But Do They Need Washing?

   Biodegradable socks are on their way to a store near you. They will make their debut in Japan sometime next year, because of Japan's supposed environmental consciousness. ( I have my reservations on that one. Just how environmentally friendly can such a super-consumer society be?) Still, that's the chosen debut locale. If the socks are a hit there, the makers - Fox River Mills Inc. of Iowa, W.Y. Shugart and Sons Inc. of Alabama, Harriss and Covington Hosiery Mills and Twin City Knitting, both of North Carolina - will take them next to the European and North American market.
   The socks are made from a corn-based fiber, called Ingeo, that is produced by NatureWorks LLC. Ingeo has all the benefits of a synthetic fiber, according to NatureWorks. The drawback to it at the moment is that it is being produced from GM corn, although NatureWorks says that the Franken-corn is not essential for the fiber's production. It is just cheaper than the real thing. GM or not, the product's profits would blossom and grow (a little horticultural humour there) if it had a big name behind it. Ingeo will get just that when Moby stages his next tour of the UK. The tour T-shirts will be made from the wonder fiber. Even better than that, Versace Sport is beginning to stock items made from it as well.
   All I want to know is, do you wear them and them toss them on the compost heap, or into the washer?