Eco-Chick · The modern girl's guide to living green & fabulous.

People Won't Change for the Environment (on my campus)

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by Katie Kish · 09/03/09

A recent article outlines a pretty simplistic poll conducted in London about people’s willingness to change their behaviour for the good of the planet.

A straw poll of 15 British men and 15 British women between the ages of 25-75 in central London, showed all were willing to make small changes for the environment, such as recycling, but few would commit to more fundamental changes to behavior.

The outcome was pretty surprising. People will “try” to drive less, and others take a shot at proper recycling. But no one is ready for a change in their lifestyle. This inspired me. I was sure I could find better numbers and results here in Toronto, Canada. We are supposed to be eco-friendly up here, right?

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Safe Plastic Containers? Ask Chicky!

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by Stephanie Rogers · 11/17/08

Dear Chicky,

I just started to read your book (and I subscribe to the blog) and I love it! I do have a question, though: I’m curious about plastic container’s safety if you don’t put them in the dishwasher or use them for hot foods. Is this ok? Also, should I be handwashing the lids from the glass containers? Can these leach chemicals too?

Thanks for your time!

Spastic about Plastic

Dear Spastic,

Though the debate is still raging about the safety of chemicals like Bisphenol A and phthalates, you’re definitely better off safe than sorry. Both chemicals have been linked with health issues like endocrine disruption and breast cancer, and those are just the chemicals in plastic we know about – who knows what others lurk in our plastic food containers, baby bottles and other items.

Since you’re not microwaving plastic containers or using them for hot foods, you’re definitely on the right track. BPA leaches out of plastics 55 times faster when exposed to hot liquids than it does under normal conditions. But, even when they’re not heated, they’re risky. Personally, I switched my plastic containers out for glass, porcelain and stainless steel just for peace of mind. (I’m in the process of getting rid of ALL the plastic in my life slowly but surely- ed.)

You may want to avoid polycarbonate and PVC plastic containers altogether – they’re generally marked with a number 3 (may contain phthalates) or 7 (may contain BPA) in a triangle on the bottom. Plastics marked with a 1,2 or 5 are considered safe. Check the lowdown on plastics safety and numbers here.

As for washing the lids of your glass containers, the best thing to do is use lukewarm water, whether hand washing or sticking them in the dishwasher. If you’re using your dishwasher’s energy-efficient settings anyway – turning off the hot air drying phase and setting the water to ‘warm’ – putting the lids in the dishwasher is just fine. Chances are the lids on your glass containers aren’t worrisome, since they’re most likely made of polypropylene, but caution isn’t a bad thing when it comes to your health.

Safely Yours,

Chicky

Have a question for Chicky? Email starre (at) eco (dash) chick (dot) com or leave your question in the comments section below. Cheers to curiosity!!

Ask Chicky, plastics

Is Melamine Safe for Kids?

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by Kimberly Jordan Allen · 09/25/08

If you ever needed another reason to breastfeed, here it is. Four babies have died and thousands are ill after melamine was found in contaminated dairy products in Asia.

The industrial toxin, which is high in nitrogen, is added to milk when producers want to artificially boost protein content. According to the Associated Press, one in five national dairy companies tested positive for the chemical. The hygiene practices of dairy farmers dates back to 80′s standardization and this lack of updated regulation has allowed the antiquated technology to go largely unchecked.

After the pet-food scare with melamine it leaves one wondering what, if any, form of melamine is safe. I was recently given some kids’ bowls made from melamine. Are they at risk? Obviously the substance is solidified, but as we now know with regard to plastics, it is best to err on the side of caution.

Melamine flatware is usually created by combining the chemical with formaldehyde. Formaldehyde has been linked to asthma and cancer. In a piece for the Green Guide, Alexandra Zissu (author of The Organic Pregnancy – a great book I reviewed last year,) discusses the concern surrounding melamine and other durable plastics used in baby and toddler wares. In her article on plastics Zissu notes:

Aside from sippy cups, most kidware isn’t made of polycarbonate but of durable, colorful melamine. Melamine is a questionable choice for food because it’s made with formaldehyde, which has been linked to allergies, asthma and cancer. There’s no evidence that formaldehyde leaches out of melamine every single time it’s used, but some studies, including one by the Danish Veterinary and Food Administration, have shown that the chemical can migrate out of melamine and into food under certain circumstances, such as heat and when serving highly acidic foods.

In my home we have been using glass, stainless steel, #5 plastics and wood. As far as plastics go, it is wise to never use abrasive detergents or scrubby sponges as this can cause degeneration, which can lead to leaching. Zissu discusses what she feels are the best alternatives:

My daughter eats from our own lead-free ceramic dishes. She also eats from small stainless-steel prep bowls purchased at a kitchen supply store, and even the occasional glass bowl. I know some moms and dads worry about shattering glass, but she’s never broken one, despite the fact that the floor under our dining table is poured concrete (inherited from someone else’s renovation). It probably helped that we have firmly explained to her over and over and over that she may not toss the things.

Avoiding all things plastic is not a new concept. The idea of toddlers throwing glass and ceramic bowls at the dog can be daunting, but as Zissu says, teaching can help alleviate flying objects (at least ideally.) People go back and forth with the plastics debate. A few weeks ago a study was released saying “everything is OK – you can use BPA” and some of my friends told me they felt duped into buying BPA-free. But, here’s the thing. If we know we are already exposed to all of these chemicals in our environment and have a higher body-burden than our civilization has ever seen, isn’t it wise to err on the side of caution? When so many still use microwaves and plastics together, this just seems like a no-brainer to me. We put this stuff through the dishwasher (heating to high temps,) we serve hot food on it, and we bang it around and scratch it up. The attitude of “well, everything is dangerous – everything causes cancer” is resigning responsibility and leaving the well-being of our youth up to Dow and Monsanto, who as we know, have done a bang-up job so far.

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Deplasticize Your Life!

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by Starre Vartan · 08/18/08

This movie from the 1950′s shows Disney’s “House of the Future” which is totally kitted out in plastic EVERYthing. Ironic that here I am from 2008 writing about how to get plastic out of my life!

I haven’t picked up a plastic bag in weeks now*, and I’m looking for a new eco-challenge. I think a wholesale elimination of ALL plastic from my life could be a worthwhile next step towards the continuing greenification of my life.** Why plastic? Yes, it CAN be great (plastic medical devices save lives and plastic helps reduce the weight of cars so they’re more fuel-efficient), but mostly, it’s evil.

Reason 1: The Great Pacific Garbage Patch, an area TWICE the size of the continental U.S. that’s filled with floating plastic debris. The smaller the plastic gets, the higher in the water column it floats, with marine life choking on the stuff. The source of the debris? North America and Asia (that’s you and me).

Reason 2: Plastic is made from petroleum, a non-renewable resource that we’re spending millions of dollars and the lives and well-being of our fellow humans to obtain. Eight percent of oil worldwide goes to make plastics. My use increases demand.

Reason 3: Many plastics (we’re not even totally sure which ones yet) leach toxic chemicals into our environment (and us, especially fetuses) when they’re created, and into our bodies when we use them for food and beverage storage. Life is toxic enough without adding to it.

Instead of plastic storage containers, try: Glass ones. There are all kinds, from traditional round-shaped ones from Pyrex, but I like these square versions with frosted tops even better.

Instead of plastic produce bags try: Cloth or reusable ‘green’ bags (or none at all). Naturally-protected produce like bananas, oranges, apples, limes and avocados don’t need a bag- I never use them and my veggies aren’t suffering. Only leafy stuff and small fruits and veggies (cherries, brussels sprouts) really need to be bagged. I use the Evert-Fresh bags (but several companies make these now) because they keep produce fresh in the fridge way longer than supermarket produce babs. You can bring these to the market for those items that demand a carrier, and you can just rinse and reuse these. (I’ve had mine for four years now.) A friend of mine likes different-sized cloth bags which she throws in the laundry every now and again, so that’s another option.

Instead of plastic wrap try: A dish! (My father who lives in Australia actually taught me this one-thanks Dad!) Instead of putting plastic over a plate of leftovers, just use another dish of the same size or smaller. Want to be able to see what’s under there? Use a clear glass plate. For bowls, use teacup saucers (you can find these a goodwill for pennies. Food will stay moist and protected sans plastic, and the plates are reusable forever.

Instead of plastic baggies try: Wax paper bags or a cloth napkin.
This is a toughie. Sometimes there’s nothing like a sealable plastic bag- for something mushy or potentially messy- if I have to, I use mine over and over until they die so I don’t buy more than a box of these every couple years, if that. But for drier items (sandwiches, fruit, cut veggies) a wax paper bag will keep moisture in and it will eventually biodegrade (unlike plastic). I use a cloth napkin for short-term transport of homemade burritos, sandwiches and veggies which won’t leak much but need a bit of protection. I can use it as a napkin while eating; plastic, not so much.

Instead of plastic silverware, try: Bringing your own.
I carry my own utensils- or I should say utensil- with me: the Aussie splayde is perfect, but a spork works too, so I never need to use plastic. You could also try a set of collapsible chopsticks (I find a need a spoon more often than a fork, but think about what you eat and what works for you).

*The key to avoiding plastic bags is to carry an oversized bag so you always have a place for small items, keeping a fold-up reusable bag like Envirosax in your bigger bag, and leaving your canvas bags for grocery shopping in the car so you’re always prepared.

** So far I’ve switched to 75% organic food in my home, I drive only on the weekends, I’ve gotten a super-efficient furnace, use only low-VOC paints, compost food scraps, grow my own veggies and herbs, buy from my local farmer’s market from April-October, adopted all my animals, buy more than half my clothes and shoes from sustainable companies (see my blog, Eco Chick for a listing), take the train instead of flying, switched from a desktop to a laptop (they use 90% less power), bought a water and energy efficient new washer, and line-dry my clothes whenever possible. I’ve been vegetarian for 15 years, so that’s not recent, but it still counts!

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Nix Plastic from your Beauty Routine

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by Stephanie Rogers · 08/11/08

This week, it seems like everyone’s talking about plastic.  I wrote about the impossible task of cutting plastic out of your life over at EarthFirst.com, and it really got me thinking about the areas of my life where I could still improve.  Why cut back on plastic?  To be as brief as possible, it often contains toxic substances (BPA and pthalates), is usually made from petroleum and pollutes the earth and our oceans.  One thing I realized is for many of us, our personal care products and cosmetics are some of the biggest culprits of plastic consumption.  Here are a few ways we can all reduce plastic use in our beauty routines.

Use bar soap and solid shampoo.  Body wash and bottled shampoo nearly always come in plastic bottles.  Companies like Lush, Burt’s Bees, Herbaria and Oyin Handmade offer shampoo bars in various scents and formulations that will leave your hair looking just as gorgeous as any bottled shampoo could.  Plus, they’re usually wrapped in recycled paper.

Buy in bulk when you can, and fill up reusable glass or ceramic containers.  If you’re not crazy about bar soaps, give castile soap a try – many health food stores have large gallon-size bottles meant for refills.  Check out your local natural foods store; they might have more of a selection of refills than you’d expect. You’ll save money and packaging at the same time.

Look for multi-use products, like this Kiss My Face pigment that functions as lip color, blush and eyeshadow all in one.  It comes in a plastic container, but at least it will only be one plastic container instead of three.  Aveda also offers powdered foundation cakes with no plastic to be seen – it’s meant as a compact refill, but works perfectly fine on its own. Or, if you’re the brave and naturally beautiful sort, you could forgo makeup all together!

And of course, eco chicks always refuse senseless plastic junk like the Neutrogena Wave Power Cleanser.  And when you do have to buy items that have plastic packaging, at least try to go for brands that use recycled plastic.  Check the label before you buy.

Now I’m wondering, where are our reusable razors with flax handles? Why aren’t cosmetics packaged with biodegradable materials? Get on it, manufacturers – there’s a huge market out there!

cosmetics, Eco Beauty, plastics