Household product alternatives to plastic-made

It is virtually impossible to avoid plastic in our daily lives. Plastic is at our fingertips all day long. From the toothbrush, the shower curtain, your personal care products, your take-out lunch, to your keyboard and your water bottle. Over the last ten years the US has produced more plastic than during the whole of the last century, and it sadly accounts for around 10% of the total waste generated.

Since we pretty much depend on plastic and don’t think twice in storing food in the mismatched Tupperware that inhabits in the cupboard, here are some facts to make you reconsider replacing plastic with eco-friendly alternatives:

• It is believed that 90% of all the trash floating in the ocean is made up of plastic.

• Researchers have found that plastic debris acts like a sponge for toxic chemicals, soaking up in higher concentration deadly compounds like PCBs and DDE. These particles become highly toxic poisons to marine animals who frequently consume them.

• Plastic bags can take up to 1,000 years to break down, so even when an animal dies and decays after ingesting a bag, the plastic re-enters the environment, posing a continuing threat to wildlife.

• Only 14% of plastic water bottles are recycled. Americans consume 190 billion sodas, juice drinks, and other beverages packaged in plastic or glass bottles and aluminum cans each year. That’s over 650 containers per person per year—or almost two containers a day for every person living in the United States. *

• The average life expectancy of a toothbrush is about 75 years, and each of us will throw away about 12 pounds of plastic toothbrushes in our lifetime

• Straws can’t be recycled and most people only use them once. In the U.S., we use 500 million straws a day, enough straw waste to wrap the circumference of the earth 2.5 times or to fill the Yankee Stadium over 9 times in a year.

Old habits are hard to break but it is worth the effort to minimize the use of plastic when you read about these crazy facts.

Most of the plastic products we commonly use can be replaced with an eco alternative like the ones below:

Sponge Cloths
The alternative to sponges (normally made of plastic polymers)  or to paper towel for that matter, is a reusable sponge cloth or dishtowel. Sponge cloths are made of 100% natural cellulose, a material derived from wood pulp, which is a renewable resource. Just like a dishtowel that you can reuse several time to clean up spills, the sponge cloth is super absorbent and you can wash it and reuse it many times, plus it is sturdier than regular paper towel.

Reusable Snack Bags
These snack bags and sandwich sacks provide an environmentally friendly alternative to regular plastic sacks. Yes they are made of plastic, but free of BPA, PVC, latex and phthalates and are easy to clean and very convenient to take with you since they are sturdier than regular plastic bags.  They come in sets of four (two sandwich and two snack bags), and allow people to cut back on paper and plastic waste.

Bees Wrap
Bees Wrap was created as a more sustainable way to store our food. By infusing organic cotton with beeswax, organic jojoba oil, and tree resin, a washable, reusable, and compostable alternative to plastic wrap was created. It has a beautiful honey scent and it hangs on very well to bowls and works well as a wrapper for anything that you used saran wrap for. At the end of your wrap’s useful life in the kitchen you can reuse it as I fire starter!

Bamboo Toothbrush
Bamboo is naturally antibacterial and water-resistant, making it ideal for your toothbrush handle.

Baggu Reusable Bags
These are made from 100% ripstop nylon and are machine washable. Each bag can hold 2-3 plastic grocery bags worth of groceries. After each use you can fold them into a flat 5 in. x 5 in. pouch and store them in an orderly manner. Click here to see the different styles.

Stainless Steel Straws
Straws are such an unnecessary evil but it seems no cocktail or smoothie can’t go without one. Stainless Steel straws look stylish, are BPA-free and are the non-toxic alternative to disposable plastic drinking straws. They are manufactured from high quality grade food safe stainless steel so it is durable and dishwasher safe too. They come with a small brush that you can insert for thorough cleaning.

Bambu Spork
It is the best alternative to plastic silverware and since it is made from a single piece of bamboo, it doesn’t need glue or lacquers so it is safe to use with your organic food. Its size and weight makes it super portable and considering that it’s made from bamboo it’s naturally antimicrobial, stain resistant, and won’t retain stinky odors. 

Weck Jars and Mason Jars
The green smoothie and pressed juices “movement” put the mason jars back in the radar. If you are still using plastic to store your food you are not only ingesting BPA but those containers will take years to decompose. Both mason jars and weck jars will keep your food fresh and will make it easy to take on the go and rinse off. The weck jars are easy to stack to save space and both can be used to store more than just food. Click here for more ideas on how to use weck jars and here for mason jars.

*Center for Climate and Energy Solutions

DIY: A Succulents Mini Garden

If you don’t have a green thumb, Succulents my friend, are the answer. They thrive by the sun and need little water. Succulents are the friends of frequent travelers. Your neighbor says that he/she will water your plants and she may either forget or eagerly water them too much.

Succulents are the best alternatives for an eco home, in these days of draughts you can water them once a month if necessary. You can even keep them in the bathroom, as the moisture will be enough to keep them alive.

To do your own succulent garden, you need a few things that you can buy at a flower shop, craft store, or home improvement store. One important thing to remember: You can choose a terracotta, glaze ceramic, or glass pot. But if you choose glass you need to be very careful how often and how much you water it. A terra cotta or ceramic pot will provide better air flow and allow the soil to dry out easily. Or choose a container with a hole in it for water drainage.

Here is what you will need:
A variety of Succulents depending on the size of your pot/container

Moss

Rocks, pebbles, gravel, or river rocks

White Sand Soil Cover - like this

A container of your preference

Wood pieces for decoration

Instructions:

1.- Distribute the sand evenly in the container – fill 1/3 of the container.
2.- Place some rocks for drainage as a second layer.
3.- Add more sand – it will cover the rocks
4.- Make holes with your finger where you will be placing the plants
5.- Gently pull each succulent from the container – make sure to not disturb the roots - and place each one in the holes you made
6.- Cover the soil with the rest of the sand – you shouldn’t see the soil
7.- Sprinkle the gravel or place the rocks of your choice around the succulents
8.- Arrange the moss around the succulents – it helps with moisture. Moss comes in a variety of colors to match your decor.
9.- Add wood pieces  or any other item you would like for decoration
10.- Lightly water your succulents

Tips:

• Always water from the top onto the leaves - using a spray bottle is recommended

• It is normal if the lower leaves, near the bottom of the stem, shrivel up and die. Just removed them from your garden.

• If your plants develop bugs, you may have watered them too much. Stop watering them and use a combination of water and alcohol and spray them to kill any bugs.

• Do not allowed for the A/C vent to hit directly on them.

Is Your Mattress Toxic?

[photo credit: Coco Mat USA]

Most mattresses in the market today are made from petrochemicals, synthetic materials and chemical additives. Yes they are, made out of all those names that are hard to pronounce and that we actually find in pesticides and insecticides like roach killers.

You may think that our bodies can’t tell the difference, but that “new” smell that comes with your mattress is off gassing tons of chemicals into the air that you breathe and those poisonous chemicals like flame retardants can pass through the mattress covers.

It is required by Federal law that all mattresses contain fire-retardant materials (because some people fall asleep while smoking)  and the most common way to make mattresses fire-retardant is to douse them in toxic chemicals that can cause lung and heart problems, skin irritations, and other issues.

Below are a few of the toxic chemicals that can be found in conventional memory foam mattresses:

Antimony – Also found in vinyl and PET plastic bottles, is applied inside the fabric of the mattress as fire retardant.
Boric Acid –Also added to interior fabric is bad for the eyes, lungs, and causes irritation.
Vinyl – Used to make mattresses waterproof, contains phthalates and heavy metals.
Polyurethane foam – another plastic used in the internal structure and since it burns easily it requires fire retardants.
Formaldehyde – Commonly used as an industrial fungicide, germicide, and as a preservative in mortuaries serves as an adhesive and causes allergies, asthma, and cancer.

Just like there are organic fruits and vegetables free from harmful chemicals and pesticides, there are mattresses that qualify as organic. Since we spend one-third of our lives in bed, a better option is a mattress manufactured out of natural materials like wool, latex, organic cotton, bamboo, and/or coconut fibers.

[phot credit: Savvy Rest]

If you are in the market for a new mattress, below is a list of brands of organic mattresses to choose from:

SAVVY REST
Organic mattresses made with layers of natural latex foam rubber, organic cotton, certified organic wool in a wide range of custom combinations.
OMI
Poduces luxury certified organic mattresses and bedding, proudly handcrafted in America from the highest quality sustainable raw materials available.
ROYAL PEDIC
Luxury mattresses made with the finest natural materials from around the world, from pristine long staple cotton, to natural latex sourced from sustainable plantations, to the exuisite comfort of all natural lamb’s wool.
AVOCADO
One of the most popular brands and affordable natural mattresses on the market made with 100% GOTS organic certified cotton & wool, 100% natural latex
COCO MAT
Coconut fiber, provides adequate support for the body’s weight, while the more elastic layers of natural latex follow the body’s shape.
AWARA
Made with a layer of Rainforest Alliance-Certified Dunlop latex coupled with premium coil springs that adjust to your body’s unique curves and 100% Organic Wool fiber from New Zealand.
SAATVA
Handcrafted with the highest quality materials, including antimicrobial organic cotton, CertiPUR-US certified foams, and eco-friendly components and all of mattresses come with a 120-night home trial.
BIRCH
This NYC-based brand is OEKO-TEX and Rainforest Alliance certified and made with organic, natural, hypoallergenic, and anti-microbial materials, including a natural cotton cover, hygroscopic wool and sustainably-tapped latex.

Sleep sweeter with organic bedding

[photo credit: Grund ]

Just like choosing organic food, natural bedding materials are key to our long-term health.

Good quality sheets are an investment, but not only for you but for the environment. Conventional cotton farming uses more pesticides than any other area of agricultural production. Water run-off from cotton fields to rivers and lakes is common and the pesticides have a direct toxic effect upon wildlife.

Moreover, cotton sheets labeled “Wrinkle-Free”, “Easy Care” and “Permanent Press” indicate the fabric has been treated with formaldehyde resin, one of the most toxic chemical fabric finishes that is designed  NOT to wash out.

If you decide to invest in sustainably made sheets these are a few of the certifications to look for:

Oeko-Tex® certification - The Oeko-Tex® Association is a global testing program that screens more than 300 harmful substances in consumer textiles, including toxins and irritants.
GOTS logo – Gots stands for Global Organic Textile Standard. Both certify textiles to be free of harmful chemicals, but GOTS takes it a step further and certifies that no harmful chemicals were used from harvest through manufacture, waste was disposed responsibly, and fair labor practices are enforced.
The Better Cotton Initiative (BCI) - BCI exists to make global cotton production better for the people who produce it, better for the environment it grows in and better for the sector’s future.
Fair Trade Cotton -Fairtrade-certified cotton guarantees farmers a fair price for their crop and is produced without using the harmful pesticides, child labor or forced labor.

In terms of brands, if you make a google search there are plenty to choose from, but I gathered a few below with different budgets, styles and décor in mind:

[photo credit: Left: Plover // Right: Delilah Home ]

Coyuchi - Organic, Fair Trade Certified, GOTS Certified. Crib sets available as well.
Ettitude - Made from 100% organic bamboo which is softer, cooler and more sustainable than cotton.
Delilah Home – Member of the Organic Trade Association (OTA) offers organic cotton and hemp and partners with local and national charities.
Sol Organic - 100% raw organic cotton, Fair Trade Certified, GOTS Certified.
Pact - Organic cotton and Fair Trade Certified.
Plover - Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS) certified, Oeko-Tex's Standard 100 certified, and donates and partners with Save the Children.  
West Elm - Organic, Fair Trade Certified, GOTS Certified, also available in tencel and linen.
Natural Mat - Unbleached and undyed organic cotton, GOTS certified and the Soil Association certified bedding for babies and kids.
Green Fibres - GOTS certified organic cotton, made under fair and safe working conditions for the whole family.
Grund – Luxury brand Oeko-Tex's Standard 100 certified and FSC .