Green Alternatives to Traditional Caps and Gowns

Wearing the traditional graduation cap and gown started in the 12th and 13th centuries as universities began to form. Buildings were often unheated and the long robes provided warmth.

Today's graduates are more concerned about the environment. Since graduation caps and gowns are only worn once and then discarded, thousands of them wind up in landfills, adding to our already polluted world.

This article will look at some alternatives to traditional graduation caps and gowns that are earth friendly.

"Renting reusable gowns would seem to be the more environmentally friendly option," said Sierra Club green living expert Bob Schildgen, author of Hey Mr. Green. However, when the idea of renting the gowns was presented to schools, officials said it would be too problematic to collect all the gowns since students have already graduated and left school.

Polyester, which a lot of graduation gowns are made of, takes as many as 25 years to decompose, so gowns need to be made from more organic fibers. Hemp, cruelty-free silk, and recycled-plastic fleece are free from synthetic chemicals and make good green graduation alternative.

You could make your own graduation gown with seacell fabric. This fabric uses a natural substance from the sea to develop a fiber. When combined with other fabrics like organic cotton, it adds breathability and softness to the fabric. As an added bonus for your health, seaweed nutrients, such as calcium, magnesium, amino acids, and vitamins, are released by natural body moisture when you wear this fabric. Look for seacell fabric at amazon.com or at specialty fabric stores.

Ramie is one of the strongest natural fibers and is known for its ability to hold its shape, reduce wrinkling, and add a shining luster to fabric. It needs to be blended with other fibers such organic cotton or wool.

For graduation caps for elementary school graduates, recycled posterboard makes a very authentic looking graduation cap. Besides the posterboard, you need your favorite color of paint, glue, stapler, and a colored piece of yarn. Follow these easy directions:

Cut two 12" squares from the posterboard. Paint both sides. Set aside to dry. After squares are completely dry, cut large V shapes in all four corners. Fold in the edges of each V and staple them together. This part will go on your head. Put a dab of glue in the center of the uncut posterboard. Glue the top of the cap to this board. To finish off your cap, take a tassel of colored yarn and glue it to the center top of the posterboard.

After listening to many speeches at their graduation ceremonies, high school graduates can't wait to toss their caps into the air and start partying. Tossing ecofetti instead of their caps, would be much more earth friendly. Not only is it biodegradable, it's also self-cleaning. Made of a unique starch base that is water soluble, you just spray what remains on the ground with a hose, and it dissolves in 48 hours. With eight varieties of color, you can choose one or mix and match. Colors available are orange, yellow, purple, snow white, hot pink, periwinkle, shamrock, and off-white.

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www.thegreenguide.com/doc/118/fabrics
www.hartsfabric.com/ecofriendly.html
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