EcoCraft Eco-Friendly Fiberfill, Batting, and Pillowforms
Photo by Mountain Mist
Mountain Mist, in collaboration with NatureWorks—the gurus behind corn-based plastic—has just released a new range of eco-friendly fiber products. Derived from U.S.-grown corn (or, less romantically, fermented corn sugars), the patented Ingeo fibers are made from an annually renewable resource—far more sustainable than petroleum-based synthetics.
Mountain Mist’s EcoCraft line includes fiberfill, batting, and pillowforms in a variety of sizes. Hypoallergenic and washable, the products are also industrially compostable at the end of their lives, according to the company. Just one slight ethical caveat: Ingeo isn’t unblemished by controversy, as its source crop is largely genetically engineered corn—itself a hot-button issue. (An estimated 30 percent of all domestic corn is genetically modified.) NatureWorks, which is a subsidiary of Cargill, takes pains to explain that any GE organisms are removed during production; this still provides an avenue for GE technology, however.
Still, in an area with limited sustainable options (organic cotton and wool batting and pillowforms can get pricey), you have to concede that it’s at least a step forward. Admittedly, it’s not unlike moving from Pennywise the demonic, homocidal clown from Stephen King’s It to Mr. Bill O’Reilly, but you get some modicum of progress nevertheless.
Online and mail-order requests should be directed to Fabric Shack. Pricing was not available at press time, but is expected to be comparable with that of premium cotton batting.
