"Unexpected Green" Finalist: Ingeo Corn-Based Fabric
by Sean Fisher, Cincinnati, Ohio 
on 05.10.06
A little over a year ago, we told you about a corn-based biodegradable fabric called Ingeo. Well, it appears as if Ingeo is starting to hit the mainstream. "Unexpected Green" Contest finalist Kerry Hassler spotted a complete Ingeo line of bedding at Target, "While researching eco-friendly textiles, I became curious about what mass market chains are up to. Wal-Mart seems to have a press release for every move they make, no matter how minor, which made me curious about Target... I began to research and discovered Ingeo bedding at Target." Check out the complete Ingeo bedding line at Target.com. Thanks Kerry!
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Target has also had bamboo sheet sets and pillows. My wife and I purchaced three sets for use with a new bed we bought 6 months ago. I even sent in a comment about them. Glad to hear Target is trying to sell eco-friendly fabrics. I'd have to encourage that....nice to see in a big-box.
Considering how much damage the growing of corn does to our environment, I don't really consider this that eco-friendly of a product. Cargill has just found yet another way to sell us their corn. So it goes... at least it's biodegradable.
We discussed the pros and cons of Ingeo in our original Ingeo post (such as the fact that it is not organically grown corn), however it is still nice to see the big boys take an interest in alternative textiles. After all, it is still better to have biodegradable fabric than landfill waste.
My husband recently ordered ingeo briefs from wickers.com. He gives ingeo a thumbs up!
Although this may have changed, not only were they not using organically grown corn, but Dow-Cargill was using genetically engineered corn in this product. Depending upon how one feels regarding genetically engineered products, that should be a consideration in endorsing or boycotting this product.