Between going to the beach, pool, and general hot and sweatiness of summer, I find myself doing more laundry than usual (blame it on the towels). As I’ve been using a great laundry detergent lately, I dropped everything (pun intended, wait for it) when I found dropps laundry detergent.
dropps is eco in many ways. First, they come in presized packs, so say goodbye to bulky plastic detergent bottles to recycle. This is great for college kids or city dwellers (or, moms and dads) who don’t want to lug around hefty bottles of detergent. Then, these little power packs of detergent completely dissolve in the water (like those Listerine mouthwash strips that disappear when they hit your tongue). dropps detergent claims to be 6x concentrated detergent, is biodegradable, phosphate-free, high efficiency washer compatible, chlorine-free, npe-free and safe for septic tanks. It comes in scented or unscented for those with more sensitive skin.
For a cool spin on dropps (the jokes are just so easy), check out their spin cycle blog, where their resident Stain Guru gives you tips on getting out everything from mustard and ketchup to watermelon (which is the leading cause of stains for my three year old!) They also post monthly listings of eco-events across the country, and keep you informed of dropps news as it unfolds. (I couldn’t help myself!)
Two caveats if you try dropps - keep them away from kids, since they look like candy in their pretty pouches (which you’ll do anyway since you’re all responsible adults), and be forewarned that they are more expensive than even brands at Whole Foods. The jury’s out on this one at my house. We’re in the testing phase at our house, and it’s tough to forsee buying a 60 load supply for $24 (eek!). However, you can find dropps cheaper at walmart.com, target.com, and amazon. What do you think?
For this weekend, and every weekend, keeping your kids safe from the sun and elements isn’t just about being environmentally friendly - it’s about keeping little ones healthy and happy as we celebrate our country’s birthday.
I’ve written about the Environmental Working Group a few times, and can’t stress enough the importance of their work testing and rating products you use on a daily basis. Will you be surprised to find the sunblock you use, with a high SPF and waterproof promise, didn’t make EWG’s cut? I wasn’t, although I’ll be making a switch this week! EWG has tested 952 name-brand sunscreens, only 15% of which has made their cut for UVA and UVB effectiveness, SPF stability and safe ingredients, among other criteria. You can read about their testing methodology and criteria, and search for your sunscreen. For kids, California Baby, Blue Lizard, and TruKids make the grade, while most of the supermarket brands, especially No-Ad and, would you believe, Neutrogena (!) should be tossed.
If you’re water bound, combining smart sunscreen with smart bathing suits makes a huge difference in your kid’s sun safety. The sunwear product Coolibar makes comfortable and fun UPF 50+ swimwear for the entire family. Find rash guard short and long-sleeved shirts and swimwear, chlorine-resistant sunhats for infants, eyewear and more. They also happen to be having a HUGE sale, so there’s plenty of time to stock up for the rest of the summer! They are also a recommended by the Skin Cancer Foundation.
Target and other big superstores also carry many products to help make the summer sun more friendly to you and your kids. Have a safe and fabulous Fourth!
If I had to tally up what I’ve written about the most frequently (product-wise), Seventh Generation would probably be the winner - for their partnership in the Wee Generation sustainable diaper bag; their “Get Out of Hot Water” campaign, and just overall general love for their products and commitment to eco-education and natural products. Now that many SG products can be found in ‘regular’ supermarkets, it can be even easier to try out natural cleaning and baby care products that can not only help your home, but your family’s health as well.
This week I have an awesome Seventh Generation Natural Baby Starter Kit for one lucky winner! The Natural Baby Starter Kit includes two packages of size 1 chlorine-free diapers; one tub of chlorine-free baby wipe, plus one refill; and Natural Baby laundry detergent, all in a handy SG tote bag. This is a great gift for parents to be to try out some natural baby products! The rules are simple - leave a comment here with an answer to this question - what’s your favorite Seventh Generation product? (I’m a big fan of Wild Orange Kitchen Cleaner myself.) This giveaway will be open until next Thursday, June 26th at midnight, PST. Good luck!
This contest is now closed. Thanks to everyone for entering!
BPA and the use of it in children’s drinking products and pacifiers is still a hot topic in the news and with consumers. Thankfully, there’s a ton of information available now to help parents make informed decisions about how to safely feed their babies and toddlers. There are a lot of brands to choose from that have safer options, and the BornFree line is one of the top recommended BPA-free bottles and sippy cups recommended.
The BornFree system of bottles was created by a group of dads (go dads!) whose concern for their children’s health allowed them to take a big step to help change the way bottles and cups are made. BornFree’s signature honey colored bottles are made from a BPA-free polymer (plastic), and they even provide a line of glass bottles, which has become a big feeding trend in the wake of BPA. The bottles also contain a unique venting system to help reduce colic and ear infections. BornFree can be found at Whole Foods, Babies ‘R Us, Buy Buy Baby, and other retailers.
BornFree is celebrating Father’s Day in a very special way. If you or someone you know has a baby this Father’s Day (June 15th, 2008), you can win a year’s supply of BornFree bottles (up to 10 of them)! The first one thousand people who mail in a copy of the hospital proof of birth or baby’s birth certificate to the address provided are eligible. Click here for all the rules and regulations regarding this giveaway. Providing babies a safe feeding system (aside from breastfeeding, of course) without worry of chemicals is a great way to start their lives!
While we’re on the topic of water, I received this interesting email from Seventh Generation about their new campaign, “Get Out of Hot Water“. While Seventh Generation makes wonderful, naturally-derived cleaning products for your home, they also put out a great monthly newsletter. Their writing addresses education about keeping our families safe from chemicals; environmental implications of our home uses, and how we can improve them; and philanthropies Seventh Generation is involved with.
“Get Out of Hot Water” is a wake-up call to use cold water in your laundry instead of warm or hot water. They explain that heating water uses 90 percent of the energy when doing a wash - eliminating that step can save you plenty of money, especially if you do as much laundry as we do! There’s a calculator on the site where you can estimate how much money you can save - just plug in if you use hot or cold water; if you have a standard or energy efficient washing machine; and how many loads of laundry you wash per week. If you take their pledge, you can receive a free copy of their guide Naturally Clean: The Seventh Generation Guide to Safe and Healthy, Non-Toxic Cleaning! The offer is good while supplies last, so take the pledge today! What do you do to reduce energy costs for your laundry?
Personally, I do wash everything in cold water, except for sheets and towels. Cold water protects the color of clothes, making them wear out in less time. However, I do believe that sheets and towels, that take a beating from our bodies on a daily basis, need to get a warm (not hot) bath. I’ve found that warm water is usually hot enough - I can’t say I’ve ever used the “hot” water on the washing machine! But this is personal preference!
Air pollution and asthma go hand and hand, as asthma rates in children have risen alarmingly in recent years - often blamed on exposure to environmental pollutants, absence of green space in cities, and a myriad of other reasons. Studies have shown that children in inner cities have it worse than suburban kids - often at a rate three times higher - and, combined with poor health care options, asthma has become a major problem in urban environments.
That being said, shouldn’t a new inhaler that lacks cholorfluorocarbons (CFCs) be applauded? CFCs have been removed from almost 100% of products, such as aerosol cans, and as of December 2008, no new albuterol inhalers with CFCs will be available. After reading the article titled “It’s Not Easy Breathing Green,” written by Gregg Mitman at the Huffington Post, the idea of this seemingly responsible device brings with it an alarming concern. These new inhalers, called HFA (for hydrofluoroalkane) - while better for the environment - are much more expensive than their CFC-laden counterparts. According to the AAAAI (American Academy of Allergy Asthma and Immunology), the new inhalers cost consumers $30-$60, up from $5-$25. And this is WITH a prescription!
So, here we are with a green predicament. For inner city and kids in poorer neighborhoods who lack insurance and proper medical assistance, it’s widely believed that they will be the last to receive these new inhalers. While supporting advances in medicine can, in turn, help the environment, how can we leave out a crucial group of people - kids, in this instance - who need the medicine the most? This is not the “Whole Foods is so expensive” debate - food co-ops and farmers markets allow people to buy fresh food and products without breaking their banks. Aside from bringing in a ton of $$ to pharmaceutical companies (Mitman’s article explains that asthma meds account for 20 percent of GlaxoSmithKline’s $35 BILLION in profits for 2005), what good is this really doing? Sort of the “if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it” theory?
The Partnership for Prescription Assistance can help if you need it; search for programs by state or pharmaceutical maker. A blog called Smoke Rings, Coffee Stains, claims that the new HFA inhalers is a “forced switch,” that they simply don’t work as well as the CFC inhaler, and this passionate petition also claims that the new inhalers may do more harm than good, physically as well as financially. How about asking major pollutant creators to foot the bill, since it’s their waste that’s creating the mess in the first place? If you or your child has asthma, please talk to your doctor about HFA inhalers, and how they may affect you out of pocket. And please pass this info along - this is too serious to not tell your friends and family about, for eco reasons as well as the health of your children!
For many, Memorial Day weekend signifies the official start of summer - here in Florida, it’s been scorching hot for weeks, but we’ll take the long weekend all the same! This is the time to hit the beach, the trails, backyard barbeques, and many other places where bugs are just waiting to eat you and your kids up. So, to celebrate bug season, I thought I’d highlight some new natural bug repellants and sunscreens I’ve seen making their way on the market lately.
Burt’s Bees - We use a lot of Burt’s Bees products in our home, and I love their sunscreen. My kids can’t stand the sunscreen sprays - they’re sticky and messy, and if I reapply it outside, it usually sprays everywhere but their skin. That being said, Burt’s Bees line of 100% natural sunscreens contains titanium dioxide, a natural sunscreen, as well as a blend of oils and plant extracts to keep skin from drying out. They also have an Herbal Insect Repellent with rosemary, lemongrass, and citronella oils, as well as a camphor and tea tree oil Bug Bite Relief stick for the bites that annoy even the toughest kids.
California Baby - Who doesn’t love California Baby’s signature bubble baths with wands? California Baby also has a wonderful line of sunscreens and insect sprays that are natural, hypoallergenic, tear free, waterproof, and made with essential oils. Many of the products are completely fragrance free, for sensitive kids, and come in either sprays, lotions, or even sticks. Check out their Suncare Basics Tote for a great sampling of their outdoor products!
Don’t Bite Me! Patch - I’m getting a sample of these babies next week, so I’ll do a more detailed post about it then. What’s interesting about the Don’t Bite Me Patch is, instead of an additional spray to pile on, it’s a clear, transdermal patch you wear. Vitamin B1, a natural insect repellant, is absorbed into your skin and covers your whole body. It’s DEET free, safe for kids, waterproof, and lasts over 24 hours. That being said, we’ll be wearing ours soon!
Liquid Net - billed as “The Ultimate Insect Repellant,” Liquid Net is 100% DEET free, non-greasy, and comes in really convenient towelettes and pocket-sizes that you can carry around with you!
A friend of mine, after reading Z Recs BPA report, sent me an email wondering about the dangers of parabens, talc, and other cancer-causing agents in products and make-up. Growing up, she was my make-up guru, spending many, many hours at her house steaming our faces over bowls of just-boiled water with big towels over our heads. It got me wondering about what teenage girls are buying these days (although one trip to Sephora speaks volumes), and if the word is getting out to them about chemicals in product they buy all the time.
Lucky for me, the wonderfully green site ecofabulous has led me to Teens for Safe Cosmetics, an amazing offshoot of the cancer education and charity program “Search for the Cause”. Teens for Safe Cosmetics is getting the word out about their “Dirty Dozen” chemicals found within popular products with teen-inspired programs and events nationwide. On April 4th, TFSC is hosting Turning Green, an eco-fashion show and spa event at the Broad Street Ballroom in New York City. TFSC will present a show and have many samples on hand for green beauty. With sponsors such as EO organic hair and skin care, Jane Iredale mineral cosmetics, and Elephant Pharm herbal pharmacy, you may even find some new products make their way into your home! And you don’t want to miss their top picks on ecofabulous - a great starter to helping your teens build a healthy beauty regimen.
A report Friday that had green blogs buzzing revealed that almost half of 100 ‘green’ and ‘natural’ products tested by the Organic Consumers Association have come back not so people friendly. Turns out, these products contain an FDA-known carcinogen (in lab rats) named 1,4-dioxane, which is actually a byproduct (meaning, the companies did not intentionally include this) created during production to help soften foaming agents. Your favorite brand may be here - Kiss My Face, Alba, even Seventh Generation do not escape. Here’s the complete list of products that were tested, and the parts per million 1,4-dioxane levels contained. On labels, look for “polyethylene glycol” or the syllables “PEG,” short for polyethylene glycol, -eth or -oxynol-.
Now, let’s not all throw out all our products yet again. There’s still sodium laureth sulfate and parabens hiding out in my shower, make-up case, and kitchen cleaners. The point of our reactions to this is sort of the whole point of why I started teensygreen in the first place. You spot what needs changing; you do what you can to change it. To me, running the dishwasher after we’ve turned out the lights for the night, and changing lightbulbs is a more immediate change that scouring products for PEG. However, does this taint how you view green products? Do you feel deceived? Does it make a difference to your buying habits, or, maybe more important, do you still trust these companies? The cynic in me wants to say “you can’t win,” and surely we won’t be able to entirely eliminate carcinogens from our homes. There will always “be something” to deal with!
If you really want to dig deep, you can run products you have in your home through the Environmental Working Group’s “Skin Deep” Cosmetics Database. My only caveat is you may get carried away and end up wanting to trash everything in your home, makeup included! Whatever you do, don’t empty your wallet over this. Responsible companies will for sure be correcting this problem!
Giveaways are my favorites to write and post, and these next few weeks are going to be super exciting, starting with this week. I was lucky enough to be put into contact with (and score a sample of) BabyBearShop’s line of super rich and luxurious mom and baby products. Started by mom Diana Lussenden Stewart, BabyBearShop’s signature Cheeky Baby Butter came about when she was living abroad and gave birth to a highly food-allergic baby. As Diana was strict with what went into her daughter, she was concerned about what was being put on her as well - and Cheeky Baby Butter was formulated. All of BabyBearShop’s products are made with 100% plant-derived ingredients, fair trade, cruelty free, 100% natural, and 99% organic. BabyBearShop is a member of SafeCosmetics as well as the Organic Trade Association, and collaborates with Healthy Child, Healthy World.
I have to say, I have used the Cheeky Baby Butter since the day I got it, and not just for my girls. I’ve used them on my hands, my heels, crusty noses, tushes, and scrapes. It’s amazing, and the teeny jar I have is going a looong way. It is the ultimate dry skin cream - you know, the one you’ve been looking for, forever.
This week, one winner can win BabyBearShop’s “Appreciate” gift set, which includes Certified Organic “All the Better to Kiss You With” Lavender Vanilla Lip Balm, Organic Cheeky Baby Butter, and the ever-famous Organic Mama Belly Oil. Leave a comment here with an answer to this - what is your favorite flavor of Lip Balm? The giveaway will be open until midnight PST on Thursday. Good Luck!
This contest is now closed! Thanks for entering, and congrats to Jessica!
