This page is for makers listing a piece in Eco-Friendly on JADUZ, and for the AI assistant helping them. The general rules on names, honest claims and the reply format are on the main JADUZ listing guide, and they apply here more strictly than anywhere else. Buyers choose this category because of a claim, so every claim must be one you can back.
What to measure and how to state it
Measure the piece as you would in its own category, and if there is a more specific listing guide for the object (a bag, a basket, a planter), follow it too. Typical examples:
- Bags: width, height and depth, for example "16 × 14 × 4 in (41 × 36 × 10 cm)", and the handle drop.
- Baskets and bowls: the diameter and height, for example "10 in (25 cm) across, 5 in (13 cm) deep".
- Mats: length by width, for example "72 × 36 in (183 × 91 cm)".
- Weight: in grams, for example "350 g".
Say what a bag can carry only if you have carried that load in it yourself.
Materials and techniques to name
Name the main material exactly: jute, bamboo, cane, hogla, murta (the reed shital pati is woven from), palm leaf, coconut shell, coir, water hyacinth, banana fibre, clay or terracotta, or fabric offcuts. If it is upcycled, say what from, for example "made from sari offcuts". Say where the material comes from only if you know.
Then name everything else in the piece, even when it is small:
- glue, varnish, lacquer or wax, and what kind if you know
- synthetic dyes, or natural dyes only if you used them
- polyester thread, plastic or metal zips, buttons and rings
- linings, laminations or PU coatings
- the packaging, if you claim it is plastic-free
Name the technique: hand-woven, coiled, plaited, hand-stitched, carved or hand-polished.
Claims you can make, and claims to avoid
You can say what is true and checkable: "woven from hogla leaves", "the body is jute; the zip is metal", "reusable in place of plastic shopping bags", "upcycled from sari offcuts", "no plastic in the bag itself".
Avoid these unless you can prove them for the whole piece:
- "100% eco-friendly", "sustainable" or "green" as blanket labels. Say what is good about the piece instead.
- "Biodegradable" or "compostable". Only for parts that will really break down, and only if they are untreated. Write "the jute and cane will break down; the metal ring will not" rather than a label.
- "Organic". Only with certified organic material you can show.
- "Chemical-free" or "non-toxic". Name the finish instead.
- "Zero waste", "carbon neutral" or "plastic-free" if there is any plastic in the piece, the lining or the packaging.
- "Food-safe". Only if the finish is known to be suitable for food. Otherwise write "for dry or decorative use".
Care
The most useful thing an eco piece can do is last. Tell buyers how: keep jute, cane and grass fibres dry and air them in the sun, since they grow mould if stored damp. Wipe coconut-shell bowls and hand wash them; do not soak them. Brush dust from woven mats and roll rather than fold them.
Example names
- Jute shopping bag with cotton handles, 16 × 14 in (41 × 36 cm)
- Hand-polished coconut shell bowl for dry snacks
- Hand-woven hogla basket with lid, medium
- Shital pati table mats, set of 4
- Tote bag upcycled from sari offcuts, with cotton lining
Questions buyers ask
- What exactly is it made of, and is there any plastic?
- Can it be washed?
- How long will it last with daily use?
- Can I use it for food?
- Are the dyes natural?
- What happens to it at the end of its life?
Words to avoid
On top of the claims above, leave out "best quality", "100% original" with nothing behind it, "only 2 left" unless your stock shows it, invented discounts, ALL CAPS and emojis. A plain, specific sentence about the material persuades more than any green label.