May 2013
3 posts
3 tags
Top 10 Fav Eco-friendly Products I USE.
Hey folks, so I decided I would make a list of my top 10 fav Eco-friendly products I use in my everyday life. Especially because I have recently had a lot of friends messaging me with questions about different products that are out there.
10.) Gardening: since it is spring and time to plant and garden, you’re going to have to prepare for a lot of bugs in your plants, veggies, and flowers....
April 2013
1 post
9 tags
February 2013
1 post
January 2013
8 posts
4 tags
4 tags
6 tags
3 tags
The Big List of Things That Suck - #38 - High...
“Nutritionists contend that consuming high-fructose corn syrup causes weight gain by interfering with the body’s natural ability to suppress hunger feelings. Of course, the high fructose corn syrup lobby contends that the substance is completely safe, but you can’t argue the evidence: 1. Currently, 64.5 percent of adults over the age of 20 are overweight, 30.5 percent are obese and 4.7 percent are...
4 tags
The Big List of Things That Suck - #37 - Hair Dye
“Most conventional hair dyes contain ammonia, parabens, sulfates, and 1,4-Dioxane, among other known cancer-causing chemicals.
Where to find it: Both professional and at-home hair coloring products.
Suck less: Ask (or look) for low-ammonia or no-ammonia products; typically these contain less of the other suckies, too. And make sure you color with the windows wide open—both for you and...
6 tags
3 tags
The Big List of Things That Suck - #36 - Green...
“Greenwashing is deceptive use of green marketing to make products and policies look more environmentally friendly than they are. Think “organic” lotion made with essential oils—and parabens. Just because it says “natural” on the label doesn’t mean it’s chemical free.
Where to find it: Front-of-packaging labels.
Suck less: Obviously, it would be better for all of us if we could check our...
September 2012
1 post
4 tags
April 2012
3 posts
3 tags
The Big List of Things That Suck - No.35 - Gold...
Gold is mined with super-toxic cyanide; its mining produces a huge amount of waste. According to the No Dirty Gold campaign, in the two-week period leading up to Valentine’s Day in 2005, American sales of gold jewelry caused 34 million metric tons of waste. Way to say I love you, people.
Where to find it: On your finger.
Suck less: Recycled metals are now relatively easy for jewelry designers to...
4 tags
The Big List of Things That Suck - No.34 -...
This offender is the top on my list of reasons that I chose to eat organic over conventional. Especially after I read a whole chapter on it in the Organic Manifesto.
A genetically modified organism (GMO) or genetically engineered organism (GEO) is an organism whose genetic material has been altered using genetic engineering techniques, which is how you get things like golden rice fortified with...
February 2012
1 post
4 tags
January 2012
3 posts
3 tags
The Big List of Things That Suck - No.33 -...
According to the National Academy of Sciences, more than 95 percent of the chemicals used in fragrances are synthetic compounds derived from petroleum, including toxins that have been linked to allergic reactions, among other things. More and more people are claiming “fragrance sensitivity” responsible for migraines, sinus attacks and more, yet since the industry is self-regulating, there’s no...
3 tags
The Big List of Things That Suck - No.32 -...
Formaldehyde has been linked to immune-system toxicity, respiratory irritation and cancer; it can be produced from the breakdown of diazolidinyl urea, imidazolidinyl urea and quaternium compounds.
And speaking of formaldehyde, many common chemical preservatives release the stuff over time, so also avoid the words QUATERNIUM-15, DMDM HYDANTOIN, IMIDAZOLIDINYL UREA and DIAZOLIDINYL UREA on your...
3 tags
The Big List of Things That Suck - No.31 - FLAME...
Flame-retardants found in most mattresses have been linked to autism and ADD, among other things. Yet we find them in crib mattresses where infants sleep about 15 hours a day.
Where to find them: See that tag that says you can’t remove it under penalty of death? That means there’s a flame retardant in the mix.
Suck less: Yes, eco-friendly mattresses made from organic materials like wool or latex...
December 2011
3 posts
3 tags
The Big List of Things That Suck - No.30 -...
I’m just going to put this post in Italics with Bold where it’s crucial:
American women throw away 60 million disposable feminine hygiene products each year. The average American women will use between 10,000 and 15,000 disposable pads, tampons and applicators in a lifetime. 13.5 billion pads and 6.5 billion tampons ended up in landfills in 1998, according to waste consultants...
3 tags
The Big List of Things That Suck - No.29 - FUR
In addition to the horrors of killing animals for their fur, according to the Humane Society animal pelts destined to become fur coats, blankets and more are treated with formaldehyde, chromium and napthalene—all toxic, all the time. Fur is so not pretty.
Where to find it: Significantly more expensive collars, jackets, pillows and throws.
Suck less: Just say no—even wearing vintage fur promotes...
3 tags
The Big List of Things That Suck - No.28 - FAUX...
Faux fur is made from non-biodegradable, petro-chemically based synthetics like acrylic, nylon and polyester; their production creates chemical runoff that pollutes our oceans, rivers and water table.
Where to find it: Collars, jackets, pillows and throws.
Suck less: Some eco-designers such as Loyale work with a lambskin-like pelt from organic cotton. But do you really want that $400 coat...
November 2011
6 posts
3 tags
The Big List of Things That Suck - No.27 - FAKE ‘N...
So-called “tanning pills” typically contain canthaxanthin, which can cause eye damage and liver injury, while plenty of “safe” sugar-based sunless tanning creams are still chock full of parabens, propylene glycol—also known as antifreeze—and artificial fragrance.
Where to find it: Tanning pills and creams.
Suck less: Try a chemical-free mineral bronzer, baby.
- EcoStiletto.com
I hate fake...
3 tags
The Big List of Things That Suck - No.26 - FAST...
So-called “fast fashion” has outsourced our $3 trillion a year apparel industry to countries like China, which exports ridiculous amounts of pollution—along with “disposable” clothing—to the United States. According to the Currency Reform for Fair Trade Act, the United States has established a $35 billion trade deficit with China by buying goods despite the fact that the country undervalues its...
3 tags
The Big List of Things That Suck - No.25 - FACTORY...
Raising animals for food requires massive amounts of land, food, energy, and water, and the byproducts of animal agriculture pollute our air and waterways. The Environmental Protection Agency reports that roughly 80 percent of ammonia emissions in the U.S. come from animal waste and that the agricultural runoff caused by the three trillion pounds of animal waste produced each year is the number...
2 tags
The Big List of Things That Suck - No.24 - ...
Skipping No.24 because, it’s kind of just silly and really unnecessary for this blog.
3 tags
The Big List of Things That Suck - No.23 - DRY...
Most dry cleaners use the toxic chemical perchloroethylene—also known as tetrachloroethylene—to clean clothes. Classified as a hazardous air contaminant by the EPA, perc can also contaminate drinking water when it gets into the water table and has been identified as cancer-causing by the International Agency for Research on Cancer, among other organizations. Perc has also been linked to skin...
3 tags
The Big List of Things That Suck - No.22 - ECO...
Newsflash: The words “eco” and “natural” are totally unregulated: They can mean that a product contains plant-derived ingredients and is cruelty- and preservative-free, but because they’re simply descriptives, they could also mean the manufacturer just threw these words on the label to make a sale.
Where to find them: Packaging, especially personal care products.
Suck less: Know your...
October 2011
6 posts
3 tags
The Big List of Things That Suck - No.21 -...
Besides the fact that so-called “disposable” Styrofoam and plastic tableware sit in the landfill forever, according to the EPA, carcinogenic polystyrene—which makes Styrofoam—is the fifth largest creator of hazardous waste. Want a side of cancer with that shake?
Where to find it: Take out.
Suck less: Look for compostable disposables made from veggies like potatoes—no, they won’t melt under your...
4 tags
The Big List of Things That Suck - No.20 -...
1,4 Dioxane is a human and animal carcinogenic and a nasty byproduct of processing harsh petro-chemicals with ethylene oxide to make them less harsh. Got sodium lauryl sulfate? Ethyoxylate it and you get sodium laureth—the “eth” indicates the process.
Where to find it: In personal care products that suds up like shampoo, bubble bath and liquid soap.
Suck less: Truly natural products rely on...
3 tags
The Big List of Things That Suck - No.19 -...
Not to scare you or anything, but we absorb 60 percent of what we put onto our skin. And, according to the Organic Consumers Association, the average woman absorbs five pounds of toxic chemicals each year just from her beauty products. With that in mind, flip over your favorite concealer and take a look at the laundry list of unpronounceable ingredients like DEA—also known as diethanolamine (say...
4 tags
The Big List of Things That Suck - No.18 - COTTON
According to the EPA, five of the top nine pesticides used in conventional cotton production in the United States (including cyanide, propargite and trifluralin) are known cancer-causing chemicals. Cotton eats up 25% of the world’s insecticides and 10% of its pesticides; it takes one-third of a pound of pesticide to make one conventional t-shirt, and two-thirds to make a pair of jeans.
Where to...
3 tags
The Big List of Things That Suck - No.17 - COAL...
Coal tar, found in dyes such as FD&C Blue 1 and FD&C Green 3 are known carcinogens (or cancer-causing) agents. Less than 10 percent of the chemicals and dyes applied to cotton actually change the color the fabric; the rest are absorbed into the ecosystem and—eventually—our bodies. Gives feeling blue a whole new meaning.
Where to find it: FD&C Blue 1 in toothpaste; FD&C Green 3 in...
3 tags
The Big List of Things That Suck - No.16 - CLOSED...
In several studies, the Environmental Protection Agency—not the most alarmist organization—found that the air inside the typical American home is actually dirtier than the air outside because of chemicals in our household cleaners and furnishings.
Where to find them: Buildings.
Suck less: Open up! Even just 10 minutes a day can make a difference to your indoor air quality.
- EcoStiletto.com
...
September 2011
8 posts
5 tags
The Big List of Things That Suck - No.15 -...
Mother doesn’t necessarily know best. Most of us clean our houses with the products that we remember from childhood—if it was good enough for mom, it’s good enough for us. But the chemicals in those products have been linked to illnesses like asthma and allergies, among other nasties too numerous to mention.
Where to find them: Under your sink.
Suck less: Simple, chemical-free formulas based on...
6 tags
The Big List of Things That Suck - No.14 - CAT...
Also known as pheremones and not necessarily generated from cats, sexually-attractive hormones derived from animal urine have been added to perfumes on the theory that if the chemical reaction they cause works in animals, it will also work for us. Which makes sense if you find yourself inexplicably attracted to cat piss.
Where you find it: Perfumes, typically synthetic.
Suck less: Vegan perfumes...
4 tags
The Big List of Things That Suck - No.13 -...
Forget vintage. These days it seems that newly minted cashmere is everywhere: Americans bought 10.5 million sweaters in 2005—15 times more than 10 years prior, according to the Seattle Times, which asserts that the increase in cashmere production, primarily in China, is wreaking environmental havoc. As the herds of cashmere-producing goats grow, the grasslands are disappearing, leading to dust...
4 tags
The Big List of Things That Suck - No.12 - CADMIUM
Cadmium is a carcinogenic metal that’s been linked to kidney and liver damage; the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention rank it as the world’s seventh most hazardous substance. In 2010, 12 million potentially toxic “Shrek” drinking glasses were recalled by McDonald’s; Fiona and Donkey were illustrated with cadmium-laced paint.
Where to find it: China is one of the world’s leading...
3 tags
The Big List of Things That Suck - No.11 - CARBON...
A carbon footprint is the measure of the impact that a person or business has on the environment, specifically in terms of climate change, as measured in kilograms of carbon dioxide. It’s also probably the most over-used term in recent history.
Where to find it: Calculate at CarbonFund.org.
Suck less: Reduce, reuse and recycle. Buying carbon offsets—one equals the reduction of one metric ton of...
5 tags
The Big List of Things That Suck - No.10 - BOTTLED...
Bottled water may be convenient, but it’s not exactly safe. Most plastic bottles contain that pesky toxic chemical BPA, which leaches into the water you drink. Plus, you may think it’s cleaner, but bottled water has tested positive for lead, copper, chlorine, mercury and—ick—giardia.
Where to find it: Where you used to find water fountains.
Suck less: A better bet is filtered tap water—even a...
6 tags
The Big List of Things That Suck - No.9 -...
BPA became a parent’s worst nightmare in May 2008 when the FDA acknowledged that this chemical—used to make hard plastic—was detected in urine of 93 percent of the population, including infants. A hormone disruptor, BPA mimics estrogen and has been blamed for growing public-health problems such as early onset puberty in girls, small testicular size in boys and breast cancer in women.
Where to...
3 tags
The Big List of Things That Suck - No.8 -...
Despite the fact that some landscape designers tout it as eco-friendly because it uses no water, I just can’t get behind fake grass, especially since AstroTurf settled a lawsuit in August, 2009 and admitted that its artificial turf contains harmful levels of lead.
Where to find it: Look around—see that stuff that looks too green to be true? It probably is.
Suck less: New seeds like Eco-Lawn are...
August 2011
11 posts
5 tags
The Big List of Things That Suck - No.7 -...
Yellow 5, Red 40, and six other widely used artificial colorings found in sugary cereals, candies, sodas and snack foods have been linked to hyperactivity and behavior problems in children and should be prohibited from use in foods, according to the nonprofit Center for Science in the Public Interest.
Where to find them: Don’t just think they stop at candy: More than a dozen varieties of lunch...
5 tags
The Big List of Things That Suck - No.6 -...
When it comes to underarms, it’s important to understand one essential distinction: Deodorants stop odor. Antiperspirants stop sweating. Stopping that sweat with chemical compounds like aluminum can affect the lymph system and compromise the immune system. Yes, it’s controversial, but scientists have suggested that the chemicals in antiperspirants may account for the dramatic rise in breast cancer...
3 tags
The Big List of Things That Suck - No.5 -...
Antibacterials interfere with testosterone production and have been detected in breast milk; overuse prevents them from working when they’re really needed, such as to fight things like E. coli and Salmonella bacteria.
Where to find them: Antibacterial soaps and sprays.
Suck less: Studies have shown that hot water and soap work just as well (or better) to fight germs and don’t mess with us, or...
5 tags
The Big List of Things That Suck - No.4 - ANIMAL...
ANIMAL TESTING
As many as 115 million animals are experimented on and killed in laboratories in the U.S. every year. Much of the experimentation remains ethically and scientifically questionable. Such testing calls into question the potential hazards to human beings, wildlife and the environment.
Where to find it: From cosmetics to medicines, animal testing is a routine part of a product...
4 tags
The Big List of Things That Suck - No.3 - ALUMINUM
“ALUMINUM
A 1993 World Health Organization “Public Health Report” cited autopsies which found high concentrations of aluminum in the brains of those afflicted with Alzheimer’s disease.
Where to find it: Antiperspirants.
Suck less: Natural deodorants made with baking soda, which controls stinky bacteria. You can even use an old powder brush to dust the stuff directly to your pits. Works...
2 tags
The Big List of Things That Suck - No.2 - AIR...
“AIR TRAVEL
Everyone knows that air travel is bad, bad, bad for the environment. But according the International Air Travel Association, which downplays global warming under the header of “Scientific Uncertainties,” aviation is responsible for a mere two percent of global carbon emissions, and 12 percent of carbon emissions from transport—as opposed to 74% from cars and trucks on the...
