(By Casa Laguna Inn, courtesy of Laguna Beach Visitors Bureau)

Blog post by Gustavo Grad
December 20, 2011

LAGUNA BEACH, CA — It may feel small, but I learned from reading the Laguna Beach Independent newspaper that “all of Laguna Beach’s hotel and lodging properties have agreed to recycle hygiene products to benefit children and families in need through the nonprofit Clean the World Global. They have committed to saving lives and protecting our planet. Hospitality partners here will collect and recycle hotel soaps, shampoos, conditioners, lotions, and gels to help fight the global spread of preventable diseases, the Laguna Beach Visitors & Conference Bureau announced.

When one looks at what the numbers could add up to and the impact, this effort to recycle is not insignificant in the least, even for a little seaside town.

Eighteen hotels with 20 rooms or more and four smaller properties in Laguna have joined the partnership to recycle, for a total of about 1,200 rooms. These hotels include Aliso Creek Inn, Art Hotel, Best Western, Capri Laguna, Carriage House, Casa Laguna Inn, Crescent Bay Inn, Holiday Inn, Hotel Laguna, Inn at Laguna, La Casa del Camino, Laguna Beach Inn, Laguna Cliffs Inn, Laguna Riviera, Montage, Pacific Edge Hotel, Seacliff Laguna Inn, Sunset Cove Villas, Surf & Sand Resort and Spa, The Tides, The Retreat, and Travelodge.

Clean the World says it has hospitality partnerships to recycle with more than 1,200 hotel properties throughout North America, including 143 partners in California. Since the organization’s founding in 2009, Clean the World’s California hospitality partners have contributed more than 70,00 pounds of soap and nearly 68,000 pounds of bottled amenities. At 3 ounces apiece, that equates to 375,088 bars of soap—enough to provide more than 75,000 children with a month’s supply of soap, Clean the World estimates.

Laguna Beach, California, is a resort and artist community in Orange County, with a population of only about 24,000. This embrace of loving kindness from all these hotels going green to make a difference may seem small, but each day 9,000 children worldwide die from diseases that can be prevented by washing with bar soap.

“Laguna Beach is Southern California’s premiere seaside destination, and a city deserving of praise for its promotion of sustainability and social responsibility,” says Shawn Seipler, CEO and co-founder of Clean the World.

Think globally, act locally.

© 2011 SCGH, LLC.

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Delectable and naturally flavored, organic, vegan, raw nuts and seeds are a healthy gift. (Roland Oehme)

By Roland Oehme

Before you saddle up and head to the mall for your holiday shopping, let Sierra Club Green Home give you the lowdown on how your purchases can help or harm your health and the planet’s.

What’s the harm in heading to the local superstore? Well, that lower price tag is often hiding the costs to the environment and to human health, especially for products made abroad. Most of the items for sale at chain stores contain toxins, are created using polluting and unsustainable practices, use up fuel being shipped far distances, and are made by workers who are paid low wages and work in poor conditions. Even animals are often harmed in conventional manufacturing. Many corporations still test their products on animals and use unnecessary animal ingredients.

This season, we have a choice as to where and how we spend our money, and it is a very important one. That’s why Sierra Club Green Home is showing you how to find products you can feel good about buying, whether you’re shopping in your town or on the Web.

Not sure if your corner store has goods that are truly green? One way to tell is by looking for green labels certified by a credible third party (i.e., not the company that made the item). Examples of trustworthy labels include Green Seal, Green America Business Seal of Approval, Transfair USA (fair trade), USDA Organic, Forest Stewardship Council, and Rainforest Alliance Certified. You can check out more green labels online.

Good resources for finding green stores and products include SCGH’s own Green Directory (available at the top of the home page), where consumers can search for local and online retailers or service providers. The Green Pages and the EPA’s “Let’s Go Green Shopping“ guide also are excellent resources. All of the businesses listed in The Green Pages are vigorously checked for their environmental and social values. The Green Pages is the best place to start when searching for any green product, since you will find only the businesses with the highest integrity listed here—exactly the kind of business the SCGH community wants to support.

Some of our favorite online stores for green clothing include Green Earth Bamboo, Jute and Jackfruit, Gaiam, Maggie’s Organics, Earthsake, and Kasper Organics.

You also can visit these online stores for green gifts: EcoPlum, Best Organics, Grounds for Change, and Mr. Ellie Pooh.

In the midst of big blowout sales and holiday deals, it is important to stop and think about the total cost of a product: to your wallet, to the planet, and to people. Remember that your buying choice is valuable, and your health and the health of the planet depend upon people who like shopping green!

Roland Oehme is a green and healthy living reporter. Read his blog at www.we-love-rawfood.blogspot.com.

For related post:
Spend Your Green on Green 

© SCGH, LLC. All rights reserved.

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31 Bit Designs is a socially minded business designed to give internally displaced women in Northern Uganda an opportunity to counter poverty. (Courtesy of: 31 Bits.com)

Blog post by Erika F. Washington
November 24, 2011

Admittedly it can seem difficult to stay in an eco-friendly state of mind during the holiday season with the rush of sales and Black Friday approaching at high speed. Today, more than ever, however, we need to celebrate what we have and protect it by being conscious of what our actions can do to the earth.

Before you grab “the greatest deal,” think about whether the true costs are accounted for in the sticker price—for example, the environmental costs of producing and transporting the product, your costs to drive from shop to shop in traffic. Many consumers out there are supporting the OCCUPYXMAS or Buy Nothing Day. And it is true that if stores did not open at midnight Friday morning or stay open late to satisfy the rush of hungry consumers, we undoubtedly would save energy and natural resources, but this to me doesn’t seem like a successful protest. Black Friday has been around much too long, and the powers behind it spend a lot of money pushing for this to be the American way.

Instead of protesting against the idea of shopping at un-godly hours, let’s focus on shopping smarter and not lose sight of the ultimate goal. Businesses that are completely conscious of the earth, creator, and consumer are not as hard to find as many think. A host of Web sites and boutiques offer vegan, organic, and fair-trade products.

Here are a few to start your shopping season off:

31 Bit Designs is a socially minded business designed to give internally displaced women in Northern Uganda an opportunity to counter poverty. Beautiful beaded jewelry pieces are all hand strung with love and care. The program equips women by providing literacy education, financial and vocational training, holistic care, and strong support systems, empowering individuals to further their careers and attain social equity.

How we define “style” is shifting with the growing awareness of pollution, deforestation, global warming, and resource depletion. Cri de Coeur, a completely animal-free shoe company, seeks to educate people about a vegan lifestyle. Its philosophical mission states that the company believes that “taking personal responsibility for not only what goes inside our bodies but for what we put on the outside of our bodies is crucial to our survival.”

Coyuchi sells not only sheets, towels, baby bedding, pajamas, and robes but a whole host of home textiles rooted in nature. The signature bedding is made from 100-percent certified organic cotton. All of its cotton products are certified to the Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS) and produced using fair–labor practices.

Rosie Hippo sells handcrafted wooden toys and toys made from organic fabrics. Its toys come from individuals, companies, villages, and cooperatives around the world. All of the toys are produced under conditions that are fair to workers and kind to the environment.

While shopping for the ones we love, we must keep in mind that we all occupytheearth so don’t just be “eco-friendly.” Love it—by respecting it.

© 2011 SCGH, LLC.

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Leading health and parents’ groups asked Johnson & Johnson to reformulate its baby shampoo to remove a chemical that releases formaldehyde. (Wikicommons)

By Erika F. Washington
November 16, 2011

More than two years ago, leading health and parents’ groups asked Johnson & Johnson to reformulate its baby shampoo to remove a chemical that releases formaldehyde, a known carcinogen. The company still is using the formaldehyde-releasing ingredient in its baby shampoo sold in the United States, while making formaldehyde-free versions of the shampoo in several other countries, according to a new analysis conducted by the Campaign for Safe Cosmetics.

“Clearly there is no need for Johnson & Johnson to expose babies to a known carcinogen when the company is already making safer alternatives. All babies deserve safer products,” says Lisa Archer, director of the Campaign for Safe Cosmetics at the Breast Cancer Fund.

A carcinogen is any substance known to cause cancer. The International Agency for Research on Cancer has classified some 60 substances as probably or definitely carcinogenic to humans. Formaldehyde was recently added to the U.S. government list of known human carcinogens by the National Toxicology Program, under the Department of Health and Human Services. Formaldehyde and quaternium-15 are also potent allergens that can trigger rashes and other skin inflammation problems.

For its new analysis, Baby’s Tub Is Still Toxic, the Campaign for Safe Cosmetics purchased bottles of Johnson & Johnson’s baby shampoo sold in 13 countries to the Campaign’s home office to see if the products contained quaternium-15, a chemical preservative that kills bacteria by releasing formaldehyde.

The baby shampoo sold in the United States, Australia, Canada, China, and Indonesia contains quaternium-15, while its formulas sold in Denmark, Finland, Japan, the Netherlands, Norway, South Africa, Sweden and the U.K. contain non-formaldehyde preservatives. The difference is perhaps due to the lack of laws regulating toxins in cosmetics and personal products in the former countries, particularly the United States.

Johnson & Johnson launched a new “natural” version of baby shampoo that does not contain chemicals associated with formaldehyde. The original Johnson& Johnson’s baby shampoo, however, which is priced at about one-half the cost of the new “natural” shampoo, has not been reformulated for the U.S. market.

Johnson & Johnson then released a statement saying it is no longer introducing new products with formaldehyde-releasing preservatives and that it has reduced its use of the chemical by 60 percent in the U.S. market and 33 percent globally over the past few years.

“We know that some consumers are concerned about formaldehyde, which is why we offer many products without formaldehyde-releasing preservatives, and are phasing out these types of preservatives in our baby products worldwide,” reads the statement on Johnson & Johnson’s Web site.

Johnson & Johnson’s questionable baby shampoo still is on the shelves and, unfortunately, it is far from the only questionable personal care product.

© 2011 SCGH, LLC. 

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Bed bugs are small but create big problems. (Wikimedia Commons)

By Debra Atlas

The idea of bed bugs in your home or hotel room strikes terror in the hearts and imaginations of many people. Yet it has become a reality in such diverse places as luxury hotels, well-known department stores, and in many homes.

Bed bugs were mentioned by such noted authors as Aristotle, Pliny, and others as far back as 400 BC in ancient Greece. Once thought to be a health scourge caused by lack of cleanliness, newer data shows a likely link to climate change, which along with the ban on the use of DDT, has created a direct increase in the volume of pests.

There is a proven natural remedy and prevention method. Greenbug All Natural Pest Control Products uses cedar as a natural pest deterrent. Made with 10 percent organic cedar oil and 90 percent silane (liquefied quartz), Greenbug is deadly to pests but safe for humans, animals—and the environment.

According to Greenbug’s Web site, a study shows the direct spray of Greenbug for People causes “immediate immobilization of the bed bug nymphs, followed by 100% mortality within 1 minute of the topical application.” As for bug eggs treated with Greenbug, the site says the study found that “[n]one of the 61 treated eggs hatched after 17 days compared to 75% egg hatch in a non-treated control group.”

Standard treatment for bed bugs and other equally obnoxious pests such as head lice uses serious pesticides, which are composed of poisons, neurotoxins, and carcinogens. The use of these harsh chemicals is linked to a variety of health issues, including asthma, autism, ADHD, and cancer.

The 2008 United Nations’ Stockholm conference identified the top ten most serious chemical offenders and devised a plan to eradicate their use. The following year, more chemicals were added to the list, including lindane, the key ingredient in head lice treatments. Interestingly, an exception granted to the pharmaceutical industry stated that lindane is allowable to treat head lice. And we’re slathering this toxic chemical on our kids’ heads?

Concerned for the environment, Louise and Dan Hodges, founders of Greenbug, became aware of the cumulative effects of pesticides affecting people, animals, honey bees, and butterflies—the latter of which are key pollinators for fruit trees, produce, and other important vegetation. Their discovery of cedar’s effectiveness for pest control provides a great natural alternative to synthetic chemical treatments.

But gaining recognition and acceptance from the pest control industry has been an uphill climb. “Pests professionals scoff at [Greenbug],” says Louise Hodges. She feels that their thinking is “if it’s natural, it doesn’t work.”

Current treatment for household bed bugs includes stripping the house of all its contents, placing them inside a sealed truck or container, then filling the container with serious chemicals, saturating everything for several hours. After airing the container out for hours, everything is then placed back inside the house.

Greenbug is chemical free and safe, Louise Hodges says. A pest control professional recently told her that people do not care if the treatment is safe. “They just want it to work!” she says.

Not only do Greenbug products proactively treat bed bugs, there is another distinct difference between Greenbug and standard pesticides. These environmentally friendly products also prevent them. Greenbug products can be used safely in newborn nurseries and directly on pets (even puppies). They leave no stain or residue behind and have a pleasant fragrance.

Greenbug products come in several varieties and sizes. The personal size, two-ounce spray bottle is perfect for travel and even accepted by TSA for carry-on. FDA approved to use around food, Greenbug for Indoors is a cinch for kitchen use. Spray and work Greenbug for Pets directly into your pet’s coat for protection and relief from crawling pests. Greenbug for Outdoors can be used directly on garden plants or your home’s foundation. It comes in ready-to-use or concentrated formulas.

Greenbug is effective in killing all kinds of pests, including:

• head lice
• bed bugs
• fleas
• mosquitoes
• fire ants
• horse flies
• roaches
• flies and black flies
• dust mites
• aphids
• ticks, and
• chiggers, no-see-ems, and sand gnats

It takes only one use for Greenbug to work, says Louise Hodges.

“If there’s a large infestation of head lice,” she suggests, “Greenbug for Indoors can be used with laundry loads [and] more cost effectively on large-scale items or areas that [cannot] be laundered.”

Consumers will need a professional fogger to apply Greenbug for bed bugs. The company sells foggers, but people also can purchase the natural pesticide, then have a professional apply it.

An environmental journalist and blogger, Debra Atlas is reachable through  Eco-hub.net/wp or debraatlas@gmail.com. Check out more articles by Debra Atlas.

© 2011 SCGH, LLC.

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Chico bag starter kit offered by Greenfeet. (Courtesy of Greenfeet)

By Debra Atlas

Online retailers generally are not known for great customer service. Instead, they build their reputation on offering quality products and prompt delivery, and many carry a variety of eco-friendly or sustainable products.

(Photo courtesy of Greenfeet.)

One online retailer has figured out how to put all this together. Bucking the norm, Greenfeet strives to offer online shopping that is easy, fun, and steeped in customer service. One of the original online retail stores, Greenfeet features thousands of sustainably sourced healthy-living and food products. The company seeks to offer products which are well made, built to last, and produced in a fashion that is not detrimental to people or to the planet—all while providing customer service.

This last criterion recently earned Greenfeet a STELLAService award. STELLAService is an independent, third-party company that identifies and awards online retailers that demonstrate excellent customer service.

“We think customer service is a simple idea. We’re champions for companies treating customers right,” says Jordy Leiser, CEO of STELLAService.

Launched in 2010, STELLAService is about transparency in the marketplace. “This is an important thing for online commerce,” says Leiser. “Businesses really want to improve. They’ve never really been able to benchmark what their performance is before.”

STELLAService provides insight for companies on how well they are doing from a customer’s perspective. It gave Greenfeet an “excellent” rating for customer service. Greenfeet did not know it was being scrutinized for this award, says Valerie Reddmann, Greenfeet’s co-founder and “Chief Yoo-hoo.”

STELLAService evaluates companies in three overall categories:

1. Customer online experience;
2. Company shipping and return policies and practices; and
3. Customer support (any interaction that a customer would have with the business).

STELLAService utilizes what it calls “mystery shoppers on steroids”—people who work 40 hours a week for STELLAService evaluating thousands of companies large and small. This year, Leiser says the company plans to evaluate 4,000 companies. To do so, STELLAService contacts nominated companies and interacts with them—by phone and online.

“[The mystery shoppers] evaluate [the company] as if they were the manager of their call center,” says Leiser.

“They want to see how Greenfeet reacts, how they treat their customers,” Reddmann adds.

STELLAService has three levels of rating. First is the basic “approved” level.

“Less than 50 percent of the [thousands of] companies that go through the process make that,” says Reddmann. “It tells me there’s a big problem with [delivering] good customer service these days.”

The next level is the “excellent” rating. Reddmann says Greenfeet received this high rating.

You can see Greenfeet’s rating on STELLAService’s site. Among the factors that Greenfeet received an “outstanding” rating on are its return policy, friendly knowledgeable support, and outstanding gifting options.

The third and highest rating any online retailer can receive is STELLAService’s “elite.” This rating is very difficult to get to, says Reddmann. But she is determined that Greenfeet will achieve it.

Companies such as Amazon and Zappos have achieved this level. “It’s a high echelon of service that I’m sure we’ll get to,” Redmann says. “It’s a coveted seal, a badge of honor.” And it is one rating that award winners proudly display on their Web sites.

To ensure that award recipients maintain their rated level of service, STELLAService revisits companies a minimum of once a year. Customers can visit company profiles and leave feedback and comments about their own experiences. STELLAService makes sure to take this information into consideration.

Winning the award has motivated Greenfeet to “up our game even more” and exceed customers’ expectations, Reddmann says. “We try to be fresh, true, and we don’t overcomplicate things,” she says, noting that green living is going back to basics.

“It’s about relating to customers as people,” says Reddmann, “treating them as we would want to be treated and adding a sense of humor.”

Check out more articles by Debra Atlas.

© 2011 SCGH, LLC.

By replacing your mass produced beauty products and investing in environmentally friendly ones, you can make a positive impact on the environment, your family, and your wallet. Make sure to read more than the price tag of your beauty products, as most are not biodegradable or handmade. Purchase products that are marked cruelty-free (not tested on animals), organic, eco-certified, and made out of recycled content. Also, look for products marked paraben-free. Parabens, similar to phthalates,have been reported by the Food and Drug Administrationto cause tumors, hormone malfunction, and other health issues.

Follow this beauty guide below to green your shopping list.

1.  Make-up Galore

Most cosmetics can clog your pores and causevarious skin irritations because they are petroleum based. Such make-up also negatively impacts the environment because it promotes the extraction of a non-renewable resource, petroleum or crude oil. Purchase items that are labeled organic, cruelty-free and petroleum-free. Organic products are made from plant materials and do not include pesticides, harsh chemicals, or preservatives. Let your eye-shadow reflect your respect for nature and wildlife.

2.  Your pearly-whites

Popular toothpastes include fluoride, sweeteners, and artificial preservatives that give you that ‘ahh, fresh’ feeling. Artificial cleaning solutions are not only an empty investment, but they’re also bad for the environment. Chemicals can concentrate in your septic tank or local water source. Many environmentalists confirm that a little baking soda on the end of your toothbrush gets the job done just as in commercial toothpaste. If you prefer to use a store bought toothpaste look for one that is fluoride-free or lower in fluoride, especially for children, according to the American Dental Association. It is reported that a high dose of fluoride can discoloration, decay and can damage tooth enamel. In addition, shop for a paste with no artificial preservatives, sweeteners, coloring, or harshabrasives. Most green toothpastes are organic and may contain interesting ingredients like seaweed extract, ginger, cinnamon, or even tea tree oil.

3.  Feminine Products

There are numerous feminine product options available but the best ones are marked as 100% USDA Organic and contain the Leaping Bunny Logo which is used to identify various items as free of animal testing. Organic products do not include the bleaching agent dioxin, a known carcinogen and pollutant. If you are looking to eliminate packaging waste, reusable options are also available. You can get more knowledge on such products online and in local stores.

4.  Care for your locks

Shampoos, hair conditioners, hair gels, and styling mousses haves been modified numerous ways to accommodate consumers’ desires. Currently, there are many natural and herbal products available. Avoid artificial waxes and protein-stripping enzymes when purchasing hair products. The best way to ensure that you are applying an all-natural product to your hair is by using homemade herbal recipes like henna or honey mixtures. When shopping, look for paraben-free, organic hair products that are made with fruits or vegetables.

5.  Deodorants

Conventional deodorants are usually made in bulk and include aluminum, which prevents our sweat glands from producing perspiration by inducing cell inflammation. Studiesshow that such artificial inflammation can be bad for your health, so shop for aluminum-free products. In addition, handmade and vegan de odorant options are available in stores nationwide. Buying a biodegradable, natural deodorant will decrease your ecological footprint when the time comes to dispose of your antiperspirant.

To Learn More Visit

Phthalates: The “Rubber Ducky” Chemical

Green Cleaning… Not Just For Spring

Children Toys

Turn Your Pet into a Greenie

10 Quick Ways to Green Your Home

The holidays usually mean lots of travel, local mall runs and trips across the country to visit family. Sierra Club Green Home wants to remind you that there are many little things you can do to reduce your carbon footprint during the holidays. Follow these easy tips to start your holidays off with a green foot and lower your carbon footprint. Also, remember to encourage your friends and family to be conscious of the environment during the holidays.

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1. Goodbye elevator. If you are deciding between taking the stairs and the elevator, especially on the way down, avoid the elevator. The energy expended by the average elevator when traveling one floor up and back down is equivalent to fully charging one cell phone. Save energy and avoid the elevator.
2. Keep the trash. Avoid throwing away your garbage bag unless it is full. Plastic bags are petroleum based items that are non-recyclable after coming in contact with waste. They also do not biodegrade in landfills, so remember to use them sparingly.
3. Is one dish worth it? Run the dishwasher only when it is full and avoid using heat when drying the dishes. Your dishes will be just as shiny when washed with biodegradable detergent and cool-dried.
4. And around we go. When doing laundry, remember to set the appropriate water temperature and level. If you are planning on washing only a shirt and a few pairs of socks, do it by hand or wait until you have a full load.
5. Air-dry your hair. Blow drying your hair my not be costly based on your utility bill, but it does require energy that can be avoided. After washing your hair air-dry it.  Skipping the blow-dryer will also protect you hair, preventing it from being brittle and frizzy.
6. Off with the shoes. When you visit a friend at that holiday party or come home, opt to take your shoes off at the door. Doing this will decrease the amount of airborne pollutants and improve your indoor air quality. Also, dragging in dirt means you have to use extra power for the vacuum, not to mention extra cleaning products which also affect indoor air quality.
7. Natural fragrances. Instead of buying an ‘Island Orchard’ scent in a spray bottle, set out orange or lemon peels. This will encourage you to eat more fruit and reduce pests, as flies hate citrus.
8. Reuse gift bags & tissue paper. After the holidays it seems like there is a never ending supply of gift bags in your house.  Instead of throwing them away, just fold them up nicely and reuse during the next celebration. This will save you money, shopping time, and the earth’s resources.
9. Green your pet. If you have a dog or a cat, consider decreasing their carbon footprint. When walking your dog use biodegradable waste bags. If you have a cat, purchase eco-friendly litter that is either biodegradable or compostable.
10. Natural hygiene products. Before taking a shower or getting ready for a busy day at work make sure you have your eco-friendly hygiene products ready. Buy products that are marked USDA organic, Blue Bunny/cruelty free, phthalate-free, paraffin-free, and biodegradable.  If you prefer truly natural products use things like oatmeal for a body wash and henna as a shampoo.
11. Lights Out. If no one is in the room, turn the lights off!
12. Reduce. If you have to think to yourself, “Do I really need this?” you don’t. Consume less, and create less waste. Even though recycling has its perks, if we decided to use less material and resources we would ultimately spend less energy on recycling.
13. Shorter Showers. Try shortening your showers in five minute increments; you might realize you’re spending way too much time in there. Over the course of a  year, you will save hundreds if not thousands of gallons of water by cutting shower time and eliminating baths altogether.
14. Eat Right. Buy locally and what’s in season. Mangoes in January just aren’t right. If you have the chance, invest in organic produce. USDA organic foods are free of hormones and pesticides. Check out our Low Carbon Diet Calculator to see how you can reduce your carbon footprint through your diet.
15. Walk. A mile or two is always good for you. If you live a short distance from your local grocery store and only need a few things, grab your reusable bag and head on out. Not using your car is one of the best ways to reduce your carbon footprint.
16. No more plastic bottles. Stop buying bottles of water and get yourself a nifty aluminum bottle instead. They make great holiday gifts! A benefit of aluminum bottles is that they are ultimately recyclable.
17. Foliage. Buy just one plant, it’ll look nice and convert all of that nasty CO2 into oxygen. Good indoor air quality is very important, especially if you have children with asthma or pets.
18. Unplug. TURN EVERYTHING OFF. If you’re not using it, then why let it use up energy? Vampire energy (energy that, unknowingly to you, sucks up electricity) can cost you approximately 20% of our annual energy bill.
19. Cruise Along. When driving downhill take your foot off that accelerator and let gravity do the work for you. Also, remember to be easy on your brakes and fuel tank by shifting down a gear or two.
20. Strings Attached. Hang your clothes out to dry (when weather permits) instead of using your dryer. You’ll save loads of energy, reduce your carbon footprint, and your clothes will have a true fresh-air scent.

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Learn More

Water conservation

Showers and faucets

Toilets

Water heaters – conventional

How many different skin care products do you use? Shampoo, conditioner, hair mousse, hair spray, body wash, bar soap, shaving cream, moisturizer, body lotion, facial toner, foundation, sunscreen, eye cream, eye shadow, blush, mascara, perfume, and makeup remover are just a few of the products found in many American homes. The average person in the United States uses 9 to 15 of these skin care products every day, applying an average of 126 unique ingredients.

Finding truly natural skin care products is a challenge, especially since labeling and certification remain mostly unregulated. We are drawn to “natural,” “hypoallergenic,” and “organic” beauty and skin care products. Yet, neither “natural” nor “hypoallergenic” have any regulatory meaning. “USDA Certified Organic” is clearly defined by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, but absent that certification, you have to be careful. “Organic” can be used in the name or label without the product containing any organic ingredients other than water. Traditionally, the term “unscented” has meant that the product has no odor, and “fragrance-free” has meant that fragrance hasn’t been added to mask a bad odor. But neither of those terms is legally defined, so consumers must take their chances.

Figuring out whether person care products are safe is even more of a challenge. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is supposed to be regulating cosmetics. But the FDA has banned only nine ingredients and allowed certain color additives, while the European Union has banned or controlled over 1,100 ingredients. As the FDA admits, in the United States a cosmetic manufacturer may use most any raw material and market it without FDA approval.

And then there are the environmental impacts: Most personal care products are eventually washed down the drain. But wastewater treatment plants do not remove them. They are sent coursing through our rivers and streams, and ultimately our oceans. In the process, they poison aquatic animals and ecosystems.

Top Tips

At home

• Use fewer products. Don’t believe the beauty industry’s hype. Most of us probably only need a couple of products daily–not the whole heap of cosmetics that we are told will make us look thinner, younger, and more attractive.
• Make your own. Many personal care products can be made at home with a few ingredients you probably have in your kitchen. Save the environment and your wallet by trying some of the homemade recipes.

When shopping, look for

• Familiar ingredients. If a product claims to be “natural,” check out the list of ingredients. If you’ve never heard of most of them or need a chemistry degree to pronounce them, the product probably isn’t as “natural” as it claims.
• USDA Organic Seal. The U.S. Department of Agriculture organic seal means that a product’s ingredients are grown without pesticides and genetically modified organisms in a way that is good for the soil and the rest of the environment. The program only applies to plant- and animal-based products, so mineral ingredients can’t qualify. Also, because the USDA has flip-flopped on whether the program includes cosmetics, some manufacturers haven’t taken the time to try to qualify now that USDA’s door is open to cosmetics again.
• Environmentally friendly packaging. Personal care products are traditionally packaged to be eye-catching, with little regard for sustainability. Choose products in recyclable containers with minimal packaging. Keep an eye out for manufacturers that recycle their containers.

Avoid

• Phthalates. Phthalates help cosmetics penetrate the skin and make it feel soft. They lubricate other ingredients and help sustain fragrances. On the other hand, they are known to cause developmental and reproductive problems in laboratory animals. Some are hormone disruptors. If a product has phthalates, skip it.
• Fragrances. Unless a product states that its “fragrance” comes from essential oils, it’s probably made from synthetic, petroleum-based ingredients. It’s worth steering clear of fragrances because they tend to have phthalates and–even if they don’t–they can trigger skin, allergic, and respiratory ailments.
• Parabens. Even though they can cause skin irritation and itchiness, methyl, ethyl, propyl, and benzyl parabens are used in beauty products as preservatives. Animal studies have also linked parabens to brain and nervous system disorders and hormone disruption. Because they have been found in breast cancer tissues, some scientists have hypothesized (but not yet proven) that excess absorption of parabens from personal care products, perhaps in concert with exposure to other hormone disruptors, could alter breast tissue.
• Dyes. Used as coloring agents in personal care products, some dyes have been linked to cancer, and may be developmental toxicants. Not all dyes are bad, however. The ones linked with adverse health effects include: D&C Violet 2, EXT D&C Violet 2, FD&C Blue 1, FD&C Green 3, D&C Red 4 and D&C Yellow 5.
• Ethoxylated compounds. Studies have shown body washes, baby washes, shampoos, foaming hand washes, and other products are sometimes contaminated with the carcinogen 1,4-dioxane, which is a byproduct of a manufacturing process called ethoxylation. You can avoid 1,4-dioxane by skipping products with ingredients with myreth, oleth, laureth, ceteareth or any other “eth”; PEG; polyethylene, polyethylene glycol, polyoxyethylene, or oxynol. Keep in mind, though, that some manufacturers take the extra step of removing 1,4-dioxane from their products. The product’s manufacturer or the Campaign for Safe Cosmetics can tell you which is which.
• DMDM hydantoin. The preservative DMDM hydantoin is used in shampoos, conditions, moisturizers, sunscreens, and styling products. It can inflame allergies and is a skin irritant. More significantly, as it degrades it can form the carcinogen formaldehyde.
• DEA, TEA and MEA. The foaming agents diethanolamine (DEA), triethanolamine (TEA), and monoethanolamine (MEA) are found in shampoos, lotions, and creams. DEA, TEA, and, to a lesser extent, MEA, are irritants and sensitizers. There’s conflicting information about whether DEA is a carcinogen. In the interest of being safe rather than sorry, it seems prudent to skip products that contain these substances.
• Nonylphenols. Found in body washes, gel masks, foaming shaving creams, and even liquid liners, nonylphenols are surfactants, or wetting agents, which allow a liquid to spread more easily. Unfortunately they are also long-lived estrogen mimics that tend to accumulate in the body. Research suggests that they may reduce male fertility, testicular size, and sperm quality. Many European countries are phasing them out.
• Quaternary ammonium compounds. These preservatives may be found in personal care products ranging from body washes to foundations to blushes. Included in the group are benzalkonium chloride, cetrimonium bromide, and quaternium-15-all of which are caustic and can irritate the eyes. Quaternium-15 works by releasing formaldehyde, a carcinogen. Plus, it is the number one cause of preservative-related “contact dermatitis,” a skin reaction–usually a red, scaly patch–resulting from exposure to allergens or irritants.
• Other ingredients. Of course, you should always avoid mercury, used as a preservative and identified as thimerosal; lead, found in some hair coloring products; and hydroquinone skin lightener.

Other Considerations

• Antibacterial Products. We may be doing ourselves more harm than good when it comes to antibacterial products containing triclosan and triclocarban, especially since they have not been shown to have any significant benefit except to the immune compromised. Triclosan is now found in a majority of American surface waters and in breast milk. While no studies have as yet shown that this chemical causes anything more than skin irritation and susceptibility to allergies in humans, a study has found it harmful to the development of frogs. In addition, these antibacterial products leave surface residues, creating conditions that may foster the development of drug-resistant bacteria.
• Insect Repellants. To ward off bugs, many insect repellants are laced with the synthetic pesticide DEET. While the EPA and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), claim that DEET is safe to use if you follow directions, some studies have found that DEET can slow motor skills and impair central nervous system function in humans, especially if used with permethrin (used on some outdoor clothing to repel insects). Eco-friendly options involve using repellants based upon “essential oils” (oils distilled from plants) instead of DEET. But repellants made from essential oils work by scent, and need to be applied every two hours or so. They can also be irritating and cause allergic reactions.An oil made from lemon eucalyptus is the only plant-based insect repellant so far approved by the CDC. If you decide to try it, do a patch test first. Products containing lemon eucalyptus oil are not recommended for children under three years of age.
• Sunscreens. When it comes to a sunscreen, you need to block two wavelengths of ultraviolet light: UVA and UVB. The scientific consensus is that a “physical barrier” sunscreen, using titanium dioxide or zinc oxide, is better for your health than a chemical-based sunscreen because it doesn’t penetrate the skin. A physical barrier is also more environmentally friendly: chemical-based sunscreens are contributing to the bleaching of coral reefs. Avoid any sunscreen that contains phthalates or parabens.
• Polyethylene beads. Many beauty products use polyethylene beads to provide scrubbing action. Unfortunately these little plastic particles are too small to be filtered out by sewage treatment plants and go straight to surface waters and to our oceans where they could be mistaken for zooplankton and poison our marine life.
• Nanoparticles. Microscopic “nanoparticles” are being introduced rapidly to personal care products, generally to help other ingredients penetrate skin. Their safety hasn’t been fully investigated, though, so you may want to skip them for now.

Benefits…

…to your health
Avoiding personal care products with unsafe ingredients will benefit your health.

…to your wallet
Using fewer products will save you money.

…to the Earth
Choosing products that are not petroleum based will conserve resources. Avoiding toxic preservatives and hormone disruptors will protect our water and wildlife. Choosing products free of polyethylene beads will reduce plastic debris. And skipping antibacterial soaps in favor of plain soap and water may also help preserve our aquatic environments.

Common Mistakes

Not reading labels. Even if it makes you flashback to high school chemistry, scrutinizing a product’s list of ingredients is well worth doing, because the Food and Drug Administration isn’t protecting you.

Getting Started

• Clear out your beauty clutter. Figure out what you really need, and clear out the rest. As you finish a product, switch it for a more eco-friendly product. Recycle what you can, and properly dispose of the rest.
• Research your products. Check out the products you have using databases such as Skin Deep.

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