Oh, Teflon!

Ben's going to kill me. I'm going to have to go through our kitchen and get rid of more pots and pans and utensils...again. Turns out Teflon was even more dangerous that I knew. I thought it was just a problem if it was scratched and the Teflon got into your food. WRONG. At high temperatures (you know, like the ones you cook at) it emits toxic particles and gases.

Read this article, complete with graphs and scary stuff. And ask for some safe and healthy stainless steel and pans for the holidays!

UPDATE: Here's a little further discussion. Thanks, Amy!

Mind the Gap

Great news! Organic clothing is getting easier for the masses to get their hands on. Gap now offers organic denim jeans for both men and women; a few women's organic cotton tops; and men's organic cotton long johns. Even more importantly, the Baby Gap has a whole load of organic pieces. Banana Republic seems to be following suit, too.

If you would like to move to a healthier, more natural wardrobe but aren't comfortable ordering online, you're in luck! My guess is that Old Navy (the most affordable of the stores in the Gap family) will join the trend soon. Happy shopping!

Animal fat on your laundry?

Guess what? Dryer sheets and fabric softeners are almost all made of tallow. Animal fat. All the more reason to line dry your clothes and/or be extra sure that the brand you use is truly animal free.

Check out Vegan, Eco-Friendly Dryer Sheets and Fabric Softeners from Associated Content for more information and *fat-free* washer and dryer products. Method, Mrs. Meyer's, Attitude, Ecover, Seventh Generation, and Natural Choices, for example, are some good options.

Likewise, Vegan/Kosher/Halal Alert: Fabric Softeners are Made from Rendered Animal Fat covers some good details. For example, the TreeHugger article says that the ingredient to be on the lookout for is dihydrogenated tallow dimethyl ammonium chloride, "a derivative of rendered fat from cattle, sheep and horses. Just boil it down and mix with ammonium. After a series of chemical pit stops, it comes out a quaternary ammonium compound... effectively coat your clothing with lipids, (fats) making the fibers soft to the touch." Yummy, eh?

Be careful about which brands you choose if you use either of these products!

Indoor Plants

As winter comes, more of us may be staying inside a little more often. A great idea for the indoor months: potted plants!

LiveScience's article The Environmental Impact of Indoor Plants tells us why.

The primary reason is "phytoremediation, or using plants to remove and retain toxins. This is where toxins like carbon monoxide, some volatile organic compounds (VOCs) or even cyanide might be absorbed and converted by the plant, while heavy metals are absorbed and retained in the plant. Indoor plants can be great at absorbing VOCs from paint or cleaning supplies so you aren't inhaling them."

Ben and I like to try to have a potted plant or two in every room where we spend a lot of time. We have six broccoli plants going in the bedroom; an ivy and some cat grass in the den; an aloe vera in Ben's office; and mint (and more cat grass...) in the guest bath. Not that hard. Especially if you grow useful plants like the mint, brocolli, and cat grass, or desert plants like the aloe vera (I can't even tell you the last time we watered that thing, but it's growing strong.)

Give it a try. Comment to let us all know which plants are easy and which are hard. And let us know if you have any problems.

[Thanks, Eric, for sharing the original article with me!]

Cans and BPA

Ok, so I am thoroughly freaked out. I basically live off of soup for lunch...everyday. But that's going to change after this week. Turns out that food cans are almost ALL lined with BPA-laden plastic. I should have known, but I've been in denial. Surely, the organic brands I live on wouldn't use BPA in their cans. Nope...

Skim through this article to see whether or not your favorite canned food/soup company uses BPA-free cans. Campbell's, Swanson, Nestle, and Carnation cans do use BPA, of course. But so do Amy's, Muir Glen, Wolfgang Puck, Whole Foods/365, and Annie's.

So, what do you eat for lunch??

A Healthy Nursery

When you're setting up a nursery for your little one or looking into baby shower gifts, remember to choose items that are good for baby and good for Mother (Earth). Amenity Modern Organic Living has a new nursery line with crib accessories, blankets, pillows, and furniture. Adorable prints are just the icing on the cake, as these products are make of organic and sustainable materials. Choosing organic materials for baby is vital, since conventionally grown cotton is one of the most pesticide-laden crops grown.

Amenity has organic bedding for adult beds, too, as well as table runners, placemats, napkins, wall decor, throws, and more. Treat yourself to some pesticide-free cotton, too!

For more options, Egg has a whole line of organic baby clothes and bedding.

Dish Soap

I know that the people who read my blog come from a lot of different places in their eco journeys. Some are pretty far along, making their own shampoos and cleaners at home and commuting to work on their bikes. Others are, let's face it, skeptical of the changes that they have to make as we face "peak everything." Most of us are, of course, somewhere in the middle.

So, for those of you who are too far along to need anyone to talk you out of your chemical-laden brands that you've become attached to, skip ahead to a different article. For those of you who are at the beginning of your journey still, I bring you scientific proof that these changes are going to be ok. You will survive. You will not be making sacrifices in cleanliness, utility, or happiness. Promise.

The following article is from the TreeHugger blog. It’s about how environmentally-friendly dishwashing soap works just as well as the chemical-laden brands you’re used to!

“Earth Friendly Product's 'New Wave High-Performance Auto Dishwasher Gel' held its own against Cascade in an independent study showing that these phosphate-free cleaners can perform just as well as conventional cleaners. Most cleaners give the impression that they add enough toxic chemicals to make them ultra strong and therefore able to obliterate any germ they come in contact with. Now its becoming more apparent that not only do we not need toxic chemicals near our family and in our homes, but they also don't necessarily provide any additional benefit.

“The test looked at ph-levels, solubility and anti-suds formation. Both solutions performed equally well when it came to removing dirt and grime from dishes. Then dishes were inspected for spotting and filming and both received high scores. Cascade had a higher ph-level: 11 compared with a 7 for New Wave (their site states that the ph level is 4-5). Plates and bowls were covered with egg yolks, buttermilk, tomato juice, butter, powdered milk, and spaghetti sauce and then run through a dishwasher.

“Conventional dishwashing detergents can contain phosphates, 1.4 dioxane, chlorine bleach, formaldehyde and caustics. Several states, including Illinois, Maryland, Minnesota, Vermont and Washington all have legislation banning phosphates in products by 2010, and Massachusetts and Michigan (along with Canada) are also considering similar legislation.

“The Wave High Performance Auto Dishwasher Gel dish detergent is formaldehyde/caustic/chlorine-free, and is plant-based and 100% biodegradable. Earth Friendly Products Co. has four manufacturing facilities strategically spread throughout the US to reduce the distance traveled from production to the customer. The company also has what it calls their 'Freedom List' which is a list of all of the items that their products do not contain. The line has also won several awards, including Natural Home Magazine's 'Readers Choice Award' for Best Eco-Friendly Cleaning Products and the 2007 PETA Proggy Award for Best Line of Cruelty-Free Household Products.”

Winter Sealing

For those of you out there who live in a place that has a winter, these tips could be very useful in helping you reduce your carbon footprint over the coldest months of the year.

This article on the Low Impact Living blog covers lots of helpful hints in sealing up your place this winter! It covers everything from locating leaks to assembling the right group of supplies to the actual insulation touch-ups themselves.

Disposable Dinnerware

Having a huge party and can't get enough real plates, bowls, and/or platters for the crowd? Consider VerTerra's "organic and compostable dinnerware make of fallen leaves."

The website says of its dinnerware, "Each piece is made from 100% renewable and compostable plant matter and water. No chemicals, waxes or dyes, like those found in disposable paper and plastic options. No harmful toxins that can leach into your food. No worrying. It’s also the most durable and versatile single-use product available—use it to reheat n the microwave, bake in the oven, or cool in the fridge."

Furthermore, you don't have to worry about human rights violations when it come to these products. "VerTerra products are made in South Asia, where our employees receive fair wages in safe working conditions and are provided access to healthcare. Our production process is simple and transparent: after collecting fallen leaves, we apply steam, heat and pressure to transform the leaves into durable products that will naturally biodegrade in 2 months."

Easy to order online. At less than $1 per piece, you can't afford not to be green.

Lofts and Space Savers

In their efforts to live more sustainably, greens around the world are reducing the amount of "stuff" in their homes. Some greens are reducing their carbon footprints even further by downsizing their houses. If you're one of the people who find themselves living in a small abode, consider skimming through TreeHugger's article Less is the New More.

I kinda can't wait to move to a city condo somewhere. And when I do, a super chic loft system like the one pictured here will really help make a small flat go a long way.

Hair Dye

So excited to hear about Act Naturals hair coloring options! I've kinda missed the fun of changing my hair color periodically. But I certainly did not want to get the chemicals of traditional hair dye on my scalp, in my lungs, or even in my home.

Act Naturals/Advanced Cosmetic Technologies is different. It is vegan, 100% plant based, and "cruelty free" (no animal testing). There is no ammonia or PPD in it either.

You can choose permanent or semi-permanent dyes in an exciting array of colors. A number of browns (including "chocolate mahogany" -- oh, how exotic!), blondes, and reds.

If you give it a try (or know of another natural, healthy brand), let me know!