There’s been a lot of talk about living green. As more information is coming out about what’s in the products we consume like parabens, BPAs and phthalates found in everyday items like plastic storage containers, shampoo, and baby bottles, we as consumers are becoming savvier about what we are putting in and on our bodies. With many of these items being tagged as carcinogens, neurotoxins and endocrine disruptors who knows what effects they are having on us. The Story of Cosmetics is a short video that talks about some of the toxins that are in the cosmetics and body care products that we use. Considering that the body care products we use have so much toxicity, add to that pesticides in food, formaldehyde in household materials and furniture, and chemicals in our cleaners, it’s no wonder we feel tired and rundown so much of the time.
Making the choice to live cleaner and greener can be overwhelming. There is so much information out there, it can make you a little crazy trying to decipher it all. Not to mention the concern over cost. It’s true that living cleaner and greener can cost a bit more. There are some great sites out there with money saving tips like Green Mama’s Pad (check out this tip on making your Swiffer Wet Jet into a green cleaning machine). Another idea is to choose your battles, meaning pick one area, whether it is food, cleaning products, or body care, and gradually wean away from the more toxic products into the cleaner products. It’s not something you need to do all at once, and making small changes can make big differences. Living clean and green does not have to be an all or none proposition.
Here are some Fab 5 sites to help you live a little cleaner and a little greener. Making even just one change will not only help you and your family, but also you’ll help the planet.
1.Environmental Working Group (EWG): With a goal to bring information to the public about what’s in the products we eat and use, EWG combs through scientific studies, legal issues, government data, and conducts their own research so that consumers are well informed about their choices. A couple of fantastic resources that the EWG has put together are the Shopper’s Guide to Pesticides, which lists the “dirty dozen” and the “clean 15” foods so you know what’s important to buy organically grown; the National Drinking Water Database, which rates the best and worst tap water in the nation, gives tips for safer water, and provides info on water filtration; and the Sunscreen Guide, which rates sunscreens, helps you find cleaner ones, and talks about the shady business of sun protection.
2.National Resources Defense Council (NRDC): Dedicated to protecting the earth’s natural resources, the NRDC is an incredible tool to learn news, issues and policies surrounding the planet and the way we live. The Smarter Living section provides a wealth of information on cleaner and greener choices from home to work and everything in between. You can look up those long-sounding names like perchloroethylene in the Chemical Index, understand those supermarket labels with Label Lookup tool, or figure out what fish is safe to eat with the guide to Mercury Contamination in Fish (calling all pregnant moms—download a wallet card that rates the levels of mercury in different types of fish, a handy tool when you are out to lunch!)
3.Skin Deep Cosmetics Safety Database: Although this is a project of the EWG, it’s so immense and handy that we felt it deserved a spot of its own on this Fab 5 list. After visiting this site you will probably never buy another body care or cosmetic product before running it through this database. This site rates over 65,000 personal care products based on their toxicity levels. Each gets a rating from zero to ten, with zero being the least toxic, taking into consideration ingredients that might be carcinogens, endocrine disruptors, reproductive toxins, and allergens. The site even breaks down each individual ingredient in a product and rates it. Before you allow your daughter to slather on her new makeup, check out the Teen Cosmetics Study. It’s not all doom and gloom, though. You can do an advanced search for products that exclude certain ingredients and find something that works for you.
4.Safe Mama: For the mom who wants to keep her kids safe from toxins and pesticides in things like toys, this site is a welcome resource and a huge time saver. This blog site is incredibly easy to use and it’s run by a mom who knows her stuff. Her Cheat Sheets are a huge time saver, listing products that she’s already reviewed and cover everything from baby wipes to lunch gear. Often, after she reviews various products, you’ll find a recipe for a homemade version, which is clean and often saves money, such as the Cheat Sheet for dishwashing detergents. Another great resource on this site is the Glossary, which breaks down some of the most commonly used chemical ingredients and the type of products in which they are used.
5.Green Depot: Move over Home Depot; there’s a cleaner and greener kid on the block. From building materials to area rugs, this site has pretty much anything you need for home improvements but from a green perspective. Unfortunately many new home products and home improvements materials off gas formaldehyde, which is considered a carcinogen. Whatever your home improvement project, this site has what you need to help reduce the risk of toxic exposure. So, if you are remodeling the kitchen, or redecorating your daughter’s room, stop by Green Depot to see if you can make at least one change like choosing a low VOC paint or a bamboo plywood.
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