleylamine) oxarium polyacrylates 1-phenylcyclopentanol 2-propylheptanol phthalic esters styrene 1,2,3,-trimethylbenzene 1,2,4,-trimethylbenzene tetradecene 2,3,7-trimethyldecane undecane,2,6-dimethylycloheptatriene 1-chloronaphthalene diphenyl ether dodecane 1,4-dihydroxyacenophthene ethylxylene 1-ethyl-3-methylbenzene-c	eye irritation contact lens affected blurred vision eyes sensitive to light throat irritation loss of voice cough dry or thirsty mouth lips burning tongue burning headaches dizziness, disorientation vomiting nausea chest pains shortness of breath irregular heart beat high blood pressure drowsiness unusual fatigue chemical sensitivity nose burning or bleeding loss or increase of smell moodiness rash or itching hair loss weight loss or gain flu-like symptoms aggravated asthma aggravated allergies joint pain muscular aches abdominal pain memory loss poor concentration nervous system disorders unusual depression irritability jerking in sleep respiratory tract irritation menstrual irregularities sexual dysfunction

Most of the following information is provided by investigative reporting done by Cindy Duehring for Informed Consent. She is since deceased *(sufferer from MCS)

"The carpet industry has mounted a massively deceptive merchandising campaign the intentionally mislead the public by implying that all carpets with the green tag have met safety standards," says New York Attorney General Robert Abrams. "First of all, there are no such recognized standards of safety. The Carpet and Rug Institute its own arbitrary standards. Secondly, CRI's testing program is completely inadequate because it measures only a small percentage of the chemicals emited from carpets.

Finally, a manufacturer can get a green tag for an entire product line simply by having one small piece of carpet tested once a year." One of the carpets to pass the green tag testing is associated with disabling the members of the Charles Fitzgerald family of West Friendship, Maryland,who were exposed to it in their lighting store in 1992. When tested by Anderson Labs, the Fitgeralds' carpet caused gross nervous system abnormalities in mice." The Consumer Product Safety Commision receives hundreds of compaints and inquiries each year about the adverse health effects associated with the materials used to make carpet,"said Abrahms.

Yet the government has chosen to sweep this problem under the rug by ignoring the public's health concerns as well as my request to disseminate meaningful information about potential carpet hazards."

Well there you go did you realise that there could be so many chemicals introduced into your office or home simply by installing a carpet, carpet tile or flooring. If you think about it when you had your last flooring installed did you think what a nice or unpleasant smell dependent on your views on solvent abuse.

I worked with my father from the age of seven and the main thing I remember was the smell of the carpets and the adhesive and I loved it. Infact I enjoyed it so much I gave up my profession in engineering to become a carpet fitter. Would this now be considered solvent abuse.

When I think about it the smell was a contributary factor I was probably getting high on the vapours which are now referred to as VOC's (volatile organic compounds), all flooring give these off but how much is dependent on their type and composition.

Now lets look at what sisal has to offer

Firstly it comes from a plant not barrel of oil so the list above does not even enter into the argument just to remind you it looks like this.

typical sisal plant

This plant can be grown in arid areas where other cash crops cannot, it produces no pollution in the process and is not bad to look at. It provides employment in rural areas. The plant grows naturally so provides its own carbon offesetting we do not have to grow trees as do other manufacturers

Compare it with this
Shell petroleum plant

I know which plant I can live with in harmony.

Sisal utilisation has been depressed since the advent of synthetic fibres. This was due to their cheapness as a by-product of the petroleum industry. However now that we are globally becoming aware of the implications of the use of oil and the impact on the environment.

This would not only benefit the carbon foot print of the world but would provide much needed employment ito the third world agricultural areas. As ithe plants can be grown in arid areas it does not compete with food crops.