Health

Earth-friendly Fashion: a Movement, and a Mission

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When I walk into my local mall looking for a last-minute eco-friendly gift for a friend’s birthday, a wave of dread washes over me. I wish I could find natural hemp leggings or cute pair of fair-trade sandals—but instead I find an overwhelming selection of human rights and environmental horrors.

In one store there are racks of chemically dyed shirts. In another there are stacks of sweatshop-sewn blue jeans. I vow to next time to order an eco-friendly gift online. Frustrated and saddened, I leave the mall and instead buy her a Visa gift card.

Finding Earth-friendly fashion shouldn’t be this difficult. Clothing also shouldn’t be thought of as “disposable.” That’s why I’ve made it part of my mission to make it easier for people to access fairly, sustainably and beautifully made clothing. For the past several years, I’ve been working on a book explaining about sustainable and ethical clothing and where to find it (due later this year!), so people can appreciate more about what goes into making their garments.

Just last week Green Inside and Out co-presented its first film screening, The True Cost, an eye-opening (and tear-jerking) documentary that gives viewers a behind-the-scenes look of the fashion industry. The film was shown at the Cinema Arts Centre in Huntington, NY.[1] [Read more…] about Earth-friendly Fashion: a Movement, and a Mission

Alternatives to Typical Toxic Vinyl Shower Curtains

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There’s a reason why your new shower curtain smells so strongly. The Center for Health, Environment and Justice (CHEJ) as well as the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) both have found significant off-gassing from common PVC (Polyvinyl Chloride) shower curtains. They found phthalates, toluene (a carcinogen), ethylbenzene, phenol, methyl isobutyl ketone, and xylene in shower curtains bought at five major chain stores. There were up to 108 VOC’s (volatile organic compounds) leached into the air from one curtain that remained airborne for almost one month. The inhalation of these toxins can cause anything from headaches and nausea to liver, central nervous system, respiratory and reproductive problems.

Shower curtains frequently contain the obesogen tributylin. An obesogen is a chemical that disrupt our bodies’ hormones and our natural ability to maintain a healthy body weight. They can alter metabolism, promote the storage of calories as fat, increase the number of fat cells in the body, and alter gut flora.[1]

 
Alternatives to Regular Vinyl
If buying a plastic curtain, look for a PVC-free, PEVA or EVA identification. PEVA (polyethylene vinyl acetate) and EVA (ethylene vinyl acetate) are plastics still made from petrochemicals (petroleum and natural gas), but they contain fewer VOC’s than regular vinyl. PEVA/EVA do contain chemicals, but are chlorine-free so have been shown to considerably reduce harmful off-gassing. They can be purchased at GreenerCountry.com.

There are also alternatives to plastic, listed below. It may be a few shillings more but worth it for protecting your health. Also, “anti-microbial/antibacterial/anti-mildew” mean more chemicals. There really is no need for these additives if you clean their shower curtains now and again.

Look for:

Excerpted from http://www.greenhome.com/

[1] http://www.care2.com/greenliving/10-surprising-household-items-that-cause-obesity.html#ixzz3cUrCuDlq

My Favorite Things at this Year’s Greenfestival

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The best part of the 2015 Greenfestival at the Javits Center in NYC was witnessing the Cafeteria Culture (formerly the “Styrofoam Out of Schools” campaign) win $5,000 towards the continuation of their efforts in schools. They successfully fought for the banning of styrofoam in NYC schools, and I’d love to see the same thing happen here on LI. Their styrofoam monster, made from the plates from just ONE lunchtime, must have made an impression on some decision-makers. See http://www.cafeteriaculture.org/foam-trays-out-of-schools.html

My 3 Favorite Products

  • Anti-human trafficking t-shirts: Sustainable items made by women who either escaped from having been sold into the sex trade or who are at risk and in need of financial opportunity. Started by a woman who was studying in Cambodia and saw how sad one family was to decide to sell their child as a desperate means of making money. T-shirts are made from organic cotton, and bags made from upcycled rice bags. See http://www.nominetwork.org/ or http://www.buyherbagnotherbody.com/.

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  • Socks for a Cause: Conscious Steps is an international company run by 3 young men that sell 4 styles of ethically made men’s organic socks, each one dedicated to a certain nonprofit organization. One is for a group providing HIV therapy for pregnant women in Africa, one is for food packs for children, another is for schoolbooks for children in Asia, and a fourth is for tree planting in Kenya. See http://consciousstep.com/

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  • Toys and kids tableware made from recycled plastic: This one is a no-brainer. While I prefer all plastic be a thing of the past, if children are going to play with/use plastic at all, it should at least be recycled. This brand uses the plastic from used milk containers which does not contain BPA. See http://re-play.com/

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4 Honorable Mentions:

  • The GrowOya—a terracotta jug that you plant in your garden and fill with water once a week—it naturally seeps water directly into the soil so less water is wasted by evaporation. Ancient technology made new again. See http://growoya.com/

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  • The Swedish cellulose dishcloth/sponge comes with fun prints and replaces 17 rolls of paper towels because it can be dried and reused. http://threebluebirds.com/

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  • Affirmats: Yoga mat made of natural rubber and jute (a plant fiber) so is totally biodegradable. See http://www.affirmats.com/

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And last but not least, my perennial favorite… the green burial casket and seashell made of ashes. This is the way I want to go. http://agreenerfuneral.org/

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Tapped: The Case Against Bottled Water

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I thought I knew what I needed to know about bottled water, but I found out some new things from the documentary “Tapped,” shown this week at the Unitarian Universalist Congregation in Shelter Rock. Bottled water is usually filtered municipal water that is sold back within state at a much higher price than tap water. The plastic bottle is made in a petrochemical plant and though PET plastic #1 is usually considered safe, this film pointed out that it can sometimes be contaminated with benzene, a carcinogen. Plastic manufacturing is an environmental justice issue, causing health issues in communities surrounding the factories. One thing I hadn’t thought of was that bottled water companies have tried to bad-mouth municipal water (this is documented in the film), and yet expect municipalities to pick up the tab for recycling their bottles, and have usually fought against the bottle return bills that have now passed in only 6 U.S. States. Since many U.S. communities do not have curbside recycling, the rate of bottle recycling is still only at 20%, so many bottles end up being landfilled, incinerated, or unfortunately, as litter in our oceans and beaches. For more info see http://www.tappedthemovie.com/, or watch it free here: http://topdocumentaryfilms.com/tapped/.

Eco-friendly Yoga

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Mat by Jade Yoga, block by Gaiam
Organic cotton yoga strap

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

If you’re practicing yoga, congratulations- you’re doing something great for your body and spirit. But is there a way to make it great for the earth too? Yes! Here are 3 ways to make your practice greener.

  • First, check into your yoga mat and see what it’s made of. It may be made with PVC (polyvynil chloride) plastic. However, the good news is that there are biodegradable mats made with natural latex, which is tapped from rubber trees. See Jadeyoga.com and Manduka.com.
  • Foam yoga blocks are likely made from plastic (often ethylene-vinyl acetate or EVA). Remember that anything plastic will not break down in the environment for hundreds of years. Look for wood blocks, or these cork blocks from greener country.com. (Gaiam also sells recycled plastic foam blocks.)
  • Finally, wear your inner bliss on the outside with organic cotton or bamboo yoga clothing which can be found from numerous retailers. I’ve even found a strap made of organic cotton!

All of these items can be purchased through Gaiam.com.

How Are Toxic Chemicals Related to ADHD, Obesity and Breast Cancer?

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Leading experts in children's environmental health: Dr. Phil Landrigan, Dr. Shanna Swan, Dr. Maida Galvez, and Dr. Amir Miodovnik

The Mount Sinai Children’s Environmental Health Center, headed by Dr. Phil Landrigan, held an educational forum for 200 mothers and advocates in New York City 12/5/11 entitled “Birth Defects, Learning Disabilities, Obesity and Breast Cancer: How Can We Avoid the Effects of Toxic Chemicals?” It explored the connection between toxic chemical exposure during pregnancy or in early childhood to common health effects. I learned a new word: “Obesogen,” or a chemical that blocks the bodies natural hormones that regulate metabolism, and can actually contribute to children becoming overweight. Speakers included the following: [Read more…] about How Are Toxic Chemicals Related to ADHD, Obesity and Breast Cancer?