Alpacas of Montana is our name, eco-friendly is our game.
Terms Terms Terms
Companies throw around terms like "sustainable" and "eco-friendly" so often that it can be hard to really understand what those terms mean, and even harder to know how businesses are matching their actions and words. We believe in being transparent and clear with our customers, partners and community and that includes dissecting the buzzwords so they actually mean something. When we say sustainable and eco-friendly this is what we mean:
Sustainable: not taking more than can be returned or regrown efficiently -- the ability to be used without depletion or destruction of a resource and ensuring that all of the generations to come will have access to the same level of resources.
Eco - Friendly: no harm to the planet, the animals or the people of it.
Our Environmental Statement
Having a sustainable business with ethical product sourcing and eco-friendly products is a top priority to us. We believe reducing our carbon footprint is a community responsibility and effort. We never use chemicals or toxic dyes on our products and we use every single ounce of fiber for something, ensuring no waste. We are predator friendly and always use best practices with regard to the world, the animals and the people of it.
Our Farm:
Is Predator Friendly
We never harm in any way or kill any of the animals that may wander onto our premises. We utilize guard dogs and llamas to keep our alpacas safe, but never place another animal in danger.
Utilizes a Limited Waste Model
We use every last bit of fiber from our farm in our products, recycle, utilize solar energy for the farm and office, have a closed off water system so we don't waste any water and use all of our alpacas' dropping as fertilizer.
Composts
The vast majority of our products are biodegradable, we utilize composting best practices across the farm and at our offices and believe in reusing and repurposing everything we can whenever it is possible.
Why is Alpaca the Most Sustainable Natural Fiber?
Merino Wool Requires Superwashing
Merino Wool requires superwashing -- a chemical acid bath that the fiber goes through -- to remove the barbs on the fibers so the products are comfortable to wear. These toxins often then get released into the environment. Learn more about superwashing and its harmful effects here.
Polyester Releases Microplastics
Polyester ofter can release microplastics into the environment. Excessive chemical processing and microplastic leeching are associated with the production of Polyester causing environmental issues and harm.
Cotton Uses Excessive Water
It takes roughly 20,000 liters of water to produce enough Cotton for one pair of jeans and one t-shirt. Not to mention traditional Cotton production uses high volumes of pesticides and is a mono-crop that takes over precious natural spaces.
How are Alpacas Good for the Environment?
They Have Soft Feet
Alpaca have padded feet, rather than hard hooves. This means they have a reduced hoof ground pressure (a measure of the pressure exerted on the ground by the animal's feet) than sheep and helps to prevent them from trampling plants and eroding fragile mountainside soil.
Their Fleece Requires Zero Harsh Chemicals
Our fiber doesn't require any treatment or processing. We rinse the fleece with small amounts of water and an eco-friendly soap to remove any organic matter and that's it. We also don't use any toxic chemicals or dyes to color our products.
They Promote Plant Regrowth
Alpacas only eat what they need and consume about 1/3 of the amount of food per day that sheep do. They also don't pull up any roots of the plants they eat -- they only nibble off the top -- promoting plant regrowth.
They Produce Exceptional Fertilizer
Alpacas produce some of the richest fertilizer known to humans. It is extremely nutrient dense and is easy to collect as alpaca tend to defecate in one spot.
