KIDS’ ROOMS: How Eco Can You Go?

JILL MACNAIR DELVES INTO THE NOT-SO-CLEAR WORLD OF ECO DECORATION. 

IN A WORLD where we worry enough during pregnancy to cut out certain (sometimes delicious) foods from our diets to improve our babies’ chances of a healthy start; where we try to stick to an all-organic diet - pregnant or not; and where we have a healthy paranoia about global warming, decorating our childrens’ bedrooms in an eco-friendly way is just another way to clean up our acts. But just how far can you go now?

There are various good choices you can make, but also some limits to be aware of. Take wallpaper. According to Olli & Lime director Karen Ronneback, “our wallpapers are printed on paper from certified sustainable forests and at the moment, that’s the greenest paper you can use - you can’t print onto recycled paper yet.” All of the designs, including the super-cute Carrie, are screen-printed using water-based inks. Minimoderns too uses this combination of FSC certified paper and chemical-free inks, as does Graham & Brown for its Eco-wallpapers collection, which are also packaged in a compostable corn material. Amelie Labarthe’s Eco Highway design is our favourite for children.

For paints, it pays to be aware of misleading information. Various organic ranges on the market comply with regulations, but are not necessarily chemical free and still contain volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and toxic solvents such as turpentine, which can cause asthma and allergies. Bear in mind too that low-solvent is not the same as no solvent. Two safe bets, which have the British Allergy Foundation Seal of Approval, are EarthBorn’s Claypaints, (pictured above) which are VOC, acrylic and oil free, and Ecos water-based paints, which are solvent, VOC, formaldehyde and acrylic softeners free. Ecos paints contain some acrylics, but only those “which are widely perceived to be safe. They are present in items such as nappies and clothing too. Acrylic softeners are mobile so best avoided,” says Ecos co-director Ian West. The Soil Association approves Nutshell natural paints, which are also acrylic, solvent and VOC free.

For fabrics - blankets and bedlinen, etc - ‘organic’ labels tend to be reliable but can mean different things. Olli & Lime’s fabrics (including the new cotbed bedding, George, pictured right) are organic, says Karen Ronneback, because “no pesticides, fertilisers or chemicals are used in the growing of the actual cotton itself, and no chemicals are used in getting the cotton into weave. The fabrics are also digitally printed using water-based inks, so there is no waste, whereas with screen printing, printers use massive vats and inks with chemicals in them, which are then washed out into the water table.” American brand Dwell Studio is upfront in claiming to produce just one “100% pure organic” product - its crib set - in what is otherwise a collection of “eco-friendly” products. The difference? The crib set is completely dye-free, so there is no printing process involved. The company’s eco-friendly sets contain no heavy metals or known toxic substances and are formaldehyde free, but do incorporate low-impact fibre-reactive dyes, which are synthetic (but create less waste water run-off than natural dyes). Dwell crib sets, baby blankets and kids duvet sets are available from Lula Sapphire.

For extra peace of mind look out for the Oeko-Tex Standard 100 certification label on textiles, including duvets and pillows. The standard means that all stages of the manufacturing process are environmentally sound, in terms of air quality, waste and noise generation; the textiles are toxic-free; and their life span involves them being recyclable or naturally biodegradable. Scandinavian company Plastisock, producer of gorgeous babies blankets and kids bedlinen in fabulous bright bold patterns (available from nordickids.co.uk) is currently moving from a factory in Hong Kong to Greece just to achieve this standard (the change should be in place by Autumn 2008).

You’ll want a good organic mattress to go underneath all these lovely pure layers. Try Naturalmat, which has a factory in Devon producing three different mattresses for cots and kids beds, all using natural fibres instead of synthetic materials. “Organic mattresses are better ventilated - they are far more breathable - more durable, and offer far better support,” says company co-founder Peter Tindall. Ordinary cot mattresses made out of synthetic foam bound in a plasticised cover get hot and sweaty easily. To comply with strict fire safety regulations synthetic foam mattresses are also covered in a chemical spray. True organic mattresses are chemical-free and comply with standards by using naturally fire retardant materials such as mohair and latex foam. Tindall warns that there are companies claiming to produce organic mattresses when in fact their products are just 70% organic, so pick carefully. Naturalmat also sells natural fibre duvets and pillows.

Another kids-sized mattresses supplier is Warren Evans, which won the 2008 Observer Ethical Award. Both companies offer bedding, but you could also go to Green Baby for mattress covers, as well as cellular blankets, duvets, pillows and cases.

Whether it’s cots, beds, wardrobes or changing tables, furniture should be all about sustainable materials with non-chemical finishes. For babies, Green Lullaby’s Eco cradle from www.thenaturalstore.co.uk is made from mainly recycled materials and covered in a non-toxic fire retardant. For the really early days, there’s also a pesticide-free, handwoven palm-leaf bassinet with 100% unbleached cotton lining. US company Nurseryworks offers formaldehyde-free furniture made out of renewable woods, but low-VOC (rather than no-VOC) lacquers and glues are also employed for the finishes (international shipping is possible). For children, Warren Evans’ Cottage bed is made from FSC certified elm wood, or try Italian company Nume, for various beds made from multi-layer birch with a water-based finish (UK stockists are listed online and include the Conran Shop). 

Chairs we like are a painted wooden design made from reclaimed, reground MDF from The Greenhaus (which also sells Tiny Footprint Desk, made in re-used chipboard from reclaimed office furniture or FSC-rated birch ply) or the slot together Pearl chair from Our Children’s Gorilla, made from high density fibre board from forest waste and finished in a non toxic dye (available to buy from www.luxeville.co.uk). Then you just need to add a Mimosa Tanned Sheepskin rug, tanned using natural Mimosa (extracted from a tree) instead of a chemical fixer, then a natural dye to achieve the same look, from the Natural Store or Green Baby, plus a cardboard playhouse from the Lollipopshoppe, pictured right, and you can, finally, take a breath and sleep easy…. Until, that is, you start worrying about your own non-organic mattress…