Green Products

Eco Friendly Pest Control Companies on Long Island

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Why Organic Pest Control?

We all want to feel safe in our homes, but by adding pesticides into our living space we may be impacting our family’s health. Children are especially susceptible to risks from chemical exposure.

  • A large body of evidence has linked certain pesticides with breast and other cancers, including Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma.
  • Certain pesticides are suspected of disrupting the body’s hormone system (endocrine disruption) by mimicking or blocking natural estrogens and other hormones.
  • Some pesticides, especially insecticides, can damage the nervous system and affect IQ. Some studies are linking pesticide exposure with Parkinson’s disease & autism.

Which LI Companies Provide Safer, Less Toxic Pest Control?

Green Inside and Out has identified companies as offering less harmful pest control by using methods such as pest monitoring and products that are less toxic, bio-based, and/or EPA Exempt (considered safe enough to not require EPA registration). This list is not necessarily comprehensive. Customers should always specifically request safer methods and receive a list of treatment methods/products in writing. Also ask for humane traps (non-lethal) for pest animals.

TIP: It is not advisable to spray chemicals indoors where they can be inhaled. Baits keep any chemical enclosed to reduce exposure. The toxic effect is a combination of the chemical’s toxicity level and the amount of exposure to it.

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Less Toxic Disinfecting in the Age of Corona

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In the midst of the current virus outbreak, many of us are seeking ways to disinfect. Be aware that some products that kill viruses in the short term, also contain chemicals that can leave residues on surfaces that may impact our bodies in the longer term. For example, Lysol Disinfecting Wipes get grade of “D” on the Environmental Working Group’s (EWG’s) healthy cleaning product ranking, because the ingredient alkyl dimethyl benzyl ammonium chloride is a potential cause for general systemic/organ effects, respiratory effects; and possibly developmental, endocrine, or reproductive effects. Clorox Disinfecting Wipes also get a “D” for the same reasons. Purell products have mixed EWG ratings so best to check individual product.

Aside from washing with basic soap and water (synthetic fragrance-free always a safer choice), the Environmental Protection Agency has created a list of disinfectants to address the virus, and lists hydrogen peroxide as a COVID 19 killer. Most sources are recommending a 0.5-3% solution.

Seventh Generation produces safer disinfecting products that use thymol as their main ingredient. While the product website does not specifically state that they can kill COVID 19 yet, the company attests that the products eradicate Influenza A virus, H1N1, Rhinovirus type 37, and Methicilin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA). The website says: “Seventh Generation disinfectants are not registered under the EPA’s Emerging Viral Pathogen program at this time. We have submitted an application under this program and will provide an update here once EPA review is completed.”[1]  The brand CleanWell offers a similar set of products (wipes and hand sanitizer) using thymol.

Also for hand sanitizer, one natural brand we suggest in this case (overdoing alcohol isn’t advised) is Dr. Bronner hand sanitizer which uses ethyl alcohol, water, organic lavender oil, and organic glycerin. You can make your own hand sanitizer with these ingredients (solutions with at least 60% alcohol will work):

Though they do effectively kill various germs, no sources are specifically recommending the use of vinegar or tea tree oil against coronavirus. Be healthy! #CoronaVirus #GreenCleaning

[1] https://www.seventhgeneration.com/blog/coronavirus-information-and-resources

 

 

 

 

Fair Trade and What It Means to You

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I had the fortune to be able to attend the 15th International fair Trade Summit in Lima, Peru this past month, along with members of the NYC Fair Trade Coalition, and gained a deeper understanding of the importance of fair trade certified products. Products that are produced with a Fair Trade certification mean that care is taken to ensure workers are paid fairly, working conditions are humane, no child labor is used, and environmental sustainability is factored into production. They are usually “artisanal,” hand-made or in small batches. Some common fair trade products are coffee, chocolate, and sugar, as well as clothing, jewelry, rugs, and handcrafts. Guests brought beautiful examples of all of the above from all around the world! Quite incredible to see.

Several conference workshops focused on climate change and the impacts to farmers producing the materials needed to create Fair Trade products. The Cool Farm Alliance spoke about their Cool Farm Tool – an online greenhouse gas, water, and biodiversity calculator. One workshop I attended had a lively debate on whether all Fair Trade products should be organic, with arguments on both sides—while most people would love to see all products produced using materials that are certified organic, sometimes it is not practical depending on market conditions, and this can sometime be due to the cost of certifying and maintaining farmland organically when it comes to food products, for example. The topic of upcycling (transforming unwanted materials into higher value items) and circular economy (an economic system aimed at eliminating waste) were discussed in terms of ways to reduce waste in production, and also issues of race and class in international trade—who is producing for who? Is the system truly fair?

We visited a Fair Trade Certified pottery shop, a chocolate factory making candy from jungle cacao, and a textile weaving company. All incredible to see. When you see the work, time and detail that goes into making items, and the faces behind that labor, it gives you a much deeper appreciation for the products they produce. The final leg of our journey led us to the magical heights of the lost Incan city of Machu Picchu and many sightings of llamas and alpacas, the fur of which is used to make a plethora of Peruvian textile products. Overall an unforgettable experience that taught me never to take hand-made items in our stores for granted. You can make a difference — what we buy does matter—so always look for the Fair Trade symbol whenever possible. #FairTradeSummit

Green Strategies for Pet Care

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Throughout human history, we have shared our lives with animals we call “pets.” For practical reasons such as herding or for recreational joy and companionship, pets have been integral in our lives and are now often considered family members. To care for their well-being, we can support products and lifestyles that protect and respect them and our natural world:

  • Healthy Food:
    • The ingredients in some brands may be produced via unsustainable methods of raising meat or have been manufactured with pesticides, antibiotics, artificial ingredients, or hormones. Such foods result in duller coat, insufficient digestive processes, weaker bones and teeth, decrease in energy, and the risks go on.
    • Horrifically, some brands actually have been known to use the meat of cats and dogs euthanized at shelters in their pet food.
    • By utilizing local or organic ingredients (fruits, grains, vegetables) that are safe, clean, and grown naturally, it may cost a bit more, but it means better health and less money spent at the veterinarian’s office. Buying products that use questionable methods of production will not encourage companies to improve their practices.
    • Look for labels that state the percentages of organic meat in the food, or if the product is USDA or FDA approved.
    • Cats can be vegan as long as they are supplemented with the amino acid taurine.
  • Poop Management:
    • Pet food brands that do not opt for ingredients run the risk of causing higher amounts of chemical toxins in their your pet’s waste. This causes the stool to take longer to decompose naturally.
    • Cat litters with clay in the sand do not break down easily and may build up in landfills.
    • Using regular plastic bags for clean-up exacerbates the issue. Consider purchasing biodegradable bags derived from plant components.
    • For cats, search for litters that use grains, vegetables, or newspapers, and silica for longer lasting utility.
  • Healthy Soaps & Flea Treatment:
    • Dogs’ skin and coats are sensitive to chemicals used in soaps or shampoos, and may lead to skin irritations and/or digestive issues if accidentally ingested.
      • Some shampoo chemicals may also contaminate local water bodies.
    • Always read the ingredient list labels on the soap bottle to determine the safety of the product’s components.
      • Avoid: artificial preservatives (Paraben, Isothiazolinone, formaldehyde), alcohols, sulfates, and polyethylene glycol.
      • Look for: natural ingredients and essential oils (lavender, rosemary, lemongrass, peppermint, chamomile), aloe, vitamin E, and/or apple cider vinegar.
    • For fleas, vacuum regularly to pick up eggs and choose boric acid or diatomaceous earth powders, or essential oil/herbal based treatments. Avoid insecticides, which may be nerve toxins.
    • Consider purchasing dog paw wipes that do not irritate sensitive paw skin, and are 100% biodegradable (look out for similar ingredients above).
  • Natural Pet Toys & Accessories:
    • Leashes, collars, and harnesses utilize nylons or leather, materials that can restrict a pet’s range of movement and comfort. Nylon is also not biodegradable.
      • Many companies now offer vegan materials such as organic cotton and hemp (applies to beds as well).
    • Toys made from plastics may be hazardous to your pet’s health due to the ingestion of small particles when chewed on. This could lead to health complications such as intestinal blockage or chemical poisoning.
      • Consider toys made from hemp or organic cotton materials.
    • If you choose plastic toys or accessories, look for recycled plastics to help protect the environment.

Having a pet is a serious responsibility and there are many complexities on how best to care for animals. But for all the effort, they equally provide us with a love and care, and help keep us physically and mentally active. A nurturing attitude towards a pet can be one personal step in making our natural world a better place for all creatures. It takes a single step; start with investment into the greater welfare of our four-legged, upcycled-frisbee-catching family member.

Helpful Links:

To hear our radio show on organic pet care, listen to our interview with Delta Farrington of Eco Dogs & Cats.

“Unveiling Fashion”: Addressing the Hidden Problems of Waste, Environmental Sustainability, and Labor Issues One Garment at a Time

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George Washington University, Washington DC, Sept. 29, 2018

 

Even after years of hearing and writing about sustainability issues in the clothing industry, I still shudder at the enormity of the problems. But, I also feel inspired by the innovative thinkers who are helping to solve them, some of whom were at the Unveiling Fashion event I attended on 9/29/18 at the George Washington University Textile Museum, run by the DC Sustainable Fashion Collaborative. (I was happy to be a sponsor and raffle off the Green Wardrobe Guide!) It is extremely gratifying to see how interest and solutions are growing in the field of fair, eco-fashion! From the amazing expert speakers, I learned these 15 surprising facts all clothing-wearers should know:

  1. 1 in 6 of the world’s laborers work in some aspect of the fashion industry, and 80% of garment workers are women. A recent NY Times article highlighted how some big name luxury items are often produced by people earning $2/day. There is modern slavery happening in garment-producing countries, and female workers are threatened with violence if they attempt to unionize. Fashion Revolution ran a campaign called Who Made my Clothes? to pressure companies to institute better transparency. They also have a program to offer clothing swaps and promote upcycling at high schools.
  2. Fashion industry = 5-10% of global greenhouse gases
  3. There are now “sewbots” that can sew basic clothing together like sheets and socks, which may bring big change to the garment industry.
  4. There is a product called Guppy Friend that helps take polyester microfibers out of your laundry.
  5. Household waste has grown overall 6% since 2000 but textile waste has increased 71% in that time, due to “fast fashion” (or “junk food fashion,” as one speaker put it) that keeps us buying cheaper goods that don’t last.
  6. Only 1% of textiles are re-made into new fabrics. 85% ends up in landfills. Thrift stores can only handle about 20% of donations so 80% end up being shredded into “shoddy” for seat cushion stuffing or sent overseas where it disrupts local economies.
  7. Though product producers and distributors like Amazon create a lot of packaging and shipping waste, they are not responsible for dealing with the waste – municipalities are, which means more taxpayer dollars spent for hauling and disposal. Re-Thread DC is an initiative to collect and repurpose disposed textiles to reduce waste. DC has passed a law that producers must take back at least 10% of the products they sell for recycling. There is a great economic development opportunity in materials re-use…
  8. India has banned genetic engineering of food crops, but that does not apply to cotton. One Indian farmer trapped in a cycle of expensive chemical use commits suicide every half hour.
  9. 52% of organic product shoppers are millennial so this is not a trend that is going away anytime soon.
  10. There is a “Regenerative” movement that is going beyond organic to focusing on replenishing depleted soil so it can better sequester carbon; soil from which our food and clothing fibers are grown.
  11. Stretch fabrics like Spandex are hard to make in an eco-friendly way and often cannot be recycled.
  12. Some textile dyes can be made using seaweed.
  13. Vogue magazine Australia, just hired a sustainability editor – (which is a big deal for a magazine that usually promotes many not- eco-friendly products)
  14. Greenwashing – sometimes stories told about products are misleading- one speaker said sometimes Guatemalan women may give up their handwoven textiles for a few dollars to put food on table, only to have them resold in the U.S. for hundreds because they are traditionally hand-made items.
  15. Idea: To help customers shop sustainable items, couldn’t Amazon have a sort function based on various standards such as Fair Trade?

So what are shoppers to do? There is no perfect answer right now, but as I said in the Green Wardrobe Guide—don’t buy what you don’t need, shop in thrift stores, seek out plant-based fabrics with natural dyes, and mend, donate or swap your clothes so they hopefully get another life. Do your homework and ask questions—consumer demand brings about change!!

Kudos to the DC Sustainable Fashion Collaborative! If you want to know more about the above, here are the groups to follow that are making a huge difference towards a more sustainable, equitable world:

5 Gyres

Brooklyn Fashion + Design Accelerator

Fair Trade America

Fashion Revolution

Fashionista

Fibershed

Free the Slaves

Goodweave

Green America

Guppy Friend

Lady Farmer

Metawear – Founded by author and ecopreneur Marci Zaroff

RRS Recycle

Textiles.com

#unveilingfashion #sustainablefashion #5Gyres #BFDA #FairTrade #FashionRevolution #Fibershed #FreetheSlaves # Goodweave #GreenAmerica #GuppyFriend #LadyFarmer #Metawear #MarciZaroff #Recycle #Textiles #Green_Wardrobe_Guide

Eco-destination Malta: 3 places to help you live a green lifestyle, Maltese-Style

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During my recent visit to Malta I got to visit three places that are helping the Maltese to live a greener lifestyle.

Peppi Gauci
Aquaponic system (fish below)
geodesic dome

 

 

1) Permaculture Research Foundation Malta, run by Peppi Gauci, maintains the Bahrija Oasis. After passing via a small path through a stand of bamboo, one enters a beautiful area transformed from previously unproductive land into a peaceful, lush and self-sustaining green sanctuary. Based on principles of permaculture which embrace nature as its prime example of design, Peppi and his team grow fields of vegetables organically, and grow plants via aquaponics– plants grow over a small man-made pond–as the plant roots feed on the waste of the fish, the fish feed off the nutrients provided by the plants. The Bahrija Oasis site is solar powered, and there is a system of composting toilets also called “humanure” toilets, which do not use any water and produce compost that can be used on ornamental plants. The site features circular geodesic domes which are used for meditation and meetings. The Foundation offers retreats and training courses for those wishing to learn by this inspiring example.

 

Paul Debono

 

 

 

 

 

 

2) Vincent’s EcoFarm is a certified organic farm in Mgarr. I visited while in Malta, and it was a real treat to see the large variety of beautiful plants growing there including numerous vegetables, herbs olives and red Gellewza grapes, which are indigenous to Malta. The farm has a mobile trailer for chickens who naturally fertilize the soil with their droppings, and are not killed– they are left to live out their natural life. People can come to pick up vegetables and preserves on a daily basis. The farm is owned by Gloria Camilleri (who drives an adorable electric vehicle), and is named after her father Vincent. The farm is operating a beautifully decorated, modern yet rustic bed and breakfast, and hosts healthy eating and yoga workshops.

 

 

 

 

 

3) D Street – Dressed by Nature ecofashion store in Sliema features stylish clothing made from eco-friendly, plant-based fabrics including organic cotton, Tencel (from eucalyptus), and bamboo. Owned by a young Italian woman, there are clothes for both men and women, for work or casual, and there are even socks and hemp shoes for sale. Items are made in Italy the US and other countries and are fair-trade conscious.

More Green Malta tips: There is a Vegetarian Society of Malta and a growing number of healthy eateries, such as The Grassy Hopper and Gugar in Valletta. Health food stores such as Casa Natura in Sliema and Good Earth in St. Julian’s help support a healthy lifestyle. While most local farms may use pesticides, as part of the European Union, Malta does not allow the growing of genetically modified crops, and GMO products are labeled. And, Malta was the first country to ban the use of the chemical Glyphosate (Roundup)!