Earth and Union Friendly Products and Practices! | Syracuse Cultural Workers

Earth and Union Friendly Products and Practices!

OUR PRODUCTS

All products in our catalog ending in 'CW' and all bookmarks are printed by union
labor on paper containing postconsumer waste (PCW).
If paper doesn't contain PCW, it is not recycled!

Buttons and Stickers:
All the buttons and stickers we produce are made by union workers. We do buy some designs from sister companies such as Donnelly-Colt, Northern Sun, Peace Resource Project and RLM Studios. Northern Sun and Peace Resource Project are small companies which produce their own buttons and stickers in-house.  They are not union shops, but are committed to social justice and sustainability.  Here's a full listing all our buttons and stickers which are union made and carry a union bug: Union-made Buttons and Stickers.

Calendars:
All SCW calendars are printed on recycled paper 20%-100% postconsumer waste; processed chlorine and dioxin free, except parts of Women Artists Datebook.

Posters:
All SCW posters are printed on paper with as much postconsumer waste recycled content as we can get at the time, processed chlorine and dioxin free.

Framed posters and prints:
We offer quality framing for most posters. The frames are durable metal with reinforced, screw-balanced corners, glass, foamcore and a wire hanger. The price includes both poster and framing. Each poster/framed small print is available only in the frame color indicated.

Mugs:
All mugs are 11 oz. fingers friendly, and made in the USA. Available only in the colors shown.

Cards:
All postcards are 4x6, printed by union workers on paper containing 30% postconsumer waste, processed chlorine and dioxin free.

All notecards are 5x7, printed by union workers on paper with as much postconsumer waste recycled content as we can get at the time, processed chlorine and dioxin free. All envelopes are 100% postconsumer recycled paper, chlorine and dioxin free.

Holiday cards are printed by union workers on paper with as much postconsumer waste recycled content as we can get at the time, processed chlorine and dioxin free. All envelopes are 100% postconsumer recycled paper, chlorine and dioxin free.

Packaging for cards and postcards is 100% biodegradable cellophane, not plastic.

T-shirts:
We are committed to organic cotton and fair and equitable labor practices. All SCW-produced shirts fulfill those criteria. Our unisex Ts are all 100% organic cotton unless otherwise noted. Most of our Fitted T-shirts are also 100% organic cotton, but a few are on an ECO Triblend shirt: made of 50% RECYCLED RPET polyester 37% ORGANIC cotton 13% rayon 4.4 oz/sq yd.

Why Organically Grown: Conventionally grown cotton is considered the world's 'dirtiest' crop due to its heavy use of insecticides, pesticides, and synthetic fertilizers, all making the crop a health hazard to workers, and a major source of groundwater pollution. Some of these chemicals are among the most toxic classified by the US Environmental Protection Agency. In developing countries, where regulations are less stringent, the negative impacts are even more severe. Aldicarb, parathion, and methamidopho, three of the most acutely hazardous insecticides to human health as determined by the World Health Organization, rank in the top ten most commonly used in cotton production. All but one of the remaining seven most commonly used are classified as moderately to highly hazardous.

And Sweatshop Free: The US Department of Labor estimates that 60% of garments sold in the US are manufactured under conditions which violate one or more fair labor laws. Our domestically sewn shirts are made by companies that insure fair labor practices. When garments are made overseas we choose vendors who require documentation (and verification through inspection) that workplace conditions are safe, that workers are not harassed or abused, that all workers are treated with respect, and that products are never made with forced labor or child labor.

More Supplier Information: Our blank shirts and totes are sourced from the following suppliers, please visit their websites for more detailed information on their practices: www.royalapparel.net and www.haenow.com

OUR PRACTICES

Shipping:
Our shipping tubes contain 66% postconsumer content (PCW). Our boxes contain 80% postconsumer waste. Packing paper is 100% postconsumer waste. We re-use boxes and bags whenever possible. We do not buy bubble wrap, but we do re-use what has been sent to us.

Recycling and Composting:
As a building and a business we have made a strong commitment to earth-friendly practices. Most waste generated in our building is recycled. Each office or area has a basket for paper recycling and for trash. In the kitchen is a space for other recycled materials and for returnable bottles. We also compost our kitchen scraps. Recycling instructions are posted on the refrigerator.