Things You Should Never Buy Or Use Again
I understand that these practices might be difficult to integrate in your lifestyle;
Please, try to limit their use.
Styrofoam cups
Styrofoam is forever. It's not biodegradable.
Alternative: Buy recyclable and compo-stable paper cups.
Best option: Invest in some reusable mugs that can be continuously used.
Paper towels
Paper towels waste forest resources, landfill space and your money.
Alternative: When you do buy paper towels, look for recycled, non-bleached products.
Best option: Buy dishtowels or rags to wash and reuse.
Bleached coffee filters
Dioxins is one of many chemicals formed during the chlorine bleaching process. They contaminate groundwater, air and are linked to cancer in humans and animals.
Alternative: Look for unbleached paper filters.
Best Option: Use reusable filters such as, washable cloth filters.
Over-packaged foods and other products
Excess packaging waste resources and costs much more. Around thirty three percent of trash in the average American household comes from packaging.
Alternative: Buy products with minimal or reusable packaging.
Best Option: Buy in bulk and use your own containers when shopping.
Teak and mahogany
Every year, 27 million acres of tropical rainforest (an area the size of Ohio) are destroyed. Rainforests cover 6% of Earth’s surface and are home to over half of the world’s wild plant, animal and insect species. The Amazon rainforest produces 40 percent of the world’s oxygen.
Alternative: Look for Forest Stewardship Council certified wood.
Best Option: Reuse wood and buy furniture and other products made from used or salvaged wood.
Chemical pesticides and herbicides
American households use 80 million pounds of pesticides each year. The EPA found at least one pesticide in every water and fish sample, from streams in more than one-half of shallow wells sampled in agricultural and urban areas. These chemicals pose threats to animals and people, especially children.
Alternatives: Natural pest controllers such as, diatomaceous earth.
Best Option: Plant native plants and practice integrated pest management. Plant flowers and herbs that act as natural pesticides.
Conventional household cleaners
It’s important to look and read labels of household cleaners. Commercial cleaners do contain hazardous ingredients such as, organic solvents and petroleum-based chemicals, that can release volatile organic compounds (VOCs) into your indoor environment, positing a particular danger to children and pets. The average American household has three, to ten hazardous products in the home.
Alternative: Look for nontoxic, vegetable-based, biodegradable cleaners.
Best Option: Try making your own green cleaner using vinegar, water and Castile soap.
Higher octane gas than you need
Only one car in ten manufactured since 1982 requires high-octane gasoline. High-octane gas releases more hazardous pollutants into the air, while damaging your vehicle.
Alternative: Buy the lowest-octane gas your car requires, as listed in your owner's manual
Best option: Or ditch the car and take public transportation, car pool, ride a bike or walk.
Toys made with PVC plastic
70% of PVC is used in construction, but it is also found in everyday plastics, including some children’s toys. Vinyl chloride, the chemical used to make PVC, is a known human carcinogen. Additives, such as lead and cadmium, are sometimes added to PVC to keep it from breaking down; these additives can be particularly dangerous in children’s toys. PVC is also the least recycled plastic.
Alternative: Avoid plastics that are labeled as “PVC” or “#3.” Look for #1 and #2 plastics, which are easier to recycle and don’t produce as many toxins. Use sustainable construction materials.
Best option: Take action to tell manufacturers to stop using PVC plastics, especially in children’s toys.
Plastic forks and spoons
Disposable plastic utensils are not biodegradable and not recyclable in most areas.
Alternative: Use compo-stable food service items. Look for companies make cutlery from plant materials such as corn starch and cellulose.
Best option: Carry your own utensils and food containers.
Farm raised salmon
Several studies, including one performed by researchers at Indiana University, have found PCB's and other environmental toxins present at higher levels, in farm raised salmon than wild salmon. Pregnant women, women of child-bearing ages and children, should be very careful when choosing fish, due to high levels of environmental toxins, including mercury, which is found in many fish.
Rayon
Developed and manufactured by DuPont as the world's first synthetic fiber, is produced from liquefied wood pulp. Unfortunately, turning wood into rayon is wasteful and dirty, due to excessive waste of water and chemicals needed to extract usable fibers from trees. Nearly one third of the pulp obtained from one tree will end up in finished rayon thread. The resulting fabrics usually require dry cleaning, which is an environmental concern, as well as an added expense and inconvenience. Much of the rayon sold is imported from developing countries, such as Indonesia, where environmental and labor laws are weak and poorly enforced. There is mounting evidence that rayon clothing manufacturing, contributes to significant forest destruction and pollution in manufacturing countries.
Beauty/Body Care with Phthalates and Parabens
Phthalates are a group of industrial chemicals linked to birth defects, which are used in many cosmetic products, from nail polish to deodorant. Parabens are preservatives, used in many cosmetics linked to breast cancer, though there is continual research. Phthalates are not listed on product labels and can only be detected in laboratory tests. To be safe, choose products from companies that have signed on to the Compact for Safe Cosmetics.
Plastic Wrap
In the past, most household plastic wraps were made with #3 PVC (polyvinyl chloride), which may leach toxins when heated or microwaved. Due to health and consumer concerns, most brands have now removed PVCs from household plastic wraps. However, commercial plastic wraps, including those used at grocery stores, commonly contain PVCs.
High VOC Paints and Finishes
Volatile organic compounds, or VOCs can cause health problems from dizziness to lung and kidney damage and are infamous, for polluting both indoor and outdoor air. VOCs are found in products including paints, as well as finishes used for wood, (stains or varnishes). There is a wide array of low or no-VOC paints on the market. Look for paints certified by a prominent, Eco-friendly company.
Styrofoam is forever. It's not biodegradable.
Alternative: Buy recyclable and compo-stable paper cups.
Best option: Invest in some reusable mugs that can be continuously used.
Paper towels
Paper towels waste forest resources, landfill space and your money.
Alternative: When you do buy paper towels, look for recycled, non-bleached products.
Best option: Buy dishtowels or rags to wash and reuse.
Bleached coffee filters
Dioxins is one of many chemicals formed during the chlorine bleaching process. They contaminate groundwater, air and are linked to cancer in humans and animals.
Alternative: Look for unbleached paper filters.
Best Option: Use reusable filters such as, washable cloth filters.
Over-packaged foods and other products
Excess packaging waste resources and costs much more. Around thirty three percent of trash in the average American household comes from packaging.
Alternative: Buy products with minimal or reusable packaging.
Best Option: Buy in bulk and use your own containers when shopping.
Teak and mahogany
Every year, 27 million acres of tropical rainforest (an area the size of Ohio) are destroyed. Rainforests cover 6% of Earth’s surface and are home to over half of the world’s wild plant, animal and insect species. The Amazon rainforest produces 40 percent of the world’s oxygen.
Alternative: Look for Forest Stewardship Council certified wood.
Best Option: Reuse wood and buy furniture and other products made from used or salvaged wood.
Chemical pesticides and herbicides
American households use 80 million pounds of pesticides each year. The EPA found at least one pesticide in every water and fish sample, from streams in more than one-half of shallow wells sampled in agricultural and urban areas. These chemicals pose threats to animals and people, especially children.
Alternatives: Natural pest controllers such as, diatomaceous earth.
Best Option: Plant native plants and practice integrated pest management. Plant flowers and herbs that act as natural pesticides.
Conventional household cleaners
It’s important to look and read labels of household cleaners. Commercial cleaners do contain hazardous ingredients such as, organic solvents and petroleum-based chemicals, that can release volatile organic compounds (VOCs) into your indoor environment, positing a particular danger to children and pets. The average American household has three, to ten hazardous products in the home.
Alternative: Look for nontoxic, vegetable-based, biodegradable cleaners.
Best Option: Try making your own green cleaner using vinegar, water and Castile soap.
Higher octane gas than you need
Only one car in ten manufactured since 1982 requires high-octane gasoline. High-octane gas releases more hazardous pollutants into the air, while damaging your vehicle.
Alternative: Buy the lowest-octane gas your car requires, as listed in your owner's manual
Best option: Or ditch the car and take public transportation, car pool, ride a bike or walk.
Toys made with PVC plastic
70% of PVC is used in construction, but it is also found in everyday plastics, including some children’s toys. Vinyl chloride, the chemical used to make PVC, is a known human carcinogen. Additives, such as lead and cadmium, are sometimes added to PVC to keep it from breaking down; these additives can be particularly dangerous in children’s toys. PVC is also the least recycled plastic.
Alternative: Avoid plastics that are labeled as “PVC” or “#3.” Look for #1 and #2 plastics, which are easier to recycle and don’t produce as many toxins. Use sustainable construction materials.
Best option: Take action to tell manufacturers to stop using PVC plastics, especially in children’s toys.
Plastic forks and spoons
Disposable plastic utensils are not biodegradable and not recyclable in most areas.
Alternative: Use compo-stable food service items. Look for companies make cutlery from plant materials such as corn starch and cellulose.
Best option: Carry your own utensils and food containers.
Farm raised salmon
Several studies, including one performed by researchers at Indiana University, have found PCB's and other environmental toxins present at higher levels, in farm raised salmon than wild salmon. Pregnant women, women of child-bearing ages and children, should be very careful when choosing fish, due to high levels of environmental toxins, including mercury, which is found in many fish.
Rayon
Developed and manufactured by DuPont as the world's first synthetic fiber, is produced from liquefied wood pulp. Unfortunately, turning wood into rayon is wasteful and dirty, due to excessive waste of water and chemicals needed to extract usable fibers from trees. Nearly one third of the pulp obtained from one tree will end up in finished rayon thread. The resulting fabrics usually require dry cleaning, which is an environmental concern, as well as an added expense and inconvenience. Much of the rayon sold is imported from developing countries, such as Indonesia, where environmental and labor laws are weak and poorly enforced. There is mounting evidence that rayon clothing manufacturing, contributes to significant forest destruction and pollution in manufacturing countries.
Beauty/Body Care with Phthalates and Parabens
Phthalates are a group of industrial chemicals linked to birth defects, which are used in many cosmetic products, from nail polish to deodorant. Parabens are preservatives, used in many cosmetics linked to breast cancer, though there is continual research. Phthalates are not listed on product labels and can only be detected in laboratory tests. To be safe, choose products from companies that have signed on to the Compact for Safe Cosmetics.
Plastic Wrap
In the past, most household plastic wraps were made with #3 PVC (polyvinyl chloride), which may leach toxins when heated or microwaved. Due to health and consumer concerns, most brands have now removed PVCs from household plastic wraps. However, commercial plastic wraps, including those used at grocery stores, commonly contain PVCs.
High VOC Paints and Finishes
Volatile organic compounds, or VOCs can cause health problems from dizziness to lung and kidney damage and are infamous, for polluting both indoor and outdoor air. VOCs are found in products including paints, as well as finishes used for wood, (stains or varnishes). There is a wide array of low or no-VOC paints on the market. Look for paints certified by a prominent, Eco-friendly company.
