Flame retardant chemicals have been used for years. Now that these are considered toxic, consumers are looking for safe alternatives. The Warm and Safe brand of quilt batting is naturally flame retardant. Is it suitable for green consumers?
Manufactured by The Warm Company, Warm and Safe batting is made from eucalyptus fiber. It is available in crib size (45 by 60 inches) and on the bolt in 45 and 90 inch widths.
The crib size retails for around $10. This compares with Sew Perfect cotton batting, which is $13 at Hancock’s, and Hobbs Heirloom wool batting for around $25.
The Qualities of Warm and Safe Batting
Warm and Safe breathes well, and is hypoallergenic. The recommended quilting distance is a maximum of six inches, which is greater than cotton’s two to four inches or polyester’s three to six inches.
This is a needlepunched batting. For comparison, Sew Perfect cotton is also needlepunched, while Hobbs Heirloom wool is resin bonded.
Warm and Safe batting feels much softer than polyester. It is easy to quilt, and has an excellent, resilient loft. It can be machine washed and dried, or dry cleaned.
Warm and Safe is biodegradable. However, the same is true for other plant-based fibers, such as organic cotton.
How Green is Warm and Safe Batting?
Consider this product only if your batting must be 100% flame retardant. Both organic cotton and organic wool quilt batting are flame retardant to some degree. On the other hand, polyester melts at high temperatures.
According to the manufacturer, Warm and Safe batting is made in a green facility using wood pulp from sustainably managed eucalyptus plantations.
In weighing all of the environmental concerns, Warm and Safe batting comes up short. It isn’t a good choice for green consumers. Organic cotton and organic wool are much better. The latter feels heavier than cotton.
Warm and Safe raises several environmental issues. Raising trees for wood fiber is unsustainable. This is the wrong approach when there are renewables, such as bamboo.
Furthermore, eucalyptus trees are invasive. These exotic species often escape and become naturalized. This has already happened in some areas of the world, including the U.S. Once established, they’re hard to eradicate.
Another issue relates to the tree plantations, which are a form of monoculture. Are these tree farms replacing natural forests just as pulp wood plantations in the Southeastern U.S. did with natural forests during the 20th century? The same thing could be happening with eucalyptus.
Warm and Safe batting remains a viable alternative in those cases where its flame retardant qualities outweigh environmental concerns.
