| We all know there are some products out there | | | | acres (approximately the size of the State of |
| that were solely created for their convenience, no | | | | Ohio) of tropical rainforest are destroyed every |
| matter what the price the environment must pay. | | | | year. Teak and mahogany trees are found in the |
| Here is a useful list of 10 commonly found | | | | rainforests which cover 6% of Earth's surface |
| household items that are bad for the environment | | | | and are home to over half of the world's wild |
| and some alternative options so you can take | | | | plant, animal, and insect species. The Amazon |
| action to make a better choice. You should no | | | | rainforest alone produces an amazing 40% of the |
| longer buy these items if you truly want to make | | | | world's oxygen. Why would you want to destroy |
| a difference and live sustainably: | | | | such an important ecosystem when there are |
| In the kitchen (and office): | | | | other alternatives? |
| 1. One-time-use, disposable products: such as cling | | | | Alternative: Look for Forest Stewardship Council |
| wrap; plastic utensils, plates, cups and bags; paper | | | | certified wood. |
| towels, plates, cups and bags; Styrofoam plates, | | | | Best Option: Reuse wood, and buy furniture and |
| cups, take-out boxes and packaging peanuts. If | | | | other products made from used or salvaged |
| you use it once and then throw it away, it is | | | | wood. If you are not a carpenter, you can buy |
| more than needlessly wasteful in terms of | | | | used wood furniture from resale or antique shops. |
| resources used to manufacture it and the extra | | | | 7. Toys made with PVC plastics: Although 70% of |
| money it costs for the convenience. Styrofoam is | | | | PVC is used in construction, it is also found in |
| not at all recyclable and plastic products like cling | | | | everyday plastics, including some children's toys. |
| wrap are made out of the least recyclable plastic. | | | | Vinyl chloride, the chemical used to make PVC, is |
| And both will never biodegrade- they will sit in the | | | | a known human carcinogen. Also, additives, such |
| landfill or pollute the ocean forever. | | | | as lead and cadmium, are sometimes added to |
| Alternative: Buy recycled, recyclable and | | | | PVC to keep it from breaking down. These |
| compostable paper cups and plates. When you do | | | | additives can be particularly dangerous in children's |
| buy paper towels, look for recycled, non-bleached | | | | toys since the toys can end up in their mouths. |
| products. Use compostable food service items, | | | | Toys made in China are generally the most |
| such as utensils made from plant materials like | | | | dangerous since they have less industry |
| corn starch and cellulose (produced by companies | | | | regulations. PVC is also the least recycled plastic. |
| such as Biocorp). | | | | Alternative: Avoid plastics that are labeled as |
| Best option: Invest in some reusable mugs, | | | | "PVC" or "#3." Choose items made of #1 and #2 |
| utensils, food containers, bags, etc. that can easily | | | | plastics, which are easier to recycle and don't |
| be carried with you. Buy dishtowels or rags to | | | | produce as many toxins. Use sustainable |
| wash and reuse. | | | | construction materials. |
| 2. Over-packaged foods and other products: such | | | | Best option: Buy natural toys made of wood and |
| as individually-wrapped snacks in a plastic bag for | | | | other organic materials. Take action to tell |
| freshness, plus a cardboard box for product | | | | manufacturers to stop using PVC plastics, |
| brand information. The excess packaging on food | | | | especially in children's toys. |
| items and other products is the cause of | | | | In the garage: |
| approximately 33% of the average American | | | | 8. Chemical pesticides and herbicides: American |
| household trash. It also wastes resources and | | | | households use 80 million pounds of pesticides |
| costs the consumer extra money. | | | | each year. The EPA found at least one pesticide in |
| Alternative: Buy products with minimal or reusable, | | | | almost every water and fish sample from |
| recyclable packaging. | | | | streams and in more than one-half of shallow |
| Best Option: Buy in bulk and reuse plastic bags or | | | | wells sampled in agricultural and urban areas. |
| your own containers when shopping. | | | | These chemicals pose threats to animals and |
| 3. Bleached coffee filters: You have been using | | | | people, especially children, as they build up in the |
| them for years, so what's the big deal? Dioxins, | | | | body over time and have been found to cause |
| the nasty chemicals which form during the chlorine | | | | cancer, birth defects, and other illnesses. So, the |
| bleaching process, contaminate groundwater and | | | | next time you go to do yard work, ask yourself |
| air and are linked to cancer in humans and animals. | | | | if you really need to kill the weeds and bugs in |
| Knowing that makes you rethink a second cup of | | | | your yard that badly. |
| coffee, doesn't it? | | | | Alternatives: Buy organic pest controllers, such as |
| Alternative: Buy unbleached or non-chlorine | | | | diatomaceous earth. Weed your garden by hand. |
| bleached paper filters. | | | | Best Option: Plant native plants and practice |
| Best Option: Use reusable filters, such as washable | | | | integrated pest management. Plant flowers and |
| cloth filters. | | | | herbs that act as natural pesticides. |
| In the bathroom: | | | | 9. Higher octane gas: When you go to gas up |
| 4. Beauty products with parabens and phthalates: | | | | your car you may be tempted to choose the |
| What many people still don't realize is that just | | | | higher octane gas thinking it will give your car |
| because a product is approved by the Food and | | | | better performance. That is what the petroleum |
| Drug Administration and is sold in stores, that | | | | companies would like you to believe. In reality, |
| doesn't make the product completely safe for | | | | only one car in ten that was manufactured after |
| your health. Industrial chemicals and preservatives | | | | 1982 requires high-octane gasoline. So why not |
| such as phthalates and parabens are linked to | | | | splurge on the more "pure" gas? High-octane gas |
| several cancers, birth defects, and autoimmune | | | | releases more hazardous pollutants into the air, |
| diseases such as allergies. These chemicals are | | | | costs more at the pump, and may even be bad |
| found in everything from nail polish and cosmetics | | | | for your car. With everyone trying to reduce |
| to deodorant and lotion. To be safe, check out | | | | greenhouse gas emissions, why make a choice |
| which products do not use these chemicals at: | | | | that will only increase them. |
| Alternative: Be suspicious of labels and read all the | | | | Alternative: Buy the lowest-octane gas your car |
| ingredients. Choose organic cosmetics and body | | | | requires as listed in your owner's manual. |
| products. | | | | Best option: Make your next car purchase a |
| Best Option: Find a cosmetics company that has | | | | hybrid or electric car. Or ditch the car when you |
| signed the Compact for Safe Cosmetics pledge | | | | can and take public transportation, ride a bike, or |
| and uses certified organic and natural ingredients. | | | | walk. |
| 5. Conventional chemical household cleaners: | | | | 10. High VOC paints and finishes: When you are |
| Almost all household cleaning products contain | | | | picking out a new color of paint for your house, |
| hazardous ingredients, such as organic solvents | | | | you should definitely pick one with low or no |
| and petroleum-based chemicals that can release | | | | volatile organic compounds, or VOCs, which include |
| volatile organic compounds (VOCs) into your | | | | chemicals such as benzene and formaldehyde. |
| indoor environment, posing a particular danger for | | | | VOCs can cause health problems from dizziness |
| children. One study found the average American | | | | to heart conditions, nervous system problems, |
| household has three to ten times of hazardous | | | | cancer, and eye, lung and kidney damage. They |
| matter in the home compared to the outdoors. | | | | are infamous for polluting both indoor and outdoor |
| That means the air you are breathing inside of | | | | air. VOCs are found in products including paints, as |
| your house is most likely more laden with harmful | | | | well as finishes used for wood, such a stains or |
| chemicals than the air outside. | | | | varnishes. |
| Alternative: Look for non-toxic, vegetable-based, | | | | Alternative: Check out which paints are certified |
| biodegradeable cleaners, such as Seventh | | | | by Green Seal to be sure you choose a safe one. |
| Generation products. | | | | Best Option: Try latex paint (90-95% free of |
| Best Option: Try making your own green cleaner | | | | preservatives and fungicides), all-natural paint (free |
| using vinegar, water, and castile soap. | | | | from petrochemicals), milk paint (made from milk |
| In the home: | | | | protein and clay) and whitewashes. |
| 6. Teak and mahogany wood: Wood from these | | | | ...And please remember that every little thing each |
| trees makes beautiful furniture, but at what cost? | | | | of you does will help! |
| You will be shocked to know that about 27 million | | | | |