Do you ever think about how much trash is generated by the ziploc baggies and poland spring waters we send our children to school with each day? There are greener, healthier alternatives. Instead of plastic baggies, use washable, plastic containers. According to The Green Guide, any plastic container with the numbers 2, 4, or 5 on the bottom is safe to use for food. Instead of disposable water bottles, use sturdy reusable ones, like the aluminum Sigg, the Stainless Steel Klean Kanteen, or a safe, reusable plastic bottle (look for a bottle with the numbers 2, 4, or 5 on the bottom; if the bottle has a 7 on it, make sure it is also labeled BPA-free). Reusable bags is a fantastic website that sells lots of safe, reusable lunch systems and water bottles.
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You know that fresh paint smell? That’s the smell of VOCs, or volatile organic compounds, off-gassing from the paint as it dries. VOCs are bad for the earth and for our health. But you can freshen up your house without polluting by choosing zero or low-voc paints (paints with less than 5 g/l and 50 g/l VOCs respectively). For product recommendations, check out The Green Guide and Earth Easy. And, if in doubt about the VOC content of a product, ask to see its MSDS (material safety data sheet), which will list this information.
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Do you ever wonder whether paper or plastic is better for the earth? If you do, you’re in good company! As with many product comparisons, the answer depends a lot on which lifecycle phase you focus on.
If, for example, you look at sourcing, paper looks better than plastic because it’s a renewable resource. But when you look at distribution, plastic looks better because it’s lighter and requires less fuel to transport (here’s a good overview of the pros and cons of each).
The plastic v. paper question seems to be a conundrum until you realize that there is another, better alternative: the reusable bag.
Available at Whole Foods, Trader Joes and lots of other stores, reusable bags will not only help you green your life, they will also free up precious brain space for more important problems!
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If you are health-conscious, you probably give a lot of thought to what you eat. But do you think about the health implications of what you put on your body? Unfortunately, many personal care products contain ingredients that are potentially harmful or about which we have little safety information.
Fortunately, there’s Skin Deep, the Environmental Working Group’s database of cosmetics that matches ingredients in more than 41,000 products against 50 definitive toxicity and regulatory databases. Search Skin Deep to learn about the safety of your favorite products.
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Buying organic seems like a no-brainer: who wants to eat food grown with potentially harmful synthetic chemicals? But organic food sometimes isn’t available or affordable. When organic isn’t an option, look for fruits and vegetables that have low pesticide levels, like bananas, peas and corn, and avoid those that don’t, like apples, peppers and grapes.
Hungry for more? Check out Food News, the Environmental Working Group’s smart produce shopping guide.
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If you’ve been following BPA stories (for example: this one and this one), you have probably stopped drinking and eating out of polycarbonate plastic. Unfortunately, polycarbonate isn’t the only plastic that has been shown to leach potentially harmful chemicals into food and drinks. When buying reusable plastic containers, look for those labeled with the numbers 2, 4 or a 5 on the bottom. Plastic labeled with a 1 is considered safe for single-use only. Check out the green guide for more information on plastic safety.
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