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Chemical manufacturers are having a field day creating all sorts of products that we purchase knowing full well that these products are not good for the environment. Disposable products have become a way of life and all too many people are more interested in the convenience a product provides than any thought about the environmental impact it may have.
Listed below are the top 10 products you should make every effort to avoid and alternatives that allow you to make better choices.
1. Single use products such as plastic cups and silverware, paper plates, plastic bags, paper towels and napkins and cling wrap should be avoided.Products that are packaged using Styrofoam, take out foods and plastic bags are also no-no's.Styrofoam and plastic wrap do not degrade and will be in our landfills and oceans forever.It is a tremendous waste of resources to manufacture a product to be used once and then discarded.
Alternatives: Purchase recycled, recyclable and compostable paper cups and plates, utensils and paper towels. Avoid paper products that have been bleached and can be recycled. . When you do purchase paper products, look for recycled, non-bleached items. Better yet, reuse some of your containers that you have at home to bring with you to the stores and restaurants. Use cloth napkins and towels.
2. The packaging industry has done a great job of coming up with packaging that protects the products we buy from damage and theft reducing the cost of some goods we buy. But they have going overboard and package almost everything. Individually wrapped items certainly keep things fresh but at what cost? Packaging materials account for over a third of the waste we generate in our homes.
Alternative: Purchase products that have the least amount of packaging and make sure it is reusable or recyclable. Try to purchase bulk items, reuse plastic bags and take your own containers when shopping.
3. The nice white coffee filters that you have used for decades contain a nasty chemical called Dioxin. This chemical has been linked to cancer in both humans and animals, and is finding its way into our water supply.
Alternative: Brown coffee filters aren't as pretty as the white ones, but are much more eco-friendly. R-usable filters are your best option.
4. Beauty is only skin deep, but the chemicals in beauty products go clear to the bone. Beauty products that contain parabens and phthalates have been shown to cause cancer, birth defects and allergic reaction. These chemicals are found in hundreds of beauty product that have been approved by the Food and Drug Administration.
Alternative: Organic, natural and organic beauty products are your best bet to purchase.
5. Household cleaning products are perhaps the worst thing you can have in your home. The list of toxic chemicals they contain goes on and on. Many of these cleaning products are made from organic solvents and petroleum-based chemicals and release volatile organic compounds (VOC's) into the air. Air pollution inside our home is often worse than the air on the outside due to the toxic cleaning products we use.
Alternative: Look for non-toxic, vegetable-based, biodegradable cleaners, There are a host of environmentally friendly cleaning products on the market today, but to save money consider making your own cleaning products from safe natural ingredients.
6. Avoid the use of exotic woods such as teak and mahogany: Millions upon millions of acres of tropical rain forests are being destroyed so we can use these woods. Amazingly, the plant life in the Amazon rainforest produces 40% of the world's oxygen. The destruction of these valuable rain forests will be catastrophic to the planet.
Alternative: Look for Forest Stewardship Council certified wood if you need to purchase wood and be sure to use recycled wood. Building your own furniture or finding used furniture and refinishing (with a non-toxic finish) can be a satisfying hobby.
7. Toys made with PVC plastics: Vinyl chloride, the chemical that makes up PVC plastic has been shown to be a carcinogen. PVC also contains additives such as cadmium and lead to make it more stable. Children's toys, especially those made in China can be very dangerous to children who tend to put the toys in their mouths.
Alternative: Check the label to see if it is labeled "PVC" or "#3", and avoid those products. Items made of #1 and #2 plastics, which are more recyclable, are a better choice. Toys made of natural product and are not finished with toxic paints should be purchased.
8. Chemical fertilizers, pesticides and herbicides: Americans have a love affair with beautiful lawns. The problem is that the chemicals used on those lawns to make them beautiful are contaminating our waterways. Almost every body of water tested in the US contained at least one of these chemicals. These toxic chemicals remain in the body and build up over time and have been linked to cancer. Enjoying a chemical free lawn and garden is not only good for your family, it is good for the environment too.
Alternatives: Use organic pest controllers, such as diatomaceous earth and get some exercise by weeding your garden by hand. Planting native plants eliminates the need for excessive watering and the use of pesticides. Planting natural herbicides is also a great thing for your garden.
9. Higher octane gas: With the price of gasoline soaring, we are less tempted to put a higher octane gasoline in our automobiles thinking we can get better performance. This is a fallacy perpetrated by the petroleum manufacturers. Very few cars manufacturered after 1982 requires a high octane fuel. The higher the octane the more pollutions it pumps into the air.
Alternative: Save your money and purchase the lowest-octane gas that is recommended by the auto manufacturer. Better yet, purchase a hybrid or electric car or use a bicycle for the most eco-friendly mode of transportation.
10. High VOC paints and finishes: The major home improvement stores are now carrying non-toxic paints and finishes. For years we complained about the paint smell after we painted a room. Those smells came from the VOCs that were give off from the paint. Exposure to these fumes are linked to a whole host of health issues and are credited with polluting the air inside our homes.
Alternative: Look for paints that are certified by Green Seal and are labeled to be safe to use. There are a host of products now available to choose from today that are much safer and healthier for your family.
These are only a few of the ways you can go green, but it is the best place to start. Every little thing each one of us does makes a big difference.
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