We all know there are some products out there that were solely created for their convenience, no matter what the price the environment must pay. Here is a useful list of 10 commonly found household items that are bad for the environment and some alternative options so you can take action to make a better choice. You should no longer buy these items if you truly want to make a difference and live sustainably:
In the kitchen (and office):
1. One-time-use, disposable products: such as cling wrap; plastic utensils, plates, cups and bags; paper towels, plates, cups and bags; Styroform plates, cups, take-out boxes and packaging peanuts. If you use it once and then throw it away, it is more than needlessly wasteful in terms of resources used to manufacture it and the extra money it costs for the convenience. Styroform is not at all recyclable and plastic products like cling wrap are made out of the least recyclable plastic. And both will never biodegrade- they will sit in the landfill or pollute the ocean forever.
Alternative: Buy recycled, recyclable and compostable paper cups and plates. When you do buy paper towels, look for recycled, non-bleached products. Use compostable food service items, such as utensils made from plant materials like corn starch and cellulose (produced by companies such as Biocorp).
Best option: Invest in some reusable mugs, utensils, food containers, bags, etc. that can easily be carried with you. Buy dishtowels or rags to wash and reuse.
2. Over-packaged foods and other products: such as individually-wrapped snacks in a plastic bag for freshness, plus a cardboard box for product/brand information. The excess packaging on food items and other products is the cause of approximately 33% of the average American household trash. It also wastes resources and costs the consumer extra money.
Alternative: Buy products with minimal or reusable, recyclable packaging.
Best Option: Buy in bulk and reuse plastic bags or your own containers when shopping.
3. Bleached coffee filters: You have been using them for years, so what’s the big deal? Dioxins, the nasty chemicals which form during the chlorine bleaching process, contaminate groundwater and air and are linked to cancer in humans and animals. Knowing that makes you rethink a second cup of coffee, doesn’t it?
Alternative: Buy unbleached or non-chlorine bleached paper filters.
Best Option: Use reusable filters, such as washable cloth filters.
In the bathroom:
4. Beauty products with parabens and phthalates: What many people still don’t realize is that just because a product is approved by the Food and Drug Administration and is sold in stores, that doesn’t make the product completely safe for your health. Industrial chemicals and preservatives such as phthalates and parabens are linked to several cancers, birth defects, and autoimmune diseases such as allergies. These chemicals are found in everything from nail polish and cosmetics to deodorant and lotion. To be safe, check out which products do not use these chemicals at http://www.safecosmetics.org.
Alternative: Be suspicious of labels and read all the ingredients. Choose organic cosmetics and body products.
Best Option: Find a cosmetics company that has signed the Compact for Safe Cosmetics pledge and uses certified organic and natural ingredients.
5. Conventional chemical household cleaners: Almost all household cleaning products contain hazardous ingredients, such as organic solvents and petroleum-based chemicals that can release volatile organic compounds (VOCs) into your indoor environment, posing a particular danger for children. One study found the average American household has three to ten times of hazardous matter in the home compared to the outdoors. That means the air you are breathing inside of your house is most likely more laden with harmful chemicals than the air outside.
Alternative: Look for non-toxic, vegetable-based, biodegradeable cleaners, such as Seventh Generation products.
Best Option: Try making your own green cleaner using vinegar, water, and castile soap.
In the home:
6. Teak and mahogany wood: Wood from these trees makes beautiful furniture, but at what cost? You will be shocked to know that about 27 million acres (approximately the size of the State of Ohio) of tropical rainforest are destroyed every year. Teak and mahogany trees are found in the rainforests which 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 alone produces an amazing 40% of the world’s oxygen. Why would you want to destroy such an important ecosystem when there are other alternatives?
Alternative: Look for Forest Stewardship Council certified wood.
Best Option: Reuse wood, and buy furniture and other products made from used or salvaged wood. If you are not a carpenter, you can buy used wood furniture from resale or antique shops.
7. Toys made with PVC plastics: Although 70% of PVC is used in construction, 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. Also, 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 since the toys can end up in their mouths. Toys made in China are generally the most dangerous since they have less industry regulations. PVC is also the least recycled plastic.
Alternative: Avoid plastics that are labeled as “PVC” or “#3.” Choose items made of #1 and #2 plastics, which are easier to recycle and don’t produce as many toxins. Use sustainable construction materials.
Best option: Buy natural toys made of wood and other organic materials. Take action to tell manufacturers to stop using PVC plastics, especially in children’s toys.
In the garage:
8. Chemical pesticides and herbicides: American households use 80 million pounds of pesticides each year. The EPA found at least one pesticide in almost every water and fish sample from streams and in more than one-half of shallow wells sampled in agricultural and urban areas. These chemicals pose threats to animals and people, especially children, as they build up in the body over time and have been found to cause cancer, birth defects, and other illnesses. So, the next time you go to do yard work, ask yourself if you really need to kill the weeds and bugs in your yard that badly.
Alternatives: Buy organic pest controllers, such as diatomaceous earth. Weed your garden by hand.
Best Option: Plant native plants and practice integrated pest management. Plant flowers and herbs that act as natural pesticides.
9. Higher octane gas: When you go to gas up your car you may be tempted to choose the higher octane gas thinking it will give your car better performance. That is what the petroleum companies would like you to believe. In reality, only one car in ten that was manufactured after 1982 requires high-octane gasoline. So why not splurge on the more “pure” gas? High-octane gas releases more hazardous pollutants into the air, costs more at the pump, and may even be bad for your car. With everyone trying to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, why make a choice that will only increase them.
Alternative: Buy the lowest-octane gas your car requires as listed in your owner's manual.
Best option: Make your next car purchase a hybrid or electric car. Or ditch the car when you can and take public transportation, ride a bike, or walk.
10. High VOC paints and finishes: When you are picking out a new color of paint for your house, you should definitely pick one with low or no volatile organic compounds, or VOCs, which include chemicals such as benzene and formaldehyde. VOCs can cause health problems from dizziness to heart conditions, nervous system problems, cancer, and eye, lung and kidney damage. They are infamous for polluting both indoor and outdoor air. VOCs are found in products including paints, as well as finishes used for wood, such a stains or varnishes.
Alternative: Check out which paints are certified by Green Seal to be sure you choose a safe one.
Best Option: Try latex paint (90-95% free of preservatives and fungicides), all-natural paint (free from petrochemicals), milk paint (made from milk protein and clay) and whitewashes.
...And please remember that every little thing each of you does will help!