Yoga products | orientation

Our aims include:-

• Raise awareness of various environmental concerns relating to Yoga products
• Develop trade with poorer communities.

Take your time before you make a purchase. If in any doubt as the precise ecologoical or social benefits of a particular product check to see if the the supplier appears to be offering the item in accordance with generally recognised advertising standards for eco yoga products.

Natural, Ecological, Environmentally Friendly and Eco Yoga products

These terms are often used to convey a general regard and respect for the natural world, possibly through using traditional production methods or materials.

The word Natural is often used for labelling products and services aimed at a particular audience or demographic. But, it can also mean nothing ! For example, it might mean the absence of, or appearance of a colour or design - even when employing synthetic processes, (such as the use of petrochemicals in a chemical fragrance or air freshener !)

Eco tends to be banded about on many forms of environmentally triggered innovations. It could mean fewer harmful chemicals, more extensive use of recycled materials, less waste - or products and services that help to promote better ecology for the consumer.

Generally, Eco products are better for the envionment at first glance - but it is not always easy to spot which products are really better for the planet !

Cotton, which is often seen as being very natural relies heavily on harmful pesticides - so not all natural materials are, in fact Eco - or environmentally friendly - especially when it comes to commercial mass production.

Other examples where we have to be careful are, Bamboo and Rubber, (Latex) - both are fantastic materials for many applications but, in some areas - natural habitats are destroyed for the plantations !

Organic Yoga products

The term, Organic relates to food, cosmetics and textiles - it is really the "opposite", (in marketing terms anyway) to synthetic, (man-made) materials and fibres. Organic products tend to use fewer, or no harmful substances, (eg. pesticides, additives etc.) and there are now a number of official, organic certification standard marks that assist in the monitoring and evaluation of organic products.

Even products made from Organic Cotton can be less than good, because some manufacturers freight the cotton from one country, (say Turkey) - to have them made in India and then freight them back to Europe or North America !! - JUST TO SATIFSY THE NEED FOR ECOLOGICAL PRODUCTS !!

The true ecology of a product lies in the detail - from how they are extracted, to how the raw products end up in the final finished article - and (just as importantly - how they get to the distributors) - and for that, we have to rely on the ethical standards of the manufacturers and their agents.

Ethical and Fair trade Yoga products

Often, the manufacture of many Yoga products can completely avoid tackling many of the social issues facing the workforce and local communities in some countries - such as poverty, human rights and sustainability. This means that the true value added through the manufacture of the products is often lost to foreign commercial interests.

We favour manufacturers that appear to run along fair trade principles, those trying to benefit the poorer, under-privileged communities in which they are located.

We also try to support suppliers for that use organic materials and incorprate local skills and traditional designs, or where the employer makes the local community a better place to live through the provision of transport or better facilities such as schools or hospitals.

We carry out some research ourselves, and we buy directly from suppliers who are open about their manufacturing methods - who we can trust by way of official accreditation or else by sufficient credibility in their offering.

We do not purchase products if we know that there is good reason to believe that poor conditions prevail for the workforce, eg. sweat shops and child labour.