Eco Green Tips

photo credit: Seamus Murray

‘Organic’ seems to be a new hip word these days, right alongside ‘green’ and ‘eco-friendly’. However, have you ever stopped to think what all these certification that pop up on nearly all products nowadays really mean? Unfortunately, not all of these so-called organic products are really certified organic or natural.

Here are the most common certifications, some of which are based in the US, others in Europe and Australia:

• Australian Certified Organic—applied to products made with at least 95% organic ingredients and does not allow use of any synthetic dyes, fragrances nor petroleum-derived additives. 
• BDIH—this “Certified Natural Cosmetic” seal demands the use of organically grown plant-based ingredients and prohibits petroleum-based ingredients, synthetic dyes and fragrances as well as animal testing. It also encourages manufactures to use eco-friendly processes.
• Natural Products Association Certified—applied to products containing 95% or more natural and organic ingredients, e.g. derived from plants, milk, beeswax, honey etc., and synthetic ingredients are only allowed if no natural equivalents are available. However, they must not pose any health hazard, and the natural ingredients must be processed in such a way as not to alter their purity.
• USDA Certified Organic—applied to products containing 95% organic ingredients however it does not prevent non-certified products from using the term ‘organic’ and it allows manufacturers to use hydrosols (floral water waste obtained  from the essential oils distillation) as an organic ingredient, which increases the organic content of a product.
• Leaping Bunny—applied to products made by companies that guarantee not to use any animal testing on any of their products or any ingredients the products contain.

photo credit: How can I recycle this

It seems people are always looking for a better protecting deodorant or antiperspirant. Especially now with summer in its full and the extra amount of heat, which causes our bodies to sweat more than normally…

Well, if you’re one of the people who are concerned not only with limiting the sweat index but also preserving your health and the health of our planet, take some of these facts into consideration when shopping for a new deodorant:

• FDA does not require cosmetic products and ingredients to be approved before they are sold. As a result, many cosmetics are not tested at all! In fact, it has been revealed that 89% of ingredients in personal care products were not tested for its safety to humans by any governing agency.
• Many deodorants and antiperspirants may cause skin irritation and allergies due to harsh chemicals they use, such as aluminum, zirconium or zinc.
• The use of Triclosan, a common antibacterial agent used in deodorants (and other antibacterial products) has been linked to the rise of antibiotic resistant bacteria. It is also resistant to water treatments thus affecting the development of frogs and fish.
• Synthetic fragrances that are present in all cosmetics are a main cause of dermatitis. They also contain phthalates, which are hormone disruptors known to be a cause of numerous health problems, e.g. birth defects or reproductive issues.
• Parabens (which are common preservatives widely used in cosmetic industry) imitate estrogen and act like hormone disruptors when absorbed into the bloodstream.
• Some preservatives contain a known carcinogen and dangerous organic mix, formaldehyde.
• Many other synthetic ingredients found in both deodorants and antiperspirants, such as polyethylene, PEG (polyethylene glycol) composites and polysorbates , can become contaminated with 1,4 dioxane, which is a known carcinogen.
• Deodorants and antiperspirants in aerosol contain butane and propane, which are highly flammable agents. Furthermore, because of the spray form, it is easier to inhale the hazardous ingredients they are full of.
• All these chemicals are washed down the drain and enter the rivers and streams therefore interfering with the health of the aquatic life.

Hence, it seems the safer choice would be going for organic or natural personal care products. However, you should remember that some of them contain natural oil, such as eucalyptus, peppermint or wintergreen that may also be irritant to your skin.

photo credit: umm

Father’ Day is fast approaching and many of us are probably frantically searching the market and the neighborhood stores for something meaningful yet eco-friendly. It can be a daunting task however with a few good tips, it should be doable…

Here are a few ideas you may find useful:

• For the outdoorsy types, Timberland has come up with the Earthkeeper’s Boot with a 30 percent recycled rubber outsole and a 70 percent recycled moisture-wicking lining. And the best part, it doesn’t cause blisters.
• To keep him hydrated, buy your Dad a 27 oz. stainless steel water bottle or a recycled reusable plastic bottle he can take with him anywhere he goes.
• For sleeping outdoors, get him an eco-friendly sleeping bag (e.g. Sierra Designs) that uses recycled polyester insulation and organic lining.
• Don’t forget about sun protection. Send your Dad on his adventures with an organic straw hat and natural mineral sunscreen.
• And if he likes to keep in touch with his loved ones, no matter where he happens to be at the moment, get him a hybrid charger for his personal electronic, like cell phone or ipod, which stores its charge for up to a year.
• If you would like to splurge, go ahead and get your Dad a first flexible and waterproof solar panel (Brunton SolarRoll) he can take with him on his outdoor adventures. It converts solar rays into electricity to charge cell phones and other small electronic devices.
• Last, but not the least, buy him a daypack made from 70% recycled materials. It can carry all his daily necessities as well as his laptop.
• And to end the day, try enjoying a nice cold organic beer together… Nothing is better than some good fresh and, of course, icy cold ale… Enjoy!

And happy Father’s Day!

photo credit: youngthousands

Most people grab whatever sunscreen is available at the moment in their supermarket or mall without thinking about the ingredients. However, the chemical sunscreens may not be the best option out there…

There are two different types of ingredients used in sunscreens: physical sun ray blockers (minerals that reflect rays before they do any damage to your skin) and chemical absorbers (which absorb UV rays that come in contact with your skin). Apparently, the chemical absorbers cause health concerns in both scientist and consumers. Many researchers found that some chemicals used in sunscreens (such as benzophenone, oxybenzone, octinoxate—also called octyl methoxycinnamate, and homosalate) act like estrogen in the body and Padimate O, another chemical component of sunscreens, causes breast cancer cells to multiply. Moreover, benzophenone may also cause allergic reactions and all of those chemicals have been found to increase the pesticide absorption through the skin. And most of the chemical sunscreen ingredients break down after 30 minutes of sun exposure, especially the chemical Avobenzone (known also as Parsol 1789).

All chemical sunscreens also have many other ingredients that cause various health issues, such as synthetic dyes and fragrances containing hormone-disrupting phthalates, parabens, which are preservatives acting like estrogen in the body, and urea preservatives releasing formaldehyde during their break down.

Apart from health issues, there are many environmental issues that these chemicals cause. Not only do these chemicals disrupt human hormones, they also cause bleaching and death in corals. Each year 78 million tourists visit the coral reefs leaving behind 4000-6000 tons of sunscreen! A recent study found that when exposed to benzophenone or cinnamate and paraben preservatives (ingredients found in common chemical sunscreens), coral developed viral infections, which led to bleaching.

Therefore, next time you’re about to just grab a bottle of sunscreen from your store, take a moment and read the ingredients list. It may save you from unnecessary health related problems and will help the earth breath a bit easier…

photo credit: saint basil

Summer brings fun in the sun and with it a lot of sun exposure. We’ve all heard about using sunscreens to protect skin from too much exposure to UV rays thus protecting from skin cancers.

If you’re trying to stay eco-friendly in this aspect as well, look for sunscreens with minerals, such as titanium dioxide and zinc oxide. These minerals physically block UV rays (both UVB, which cause sunburn, and UVA, which cause aging and cancer) from reaching your skin rather than chemical components that are used to absorb the sun rays. In general, the mineral sunscreens tend to be better since they reflect both UVB and UVA rays before they do any damage to your skin, unlike the chemical ones that not always protect against the UVA rays. And they may break down on your skin in as little as half hour leaving you unprotected for most of its “active” time.

The main disadvantage of mineral sunscreens is that they may leave a white tint on your skin after application. In the drive to make the lotion tint-free, the manufacturers reduce titanium dioxide or zinc oxide particles down to nano size. However, with particles that size, there is a concern that they may evade the body’s “blood-brain barrier” (a defense against foreign substances in the bloodstream) and enter the brain damaging brain cells. Fortunately, the research shows that both titanium dioxide and zinc oxide do not penetrate the skin deep enough to enter the bloodstream, and the particles remain in the outer layer of the skin, which keeps them from being absorbed.

As far as the protection rating (SPF) is concerned, the mineral sunscreens follow the same regulations. So what does the SPF really mean? SPF stand for sun protection factor and the number represents how long it will take for the skin to burn after the sunscreen application. For instance, if it takes 10 minutes for your unprotected skin to burn, a sunscreen with the SPF 15 will keep it from burning for 150 minutes (15 times longer). However, the SPF only rates the UVB rays, not the more damaging UVA rays, therefore don’t rely completely on your sunscreen’s SPF. And look for products with broad spectrum sun protection or both UVB and UVA protection.

So arm yourself with knowledge and enjoy the fun in the sun this year. But stay protected with the right sunscreen.