In the back of everyone’s closet lurks the pile of outdated blue jeans from various eras. There’s the acid washed, the bell bottoms, and maybe even the pre-stressed that lasted two wears and one wash. Jeans are a transformable clothing item that changes throughout their life cycle, from crisp, to comfortable, to holey, and finally (out of desperation) into cutoffs. Denim keeps us warm in many forms, though some are less than tasteful. The next stage in the life of your beloved denim may make your home more environmentally friendly and safe.

Green Jean Insulation. Designed by Bonded Logic Inc.

Bonded Logic Inc. has created a product called UltraTouch Natural Cotton Fiber Insulation, made from 85% post-industrial recycled natural fibers. It contains no harmful chemicals or irritants and is therefore easy to handle and work with. It can help gain up to 4 possible LEED credits on a project because it does not emit VOC’s, and it is made with cotton, a rapidly renewable resource. The cost is comparable to conventional insulation, but it achieves an R-value of 21 in a 6 ½” stud wall, saving energy (and money) in homes.

A quick refresher on standard issue fiberglass insulation – the pink fluffy stuff – in my childhood advertised by The Pink Panther. Fiberglass insulation was historically created as a safe alternative to asbestos and today, it meets the EPA recycled content guidelines by containing 20% recycled glass. The real concern with fiberglass insulation is human health hazards. Not only must the installer wear protective gear, but on an everyday level, fiber glass can cause a skin allergy in chemically sensitive people. Just imagine the toxins leaking out every time you bang a nail into the wall. I’d rather see my high-waisted, acid washed jeans spilling out of the wall and keeping my home warm.