Some EMU graduates pop for pricier 'green' gowns
While a college education isn’t a throwaway experience, some gowns worn at today’s Eastern Michigan University commencement ceremonies were afterwards tossed away at special recycling stations.
And about 35 percent of graduates at the University of Michigan’s April 30 commencement are expected to wear black gowns that are actually "green.''
The gowns are made of recycled plastic bottles, and while they can’t be laundered and pressed like their counterparts made of natural-fiber fabrics, they can be recycled yet again in order to clothe another graduating class.
EMU’s gowns bear the GreenWeaver label and were sold at the school’s student center bookstore. They cost about $3 more than gowns of traditional fabric.
Lois Vasquez, an EMU sophomore from Ypsilanti, advocated for the "eco-robes'' after learning about them at a conference she attended. She brought the idea to student government. “I thought it would be an easy change to make, and it doesn’t require sacrifice and it doesn’t cost a lot,” Vasquez said in a press release issued by EMU.
U-M students also are being offered the opportunity to buy recycled gowns, which are being sold at Barnes & Noble, Ulrich's and Michigan Book and Supply, according to an article in the Michigan Daily.
Comments
Thomas
Mon, Apr 18, 2011 : 12:35 p.m.
The fabric is one of the things already being created by plastic bottle recyclers. The gowns themselves are just a new item of clothing being made. I think it's a great idea. Very inventive. And I believe they are washable and therefore, reusable. ??
Gnat
Sun, Apr 17, 2011 : 7:29 p.m.
Stupid is as stupid does.
15crown00
Sun, Apr 17, 2011 : 1 p.m.
What is next for the Environmental Wackos?
swcornell
Sun, Apr 17, 2011 : 12:58 p.m.
I can't understand why a gown made from waste and then returned to recycle costs more. Could it be that the natural fiber gowns aren't actually priced to include the "real" costs of their life cycle? This is the reason our landfills are full of all the dead/obsolete standard broadcast Televisions or all the empty McDonald's bags/cups on the side of the road
joe.blow
Sun, Apr 17, 2011 : midnight
Hmm, gowns which can be worn and washed -vs- gowns that can be worn, melted down using lots of energy and re-poured/woven costing lots of energy. Sure hope they did the math.