that GREEN blog

Every day, the world’s many landfills become the resting place of tons of waste, many of which are not biodegradable, and are harmful to the environment. Many hazardous chemicals can mix in these dumping grounds and possibly leech into our water systems or into the soil, and into our food and drink. So any effort to lessen the consumption of goods that end up in these landfills is a must.

One of the major contributors to the mountains of waste in the landfills are diapers. Although these plastic and cloth wonders of technology are very convenient in terms of managing your baby’s bodily wastes, diapers can also cause diaper rash and is filled with chemicals to better contain urine or stool. Disposable diapers are also expensive in the the long-run. As a baby can go through a number of these items in a day, you can do the math.

But taking care of your baby doesn’t have to mean breaking the bank. You can still give the best to your child without sacrificing environmental responsibility. In line with this, many parents are now exploring old but tried-and-tested ways of managing the baby’s waste. Here are some ideas you may want to check out:

Elimination Communication
- More often than not shortened to ECing, elimination communication is certainly not a new concept. In fact, it is estimated that at least half of the world’s babies are toilet trained in this manner. With ECing, the use of diapers is replaced by a potty (or any similar container) as early as possible, and involves teaching the baby to communicate when he or she needs to use it. To get started, you can emit a subtle verbal cue to your baby, typically timed after feeding. This takes some practice and keen observation on your part, but if you are successful then your baby will be fully toilet trained well before babies who use a diaper. However, if you use this particular technique, then you will know that accidents are inevitable, and for special occasions you can still use a diaper as a back-up.

Cloth Diapers
- Again, like elimination communication, the use of cloth diapers has been around for a long time. Today’s parents choose cloth diapers because they are cost-effective and environmentally friendly, but many more are turned off by the amount of laundry one needs to do. Make clean-up easy by keeping a pail of water with borax or mild laundry soap beside your changing station. Once the diaper pail is full, wash them all in hot soapy water and then dry. Because cloth diapers are made up of cotton, these are less likely to cause diaper rash on your baby, as the fabric allows the skin to breathe.

Eco-disposable Diapers
- These eco-disposable products are much like the typical disposable diapers we are used to seeing, and these are touted as chemical-free and made up of wood pulp from sustainable sources. However, despite the name, many of these diapers are not totally biodegradable, as it still comes with the normal plastic outer covering. (One product claims to be entirely compostable, as it supposedly has an outer covering made up of corn products.) Another thing is that these products are not as widely available (although they can be found online and can be shipped directly to your home) and are typically a little more expensive than regular diapers. Many detractors of these supposedly eco-friendly diapers say that using these is more like paying lip-service to being environmentally friendly.

The truth is, it is still up to you to choose which product or technique to use to toilet train your baby. Do your research and decide which works for you and your lifestyle.

Bath and beauty products do more than just keep us clean, they make us look and feel our best. And in a 24/7 society where busy is the norm, a simple bath or great skin treatment can be a relaxing personal moment in an otherwise hectic day. Now more than ever, people are using bath products that are made organically through green processes because it’s not only good for them, but also good for the environment.

“Going green is more than just an environmental concept, it’s something that can have a dramatic impact on personal health…” says Justin Gomolka at Best Bath Store, a company that makes 100 percent natural bath and body, skin care and hair care products. “We’re seeing more interest in natural products that respect human life, animal life, and the environment we live in — something our entire line supports. We do not test on animals or use harmful synthetic preservatives or additives such as sodium laurel sulfate or parabens. One must be on the lookout for greenwashing, where companies claim to be natural and /or safe for the environment, but use harmful synthetic ingredients.”

These are the top bath and beauty trends of 2008:

Trend 1) Organic Soaps

When you’re washing your skin, are you using something that contains harsh chemicals? Don’t forget, your skin is your body’s largest organ and the first line of defense against disease and infections. If you look at the ingredients of your common everyday soap, you might find it difficult to pronounce the list. Animal fats and synthetic ingredients help make soaps cheap for large companies, but wreak havoc on your skin and overall health! For this reason, organic soap made from all-natural ingredients is a top beauty trend. For example, handmade soap from (www.soapalchemy.com) uses luxurious quality ingredients that include organic extracts, essential oils, and cleansing particles harvested from the earth. Because of the use of organic ingredients, this soap is gentle enough for even the most sensitive skin types.

Trend 2) Safe Cosmetics / Cruelty Free / Environmentally Friendly

Traditional cosmetics and bath products can contain unhealthy ingredients. Exposure to one of these chemicals is unlikely to cause health problems, but repeated exposure can be linked to serious health issues like cancer and birth defects. More people are seeking safe cosmetics that they know won’t be causing them, their families, or any animals harm. You can do three things to help buy healthier products. First, look for products that do not test on animals or companies that are PETA business friends. Second, visit www.SafeCostmetics.org to find a list of companies that have pledged to keep their products safe from unhealthy compounds. Lastly, find out how a company packages their products and ships them. Do they use Styrofoam or corn starch peanuts?

Trend 3) Aromatherapy

Different scents have the power to trigger sensations in the brain such as relaxation, calmness, alertness and more. Lavender is a popular ingredient used in bath products that is believed to have the power to promote relaxation and relieve stress, important for today’s constantly hectic lifestyle. Lavender has been used as a natural medicine to help relieve headaches, migraines and insomnia for centuries. Other scents and herbs have properties that help keep the body balanced and healthy. More people are now looking for these ingredients in their favorite soaps and lotions.

Trend 4) Real Results from Natural Products
People want a luxurious, natural product, but they also want results from their beauty regimen. From wrinkles to acne, natural ingredients just might be the cure you’ve been seeking. For example, acne medicines made from all natural ingredients treat problem skin gently, great for sensitive skin types. Additionally, some natural ingredients may work better because the body isn’t able to build up a tolerance to its effectiveness like it often does with chemical treatment options. Natural, green ingredients also can make a difference for other beauty concerns such as wrinkles and skin tone.

Trend 5) Not Just for Ladies
Bath and beauty isn’t just for females any more. Products are being made specifically for the needs of children and men too. Fun, natural products make bath time enjoyable for kids of all ages, helping them stay clean and healthy. And men are realizing that looking their best today and in the future requires more effort than a simple daily shower. An increasing number of men are seeking out all-natural soaps, shampoos and shaving creams because these products give them better results and are better for their body.
Shop and learn at Best Bath Store, a company that makes 100 percent natural bath and body, skin care and hair care products.

Healthy Skin Care

Reducing our impact on the Earth doesn’t have to be complicated, and it can also have many benefits for our pocketbooks, as well! By reducing greenhouse gas emissions and reducing our use of natural resources we can significantly decrease our Global footprint. Here are some simple things that you can do today to go green.

1. Change Your Light Bulbs

A “normal” light bulb is known as an incandescent light bulb. You probably use incandescent bulbs to light most areas of your home. The trouble with incandescent light bulbs is that they generate a high level of heat while running, which wastes a lot of electricity. Thus, they are very inefficient.

Comparatively, fluorescent bulbs create light without generating heat. This allows them to be much more efficient and produce between 50 and 100 lumens per watt, making them four to six times more efficient than incandescent bulb. They also last much longer than incandescent bulbs.

Replacing your bulbs is simple. The next time one blows, simply note the wattage on the incandescent bulb and visit your local hardware or lighting store. Fluorescent light bulbs are marked to indicate their actual wattage and the comparable wattage to an incandescent bulb. This means that if you had a 60-watt incandescent bulb, you can buy a fluorescent bulb marked as 15-watts (equivalent to 60-watts incandescent).

Once all of your bulbs are replaced, you will notice a significant cost-savings in your energy bill. This is a truly win-win situation, as you will also have the added benefit of replacing your bulbs less frequently!

2. Switch to Low-Flow Shower heads

Water is a precious resource that is limited in many regions of the U.S. This natural resource is increasingly affected by our population growth: the EPA reports that the public demand for water has more than tripled since 1950.

One of the largest household uses of water is showering: the average shower takes 10 minutes and 20 gallons of water. Significant progress has been made towards creating low-flow shower heads that feel just as powerful as regular shower heads but can cut water use by 25% to 60% and reduce annual water bills by almost $100 for an average family of four people. These cost (and environmental) savings include both the use of water and the energy cost of heating it.

Installing low-flow shower heads is simple to do. Simply visit your local home improvement center and choose from the many options available.

3. Recycle

The reasons for recycling are many. First, recycled materials allow us to conserve land and use less energy to harvest virgin natural resources. Secondly, it usually takes significantly less energy to make a recycled product than it does to refine it from raw materials. Aluminum is one of the best examples: it takes 95% less energy to create it from recycled materials. Thirdly, recycling cuts down on the space and resources required for landfills.

The ease of recycling varies based on where you live. Some cities have curbside recycling bins that require you to separate items, others have you place all items in a single bin, and some cities have not yet adopted a curbside recycling program, which means that you may need to take your recycling items to a recycling center.

Typical items that can be easily recycled include paper, aluminum and glass. Plastic containers, bags and packaging can be difficult to recycle, so you have to check for the recycling code on the packaging. Better still – reuse plastic bags, or avoid them altogether, as much as possible.

Some cities pay for certain recyclable materials, so check with your local recycling center to see if you can financially benefit from your good deeds.

By taking these three simple steps, you can greatly reduce your impact on the Earth, while also making a positive impact on your wallet. There are many resources available online through government agencies to help you make green decisions about your household – check them out!

Author, Virginia Ginsburg specializes in research related to ecologically-sound life and business practices. She writes about green living and socially-conscious investing. Her company, Green Baby Gifts http://www.greenbabygiftsonline.com , specializes in gifts that are both beautiful and ecologically-sound.

More on Sustainable Lifestyle

Spring has sprung, the sun is shining, the birds are singing and all is right in the world!  So you’ve diligently joined the other millions of people in a spot of spring cleaning and starting to feel better about life in general?  I don’t mean to put a spanner in the works but you may be slowly poisoning yourself.  Don’t worry though as I have some practical advice for you.

Count up which cleaning products you would need just to tackle a couple of rooms in your house – bathroom and kitchen for instance.  You probably have a multi-surface cleaner, a more powerful cleaner for the nasty bits (yuk!), a floor cleaner maybe, air freshener, brightly coloured liquid that resembles alien slime that makes your toilet smell nice.  The list goes on but you get the idea.

The manufacturers have been educating us for years now (and it is working) on how brilliant their products are.  How we would all die of terrible diseases if we were to stop using their latest product, (which is better than their last one they always add).  They tell us how we would be neglecting our duty as a good citizen if we didn’t de-contaminate our house so it becomes sterile and un-lived in.  Some of these products are so strong that they make your eyes water.  You are advised to wear gloves, keep away from your eyes and seek medical attention if it comes into contact with your skin AND you still trust them when it comes to coating all the surfaces in your house with these industrial strength toxic products.

Enough moaning, I could go on and tell you more but I think you get the idea.  The good news is that there are alternatives.  You may have to experiment with the right recipe or product that suits your needs but once you’ve got that you’ll be well away.  It’s just about changing the way that you think and act from now on, and ridding your home of those nasty chemicals!

I’ve done some homework for you to get you started

Use soapnuts.  You can use them in the washing machine.  I use them all the time for light-normal washes and I can honestly say that our clothes are always clean and fresh.  I add a couple of splashes of clear vinegar to the drawer to soften the clothes and to remove stains.  I also add a couple of drops of essential oil to make it smell nice.

There is a great company that I use, their prices are good and they also ship worldwide.  http://www.gogreen.cellande.co.uk/shop/products/soapnuts/soapnuts.php and I’ve not had any problems.  There is a list of other great things you can use soapnuts for too, including cleaners, soap and dishwasher solution.

If this isn’t enough for you try this link to uses for vinegar.  Vinegar is strong stuff as you may already know.  It’s no surprise that it’s good for cleaning, and much healthier than the industrial alien slime too.  Follow these tips and your house will be gleaming in no time http://www.vinegartips.com/cleaning/

So there you have it.  You don’t have to compromise your health for heavenly cleanliness in your home.  You’ll save money, improve your own health and help the environment too.

Just one more tip, don’t wear yourself out going mad on the cleaning this week!

Kate Would Holistic Practitioner publishes her weekly newsletter for ‘normal’ and busy people like you.  If you’re tired of living a life that seems to revolve around other people and leaves you feeling washed out and lifeless, you can subscribe by clicking the link below.  You can also claim your FREE therapy session here too. http://www.shakethedisease.com

More on Sustainable Lifestyle

Here are a few ideas…

Some local foods coop asks customers to bring in their excess plastic grocery bags to reuse for the store. It is still using plastic but definitely a low environmental impact option. Some even offer a five cent per bag discount for people who bring their own shopping bags.

From: Jane Reifer
Clutter Control Organizing Services
1-800-CLUTTER

“Of course there are thin cloth bags available (they look sort of like an old-fashioned flour sack), but a solution that’s worked great for us for years, even though I feel funny about it, because they’re actually plastic, too. I agonize about using plastic, and use almost none whatsoever in my life, except for these. We’ve been using the small, brightly colored nylon net bags that you sometimes see for grapes or other fruits. If these are thought of as for re-use only, and not one-time use, I think they may be an acceptable solution. They are really easy to use, really sturdy, won’t rip, squish down to nothing for transport, wash easily between use, and are great for washing the produce while the produce is still in them. If I’m using them for “wet” produce like lettuce, etc., I put them all in an additional cloth bag to prevent serious dripping. I’m not sure how if they could be produced in a sustainable way, as we were always able to get rolls of them from surplus facilities.”

Also check out www.earth-saver.com

They offer very reasonably priced bags/totes under $1.00, and we are running a special now of $0.85 per bag (size 14″x16″) in 10 Oz cotton.