Our materials
PUL is short for polyurethane laminated polyester fabric and is simply a polyester fabric with an added plastic layer. PUL is used as a waterproof layer in items such as diaper covers, cloth pads, and wet bags. Without the PUL, in other words, it would leak through.
The PUL in Imse's products is OEKO-Tex certified. PUL is a type of plastic, but of the better kind and free from harmful toxins. It is also worth noting that although cloth pads have a layer of PUL, they are reused for several years, whereas the plastic in disposable products is used only once before being discarded. Therefore, the environmental impact is much less in terms of production, manufacturing, and waste.
Organic Cotton
Pesticides & Emissions - Cotton makes up a very small part (about 2.5%) of all the crops grown on earth, yet cotton cultivation accounts for 25% of all insecticide emissions. Of the total cotton cultivation, organic cotton accounts for less than one percent. Chemical pesticides are harmful to animal and plant life and also to those who work with them. They also leak into drinking water and poison the soil.
Organic Farming - To be called organic, cotton must be grown without any chemical pesticides or synthetic fertilizers. To avoid soil depletion, farmers must rotate different crops from year to year. This makes the soil more fertile and reduces the risk of insect attacks. The land on which the cotton is grown must also have been free from chemicals for at least three years. Growing organically can result in lower yields and requires more labor. This is important to remember when comparing prices and considering why there is a price difference between organic cotton and cotton grown with chemical fertilizers and pesticides. Another problem with cotton is that it requires enormous amounts of water to grow, both organic cotton and cotton grown with pesticides. There are examples of lakes that have almost disappeared due to the irrigation of cotton fields. Our cotton comes from suppliers who are all controlled and certified according to Control Union Certification. Control Union Certification is an organization that follows criteria for organic production according to two established programs: GOTS (Global Organic Textile Standard) and 'Organic Exchange Certification'. For cotton to be classified as organic, it must be produced without chemical pesticides and synthetic fertilizers. The land where the cotton is grown must have been free from chemicals for at least three years. The cultivation must be varied with other crops. Organic cotton must be certified to be called organic.
Imse's pads are made of 100% organic cotton with wings that fasten under the underwear with two snap buttons that keep the pad securely in place. All pads are reinforced with a thin layer of polyurethane laminated polyester fabric for added security.
Plastic and Recycling
Reducing plastic use is one of our focus areas. We are developing a new packaging concept where we are continuously working to reduce the amount of plastic in packaging by replacing existing plastic packaging with FSC-labeled paper. We want to contribute to increased recycling of textile materials and are working to facilitate the disposal of products by reducing the amount of mixed materials in our design and product development. We try to reuse as much waste and surplus material from production as possible and develop it into new products. Some of our Cleansing pads are part of the Zero Waste category, where the products are developed from waste and surplus material from production.