Have you been buying “earth friendly” “biodegradable” baby wipes because you think they’re better for your baby and the environment?

Though some wipes may live up to their claims, those made by Earth’s Best and The Honest Co. don’t appear to be among them.

That’s why the law firm of Gutride Safier is investigating allegations that both companies falsely claim that the pre-moistened wipes they manufacture are “earth friendly” or “biodegradable” when in fact, they contain some plastic or other material that makes them  incapable of biodegrading in the environment— definitely NOT “earth friendly!”

If you have purchased  baby wipes sold by Earth’s Best and/or The Honest Co., please read this entire post and consider contacting Gutride Safier, as you may qualify to be a plaintiff in a class action lawsuit.

Disclosure: Gutride Safier has retained Big Green Purse to help inform consumers about this issue and let consumers know where to get more information. As always, our editorial opinions remain our own.

“Greenwashing” To Sell Baby Wipes

Many parents worry about the health and environmental impact of the use and disposal of baby wipes. Though disposable wipes can be very convenient, questions have been raised about the chemicals used to keep them moist and fragrant.

In addition, though some of the wipes are being marketed as “earth friendly” or “biodegradable,” it appears that the wipes under investigation are not made from earth friendly, biodegradable materials.

The wipes manufactured by Earth’s Best are made with polyester, a plastic composed of various chemical compounds typically derived from petroleum.

The Honest wipes are made from rayon. Although rayon is derived from cellulose (i.e., plant) fiber, allegedly neither polyester nor rayon are “biodegradable” because “they do not completely decompose into elements found in nature in a reasonably short time” after they’re thrown away.

If a product doesn’t biodegrade in a reasonable period of time once it’s thrown away, the Federal Trade Commission does not consider it biodegradable. 

Independent Testing Supports “Greenwashing” Concerns

An independent lab analyzed the fibers in samples of both Earth’s Best Baby Wipes and Honest Wipes. Here are the results of the analyses:

Earth’s Best Baby Wipes (Made by the The Hain Celestial Group, Inc.)

• The wipes’ substrate is composed of 62.8% polyester, as well as .7% rayon. (Substrate is the foundation material used to make the wipes.) Polyester is a synthetic polymer that is essentially plastic. Neither polyester nor rayon are “biodegradable” because they do not completely decompose into elements found in nature in a reasonably short time after customary disposal.

Honest Wipes (Made by The Honest Co.)

• The wipes’ substrate is 100% rayon, which is not biodegradable as explained above.

Honest Co. has added a disclaimer to its packaging noting that the wipes will “biodegrade & compost in municipal/industrial facilities.”

What this actually means is that you cannot throw your wipes in your own compost pile because they will not degrade there. Furthermore, if you do not have access to municipal composting, you will still have to throw the wipes in the trash, where they will not biodegrade.

The U.S. Federal Trade Commission’s Green Guides have specifically advised marketers “not to make an unqualified degradable claim” like this one “unless they can prove that the entire product or package will completely break down and return to nature within one year after customary disposal.”

Since customary disposal for something like wipes is the trash, they don’t appear to meet the FTC’s green guidelines.

What Can You Do?

If you purchased baby wipes from The Honest Co. or Earth’s Best, you may qualify to participate in a class action lawsuit. You can visit Gutride Safier’s website to fill out a confidential online form that asks for your name, contact information, and occupation so you can obtain more information.

Filling out the form is free and does not obligate you to take any next steps. It merely indicates that you are as concerned about the greenwashing claims of the named companies as other consumers are. An attorney from Gutride Safier will get in touch with you. There is no cost to you.

Why Does A Class Action Suit Make A Difference?

A class action is a type of lawsuit in which one or more people sue on behalf of a larger group of people, referred to as “the class.” A class action saves courts time and allows a single judge to hear all the concerns at the same time, and to resolve claims for all similarly affected people. If the court agrees to certify the complaints as a class action, all class members will benefit from any judgments or settlements in their favor.

Class action lawsuits can be highly effective at getting offending companies to change their greenwashing practices. Often, a court order requires the defendant to stop the offending practice. The defendant may have to end a false advertising campaign, and could be ordered to change product labels to stop using certain misleading words or to include warnings or better disclosures to ensure the public will not be tricked again. Other times, the defendant may be ordered to provide a refund to class members. The attorneys at Gutride Safier will answer any questions you may have about false advertising claims and class actions.

Start Here

If you purchased baby wipes from Earth’s Best or The Honest Co. because you believed they were biodegradable or earth friendly, and are dismayed to learn that they may be falsely advertised, take action by contacting Gutride Safier attorneys.

You will be legally represented at no cost to you, and if the lawsuit succeeds, you will play an important role in holding companies accountable for the green claims they make.

Click here to complete the form.

What If You Need to Use Baby Wipes?

With my two babies, I used plain old washcloths.

I kept clean cloths in one leak-proof container (either a Ziplock plastic bag or a rinsed out plastic tub), and used cloths in another similar container.

If I did not anticipate being near water, I’d wet the clean wipes in advance. If I was changing my babies at home or in a restroom with a changing table, I simply moistened the cloths from the faucet, cleaned up the baby, and stowed the dirty cloths when I was done (rinsing them out in the toilet first if they were poopy).

These days, you can buy flannel and cotton baby wipes like these, or you can make your own by cutting soft flannel into 8×8 squares.

Moisten them with warm water from the sink or from a water bottle. I personally always applied a little protective ointment on my babies when I changed them, so don’t think the oils and fragrances in most wipes are really necessary.

Information about Gutride Safier

For more than a decade, Gutride Safier LLP has been a national leader in advancing the rights of individuals against powerful companies and government. Gutride Safier’s attorneys have successfully litigated class actions to achieve nationwide settlements involving dozens of products and industries and are currently litigating many others. Hundreds of millions of dollars in settlement benefits have been made available to consumers and small businesses in cases alleging consumer fraud, false advertising, and racketeering. Gutride Safier’s work can be viewed here.

The post Stop Greenwashing “Earth Friendly” “Biodegradable” Baby Wipes appeared first on Big Green Purse.

Do you love daffodils and cherry blossoms…but hate pollen? As you’re oohing and aahing over the forsythia, are your kids sneezing, coughing and rubbing itchy eyes? Here are 7 ways to help your kids breathe easier throughout the pollen season.

Why Is Pollen So Hard on Kids?

Spring can be tough on little lungs, especially if they belong to kids who suffer from asthma and allergies.

Pollen is essential because it’s what plants use to propagate. It helps feed insects, too. That’s why pollen gets released for a good six months of the year, if not longer, depending on the climate.

It starts in early Spring, when deciduous trees, like maple, oak, ash and sycamore, send forth great waves of pollen-filled dust.

As the season progresses into Summer, grass pollens get into the act. And by the end of the summer going on Fall, there’ll be goldenrod and other flowering plants to contend with.

Here’s the problem: one pollen spore is typically smaller in diameter than a human hair – which is why spores are so easy to inhale.

Billions and billions of spores are released every year, making them impossible to avoid. When they get in our kids’ noses, lungs and respiratory tract, they wreak havoc.

At a minimum, they’ll send kids into what’s called the “allergic salute” – rubbing their noses upward to soothe an itch and then maybe rubbing their eyes.

In the worst cases, pollen can cause kids to suffer an asthmatic attack, which may lead to wheezing, difficulty breathing, and tightening of the chest.

None of these reactions is any fun, and in the direst scenarios, they can be life-threatening, especially when it comes to asthma.

7 ways to help kids breathe easier when they want to play outside in the Spring

1. Pay attention to pollen counts. Listen to local weather forecasts, or check out Pollen.com, a handy website where you can plug in your zip codes and get a report on the day’s pollen count and the top allergens in the air, and sign up for a mobile app that will send Allergy Alerts to your phone. The American Academy of Allergy Asthma & Immunology National Allergy Bureau also provides pollen counts for many cities in the U.S.

2.Limit time outdoors when pollen counts are too high for your child. This is a hard recommendation to take to heart since we all want our kids to be away from computer screens as much as possible and active. But if your child has asthma, or you notice your kid wheezing or blowing her nose a lot, she probably needs to spend a little less time outdoors. Pollen counts are usually lower in the later afternoon than earlier in the day, so sending kids out before dinner may be one way for them to get outdoor exercise without it taking a big toll on their lungs. Putting a little surgical mask over the nose and mouth may help, too. Maybe kids can invent games to play that involve them wearing masks. They could draw mustaches on them, or whiskers!

3. Enjoy the rain. Fortunately, spring is a pretty rainy season in many parts of the country. Rain washes a lot of pollen out of the air, so playing outside during a light drizzle or right after it rains is usually fine for most kids.

4. Keep car windows up and don’t circulate outdoor air into the vehicle. There’s no need to send pollen-laden air into a trapped space at high speed.

5. Dust with a damp cloth and vacuum. Even if you keep the windows in your home closed in the Spring, pollen will have a way of intruding. Dust with a damp cloth so you pick up the pollen rather than just send it swirling around, and vacuum to contain as much pollen as possible.

6. Laundry hung outside should be shaken off before being brought into the house. Pollen lands on everything outside!

7. Consult your family doctor or pediatrician. Depending on the severity of your child’s reaction, your doctor may prescribe antihistamines, an inhaler, or other medications. Your doctor may also conduct allergy testing to find out exactly what kind of pollen your child is most allergic to.

Are your kids allergic to pollen? We’d love to know how you help them deal with their allergies once Spring comes around.

Note: I originally wrote this article for MomsCleanAirForce.org. They’re a terrific group of more than one million moms working to protect us and the planet. Please check them out!

The post 7 Ways to Help Kids Breathe Easier When Springtime Pollen Arrives appeared first on Big Green Purse.

Dollar stores may be appealing because they’re so cheap. But according to a new report, they also sell many products made from components contaminated with toxic chemicals. Those products include toys, jewelry, school supplies, cosmetics and even kids’ pajamas.

Research done by the Campaign for Healthier Solutions, a national coalition of more than 100 health, community and environmental justice organizations, found that over 81% of household items tested contained at least one hazardous chemical above levels of concern.

That means that of 164 items tested, 133 of them could pose a health and safety hazard to the consumers who use them. The items tested came from 99 Cents Only stores, Dollar General, Dollar Tree, and Family Dollar, the four largest dollar store chains in the U.S.

Toxic Dollar Stores Not Obvious

Big Green Purse has long advocated that consumers shift their spending to the greenest products available. The problem in these toxic dollar stores is that there is no way for consumers to know which products are “green” and which contain toxic compounds. So many products in the stores are contaminated that is is almost impossible for people to shop selectively. For example, even if a product might be relatively free of a dangerous chemical, it could be packaged in vinyl plastic or another material that is undesirable. Plus, dollar stores are often the only option for people on limited budgets, especially those living in rural communities.

The chemicals of concern tested for this report include:

√ phthalates, linked to birth defects, reduced fertility, cancer, learning disabilities, diabetes, and other health issues;

√ polyvinyl chloride plastic (PVC or vinyl), which creates hazards throughout its life cycle and has been linked to asthma and lung effects; and

√ toxic metals such as lead, which harms brain development, leading to learning disabilities, lower IQ, and other serious health impacts, especially in children.

The report also found that:

• 49% of products tested contained two or more hazardous chemicals above levels of concern;

• 38% of the products tested contained the toxic plastic PVC;

• 32% of a subset of vinyl plastic products tested for phthalates contained levels of regulated phthalates above the Consumer Product Safety Commission limit for children’s products.

Here is a sample of the test results conducted at all four major dollar store chains:

“Children are at greatest risk from exposure to toxic chemicals,” say the report’s authors, “because they eat, drink, and breathe more per pound of body weight than adults, their bodies do not process many toxic chemicals in the same way that adult bodies do, and children’s bodies are changing and developing rapidly.”

Babies, infants, and toddlers are especially vulnerable to chemical exposures during the first 1,000 days of life outside the womb. In addition to chemical exposures from personal care products and inhalation or ingestion, small children may also mouth or chew on toys or on other products. Many children crawl on, sit or sleep on, play with, or put into their mouths items that are not specifically toys or childcare products (and so may not be regulated for exposure to children).

The report’s authors note that rates of chronic diseases and health conditions linked to chemical exposures have risen sharply across the United States over the past several decades, especially for children. Some of the most striking increases are:

• Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in children increased by 50% from 1997–2010, and autism spectrum disorders increased by 1,000%;

• Leukemia in children increased by 55% between 1975 and 2005, and primary brain cancer in children increased by 39%;

• The prevalence of asthma in children has more than doubled (100% increase) since 1980;

• Major birth defects are now the leading cause of infant death; the rate of some birth defects are increasing, e.g. hypospadias (birth defect of the urethra in males) has doubled;

• Incidence of breast cancer in adults has increased by 40%;

• Difficulty in conceiving and maintaining a pregnancy affected 25% more women in 2002 than in 1982; from 1982 to 1995, the incidence of reported difficulty almost doubled in younger women, ages 18–25.13.

The President’s Cancer Panel concluded in its 2010 report that “the true burden of environmentally induced cancer has been grossly underestimated.”

“The U.S chemical safety system that should ensure that chemicals used in commerce are safe is badly broken. In thirty-nine years since the passage of the federal law that should require chemicals used in consumer products to be safe (the Toxic Substances Control Act, or TSCA), only
about 200 chemicals out of 80,000 registered for commercial use have been fully screened for health and safety, and only 5 chemicals have ever been restricted.

When passed into law, TSCA approved more than 60,000 chemicals that were in existence prior to 1976. The law allows chemical manufacturers to keep the ingredients in some chemicals secret—nearly 20 percent of the 80,000 chemicals are secret, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). TSCA has failed to provide basic health and safety screening of most chemicals or protect public health from even the most hazardous chemicals, leaving consumers, manufacturers, and retailers to fend for themselves.

The Campaign for Healthier Solutions is urging that:

Discount Retailers adopt comprehensive chemical management policies to identify, disclose, and remove hazardous chemicals from their supply chains and from all products in their stores.

Local, State, and Federal Governments ensure that discount retailers comply with all relevant laws and regulations; and adopt public policies that require manufacturers and retailers to disclose hazardous chemicals in products and remove them when safer alternatives are available.

Families and Communities let Dollar store chains know that they want safer products, and join local and national efforts advocating for nontoxic products.

Big Green Purse recommends that, as an alternative to dollar stores, consumers purchase products from retailers like Wal-Mart and Target, which are making a stronger effort to stock and sell safer products. Even better, swap with neighbors and friends or buy gently used to reduce consumption overall.

You can read the full report from the Campaign for Healthier Solutions here.

The post Toxic Dollar Stores Are No Bargain appeared first on Big Green Purse.

George Saves the World by Lunch Time (Authors: Ley Honor and Jo Readman)

George Saves the World by Lunch Time  tells the story of a kid who’s determined to change the world we live in. The problem is, he doesn’t know how to do that. Good thing good ol’ Grandpa can help George in his quest! Grandpa suggests that George do the things that little kids can – like properly separate trash and recycling materials instead of throwing them all away. The moral of the story? Kids don’t need superpowers to save the planet. The little things they do every day are what make a difference.

The Giant Hug (Author: Sandra Horning)

The Giant Hug stars a little pig named Owen who travels the country through a mysterious post office. When it’s his grandma’s birthday, he could give her some actual thing or another. Instead, he wants to give her what means the most to him and her both: a hug. The problem is, she lives far, far away. But that doesn’t stop Owen from visiting his grandma. He just mails himself to her!

This is a fantastic book to teach kids how satisfying it can be to bring happiness to family, friends, and the people around them. Unakids, a charity that helps children survive in war-torn countries, offers a great example every day that love and kindness make a difference in people’s lives, especially children’s. By providing kids with constant love and support amid the armed conflict around them, the charity is helping children live happier, healthier lives.

The Curious Garden (Author: Peter Brown)

The Curious Garden is about Liam’s quest to save the world with lush and beautiful gardens. One day, he discovers a dying garden and decides to save it. Little Liam’s efforts aren’t in vain as the garden survives and miraculously spreads throughout the polluted city where Liam finds it, saving its citizens from sickness.

The Curious Garden teaches kids that saving one garden can go a long way. If all kids would be like little Liam, the world would be a much safer place to live in.

Do you have a favorite green book for kids? Please share!

This is a guest post.

The post 3 Kids’ Eco Books That Teach Great Green Values appeared first on Big Green Purse.

5 Healthy Reasons to Choose a Green Mattress

If you’re in the market for a new mattress, there are at least five good reasons why choosing one that’s green makes sense.

#1 – Conventional Mattresses May Contain Toxic Glues and Chemicals – Conventional or synthetic mattresses are usually made from components that contain toxic chemicals that could affect you or your family to varying degrees.

Three of the most common are:

• VOCs – Petroleum-based polyester, nylon and polyurethane foam all emit VOCs, carbon-based compounds that can increase some people’s risk of health problems. Several studies suggest that exposure to VOCs may make symptoms worse in people who have asthma or are particularly chemically sensitive (as I am). Short-term exposure may irritate the eyes, nose or throat, cause headaches or nausea, and make people dizzy. Long-term exposure could cause cancer, liver or kidney damage, as well as problems with the central nervous system. Mattresses emit the most VOCs when they’re brand new, but they will continue to “off gas” for some time thereafter. If your mattress is 10 or 15 years old, it’s probably not emitting many VOCs at this point. But if you’re buying new, take VOCs into account.

• PBDE flame retardants. Mattresses made with synthetic foams, batting, or fabrics must be treated with flame-retarding chemicals to meet the federal open-flame flammability test. These “polybrominated diphenyl ethers” are “toxic to both humans and the environment,” says the U.S. EPA. While their use has been phased out by U.S. mattress manufacturers, mattresses made in foreign countries still may contain PBDEs. And the alternatives some U.S. companies are using may not be much safer than what they replaced.

• Organophosphate flame retardants. Flame-retardant chemicals in mattresses that contain any amount of polyurethane foam are called organophosphate chemicals. Unlike VOCs, these chemicals do not become gases. You won’t be able to smell them, and their concentration may increase over time, rather than decrease. The levels emitted are usually low. But since you’re spending so much time on your bed, and inhaling deeply when you sleep, it’s definitely an important consideration.

#2 – Conventional Mattresses May Pollute Indoor Air – The synthetic chemicals found in conventional mattresses easily “off gas” into the atmosphere.  Even if you’re not sleeping on a new mattress yourself, you could feel the effects once it’s in your home because you could potentially be inhaling the gasses emitted by your conventional mattress.

#3 – Conventional Mattresses May Get Moldy – All mattresses are prone to mold, since bodies sweat during the night and that sweat can penetrate the mattress. It’s a good idea to use a mattress protector, no matter what kind of mattress you have. Amerisleep says that the “breathability of our foam/cover helps manage moisture by keeping you cool.”

#4 – Conventional Mattresses Could Provide a Breeding Ground for Dust Mites – In the mattresses Amerisleep manufactures, says the company, the dense structure of the foam it uses makes it dust mite “resistant,” meaning that it’s more difficult for dust mites to nest and feed. By the way, beware companies that make claims that their mattresses are “dust mite free.” That is probably not possible.

#5 – Manufacturing and Delivery Make a Difference, too – When buying a mattress, think about it’s entire “life cycle,” in other words, how it was manufactured, what it is manufactured from, and even how it is delivered to a store or directly to you. For example, Amerisleep says it “uses a patented process for creating its foam called VPF (Variable Pressure Foaming). This helps the company avoid using chemicals like CFC/HCFC (which deplete the earth’s ozone layer), methylene chloride, and carbon dioxide,” which contributes to climate change. The company factory recycles essentially 100% of its internal waste. It also packages up the mattress in a roll rather than deliver it flat, which reduces its shipping fuel consumption, an average of 80%.

What To Look For Instead

There are no federal regulations or standards that a company needs to meet in order to claim its mattress is “green,” “eco-friendly,” or “natural.” Your best bet is to look for companies like Amerisleep that back up their green claims with the following information:

• Specific details on what the mattress is actually made of. Plant-based foam, untreated wool, organic cotton and natural latex derived from rubber trees are greener options than synthetic foams.

• Independent certification of its product claims. It’s always reassuring when a company backs up its green claims by showing that it’s met independent and meaningful environmental and health standards. That’s the difference between ‘green’ and ‘greenwashing.’

• Manufacturing location. Look for mattresses manufactured in the U.S. or Europe, where standards regulating use of toxic chemicals in mattresses may be more stringent than those manufactured in Asia or Latin America.

Note: Sponsored posts enable us to provide expert content at no cost to you. Thank you.

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We often focus on poor air quality when kids are home in the summer and smog seems particularly intense. But even in September and early October, your community may experience Code Yellow and Code Orange days, both of which could make our kids sick. In this guest post from Clean Air Partners, based in Baltimore, MD, acting director Jen Desimone explains why we need to be on the lookout and what we can do to protect kids from air pollution.

It’s a bit of an irony, isn’t it? On the one hand, we want kids to get away from their computers and electronics and play outside. On the other hand, we don’t want them breathing unhealthy air. Created by the reaction of sunlight and emissions from cars and other sources, ozone pollution can damage lung tissue.

* Kids who already have asthma are particularly at risk when they play outside in polluted air. And while we all react to smog, children are among the groups most sensitive to poor air quality, as their respiratory systems are developing and they breathe in more air pollution per pound of body weight than adults.

* There are an estimated 7.1 million asthma sufferers under the age of 18. Asthma is the most common chronic childhood illness and the third leading cause of hospitalization among children under the age of 15.

* In the greater metropolitan Washington region alone, there are more than 18,000 children with asthma. Air pollution can make asthma symptoms worse and trigger attacks.

What can you do to protect kids from air pollution at school?

Monitor air quality. As a parent, you’re already probably on the alert. Clean Air Partners offers free, daily AirAlerts to residents across the greater metro Washington-Baltimore region. AirAlerts also provide a daily and three-day air quality forecast. When  an unhealthy air quality level is reached (in real-time) all subscribers are notified. Users can have AirAlerts sent directly to their email and can also use the Clean Air Partners Air Quality App for on-the-go information that can help keep students safe.

Talk to your kids’ coaches and day care providers, who may also be responsible for children during primetime hours. If your kids have a peanut allergy, or are highly allergic to bee stings, you let school officials and day care operators know. It’s the same with asthma and air quality.

When the Air Quality Index (AQI) reports unhealthy levels:

1) Timing is Everything: Limit kids’ outdoor physical exertion. Be aware that ozone often peaks in mid-afternoon and early evening. Adjust strenuous outdoor activity during off hours and/or reduce the intensity of the activity.

2) Pay Attention: Know how to recognize symptoms of respiratory discomfort, such as coughing, wheezing, breathing difficulty, and chest tightness – and reduce exposure if these occur. Asthmatic children are not the only ones at risk– all children are susceptible to these symptoms.

3) Rotate and Rest: Rotate players during physically exerting games and rest players to reduce exertion.

4) Have Options: Provide alternative activities that allow kids that have asthma or other respiratory problems to participate in activities that are less physical when pollution levels are high.

5) Play Indoors: If pollution levels are particularly high, move physical activities indoors where the air is filtered by an air conditioning system.

6) Plan Ahead: Asthma management is important and children with asthma should have adequate medication on hand and follow their asthma management plans.

Air Quality Guide to Keep Kids Safe

CODE GREEN: Great day to be active outside!

CODE YELLOW: Air quality is acceptable but this could cause health concerns for sensitive groups (such as athletes and those who spend a lot of time outside). Students who are unusually sensitive to air pollution could have symptoms.

CODE ORANGE: Limit outdoor activities. For longer activities such as PE or band practice, take more breaks and do less intense activities.

CODE RED: Everyone is sensitive to this level of poor air quality and should avoid prolonged outdoor exertion. Consider moving longer or more intense activities indoors or rescheduling them to another day or time.

CODE PURPLE: Everyone, especially children, should avoid any physical outdoor activities as pollution levels are very unhealthy. Move all activities indoors or reschedule them to another day.

Clean Air Partners would like to thank teachers and coaches in the community for contributing to an overall improvement in our community’s air quality and environment and keeping children safe. Have fun and make sure you check out cleanairpartners.net to sign-up for AirAlerts.

If you don’t live in the Baltimore-Washington metropolitan area, check in with your county to find a similar organization or agency that monitors air quality and will send you alerts to help protect your kids.

The post 6 Ways to Protect Kids from Air Pollution, Even When They’re Back to School appeared first on Big Green Purse.

5 Ways Triclosan is Wrong

Triclosan is a chemical compound that is added to many consumer products, especially hand sanitizer. It was designed to reduce or prevent the spread of germs. However, some research on animals shows that triclosan could affect the way the body regulates hormones.

1)  In males, it could reduce levels of testosterone, which could lead to learning disabilities or infertility.

2)  A similar compound, triclocarban, could increase production of estrogen and testosterone, which could lead to breast and prostate cancer.

3) Triclosan might also interfere with the normal development and function of the brain and reproductive system.

4) Many doctors worry that triclosan does the opposite of what was intended and actually contributes to making bacteria resistant to antibiotics.

5) Plus, triclosan gets into our streams, rivers and lakes when it is in the personal care products we unknowingly put on our bodies and then wash down the drain. Researchers have found that antibacterial compounds like triclosan can interfere with the development of tadpoles into frogs and cause other mutations that could threaten the survival of birds, fish and other animals that live on or around our waters.

How Can You Tell if a Product Contains Triclosan?

Triclosan is an added ingredient that should be listed on the label of any product it contains. Before you buy hand sanitizer – or toothpaste, liquid soap, and other personal care products – read the label. If it says “triclosan,” leave it on the shelf.

Is Triclosan-Free Hand Sanitizer Available?

Because consumers are demanding healthier, safer alternatives, many companies that make hand sanitizer are now producing a triclosan-free option. Where you shop in person, read the label before you buy. If you can’t find a triclosan-free hand sanitizer on the shelf, ask the store manager to order one. The following triclosan-free products are also available online and in our Amazon store:

Babyganics 

Cleanwell All Natural Hand Sanitizing Pocket Pack Wipes

EO Hand Sanitizing Gel

LA-Moon Organic Hand Sanitizer

Any other options you want us to carry in our store? Please let us know.

The post Green Back to School: Triclosan-Free Hand Sanitizer appeared first on Big Green Purse.

In their “Dirty Secrets” study, WVE commissioned an independent laboratory to test twenty popular cleaning products for hidden toxic chemicals from five top companies: Clorox, Procter & Gamble, Reckitt Benckiser, SC Johnson and Son, and Sunshine Makers (Simple Green). WVE found reproductive toxins, carcinogens, hormone disruptors, and allergens — none of which were listed on the product label. 

“Consumers deserve to know what chemicals they are being exposed to, so that they can easily avoid products that may cause allergic reactions or serious long-term health impacts like cancer, birth defects, or pregnancy complications,” WVE declares – and I agree. That’s why I support WVE’s effort to get Congress to pass new federal legislation that requires cleaning product manufacturers to disclose all the ingredients they use in their products directly on the product label.

I also support WVE’s effort to persuade companies like Glade to list ALL ingredients in their product on their label. You may think Glade helps clear the air. According to WVE’s research, here’s actually what Glade is putting into the air:

Toxic Chemicals Found in Glade (according to WVE research)

(These are just a few of the hundreds of fragrance chemicals that may be part of a Glade fragrance)

Synthetic musks. Test results in WVE’s 2011 Dirty Secrets report found one of these toxic chemicals hiding out in Glade. Musks are:

• persistent (they don’t break down in the environment)

• bioaccumulative (they build up in our bodies)

• potential hormone disruptors

• may break down the body’s defenses against other toxic exposures

• showing up in our blood and breast milk

Allergens. Test results in WVE’s 2011 Dirty Secrets report also found several allergens in Glade products. Tens of millions of people are sensitized to these chemicals, which cause reactions that range from red bumps, itchiness and wheezing to severe breathing problems.

What Can You Do?

* For starters, skip synthetic air fresheners. WVE’s research focused on Glade, but in all likelihood most spray air fresheners contain chemicals that have negative side effects similar to Glade’s.

* Clean your house or your car with hot water and a combination of fragrance-free liquid soap or baking soda, followed with a spash of vinegar and lemon juice. These are cheap, safe, and won’t cause the health problems associated with many synthetic fragrances.

* Find the source of unpleasant smells (rotting fold, mold build-up) and get rid of them, rather than try to mask their smell.

* Add cinnamon sticks, whole cloves, half a lemon or orange, and some apple peels to a small pot of water; simmer on the stove to enjoy a relaxing scent that won’t make you sick.

Send Glade a Letter Asking Them to Clean Up Their Act

Women’s Voices for the Earth has drafted a letter you can send to Glade urging them to reveal all the chemicals they use in their product – including those that can make us sick. Send it, and pass it along to your friends and theirs.

Thanks.

Related articles

Tell Tide to Clean Up Its Cleaning Products

Green Consumer Clout Motivates Tide to Clean Up Its Act

Women’s Voices for the Earth Champions Healthy, Safer, Non-Toxic Cleansers for Moms and Kids

The post Is Glade Air Freshener Bad for Babies? appeared first on Big Green Purse.

Think again.

When Women’s Voices for the Earth released a report noting that Tide detergent contained chemicals that could actually be harmful to kids, millions of consumers were outraged. They were buying the Procter & Gamble (P&G) product to keep their children clean and safe. Yet according to the report, Tide actually contained the cancer-causing chemicals 1,4- dioxane at levels safety experts considered threatening.

Mom blogger and consumer activist Lori Alper sprang into action by launching a petition drive on Change.org.  urging the company to ditch the dangerous compounds.

Today – 78,000 signatures later – Tide capitulated. In response to consumer demand and a lawsuit filed in California by As You Sow, P&G agreed to phase out the carcinogens by September 2013.

“When I started
my petition on Change.org, I knew that Procter & Gamble listened to
consumer feedback, and I was hopeful we could get this dangerous chemical out
of our laundry,” said Alper. “I can’t wait to see what we can do
next.”

Related articles

Women’s Voices for the Earth Champions Healthy, Safer, Non-Toxic Cleansers for Moms and Kids

Protect Us and Our Kids from Toxic Chemicals Now!

Tell Tide to Clean Up Its Cleaning Products

The post Green Consumer Clout Motivates Tide to Clean Up Its Act appeared first on Big Green Purse.

Other lunch boxes may be made from PVC plastic. Says the National Institutes of Health, “Because of PVC’s heavy chlorine content, dioxins are released during the manufacturing, burning, or landfilling of PVC. Exposure to dioxins can cause reproductive, developmental, and other health problems, and at least one dioxin is classified as a carcinogen. Dioxins, phthalates, and BPA are suspected to be endocrine disruptors, which are chemicals that may interfere with the production or activity of hormones in the human endocrine system. Exposure to PVC dust may cause asthma and affect the lungs.” In other words, avoid PVC!

Because you can’t tell by appearance whether a vinyl lunch box may contain lead, CEH advises parents to avoid buying vinyl lunch boxes altogether. You can test any vinyl lunch boxes you already own using a hand-held lead testing kit. If your hardware store doesn’t carry one, you can find one from LeadCheck. There is no independent way you can determine whether the plastic lunch box you buy also contains PVC. My recommendation is that if you have a vinyl lunch box – one that seems to be made from soft, flexible plastic – you should probably throw it away.

SAFER LUNCH BOX OPTIONS

Pack your kids’ lunch in a stainless steel box, cloth bag, or bag that has been independently tested to prove that it is lead- and PVC-free.  Many hardware stores now carry cloth and stainless steel options. Here’s what we’ve found (and that we sell for your convenience in our Amazon store):

Kids Konserve Insulated Lunch Sack – Good reuseable lunch sacks are made with no BPA, lead-free insulation. An inside pocket holds an ice pack. In some, when kids are finished with it, they can roll it down and tuck it away in their backpack.

Blue Avocado Insulated Lunch Tote – This tote features a PVC insulated liner, an exterior holster for housing a water bottle, and an over-the-shoulder messenger style adjustable strap. The bag can be folded into an attached pouch when kids are done with it. The exterior fabric is constructed from 50% recycled polyester made from plastic bottles and recycled yarn.

Mimi the Sardine Organic Cotton Lunch Bag -This organic cotton bag is coated on both sides with a PVC-free, water-based acrylic that is water- and stain-resistant. It can be wiped clean, or throw it in the machine (wash in cool or warm water, not hot), and tumble dry on low or air dry.

To-Go Ware Stainless Steel Food Kit – In addition to 3 food containers, this set also comes with bamboo utensils and a cotton carry bag made from recycled cotton.

What more lunch options? Pack sandwiches and snacks in stainless steel containers like these or these.

Having a hard time getting your kids to remember to bring their lunch box home? Put a deposit on it! Every time the kids bring their box home, give them a dime or a quarter to put in their bank. At the end of the week, let them redeem the money for a special treat or to make a donation to a cause they care about.

FIND MORE ECO-FRIENDLY BACK-TO-SCHOOL SHOPPING SUGGESTIONS HERE.

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