Getting ready for the big freshman year move-in day was a long, long process.  I can recall multiple trips to Bed, Bath & Beyond with my mother.  Linens & Things, Target, Marshalls… we must have visited every home department store in every strip mall in New Jersey—twice. 

Looking back, that process seems totally crazy—all the waste involved, the extra boxes, the stress, the last minute buys, the MONEY… New students are excited, parents don’t want to forget anything—it can be easy to lose sight of the simple, easy, and green tricks that cut down on stress, cost, and waste, and are less taxing on the environment. 

Here are some of our favorite tips for greening your college dormitory:

1. Reuse: Don’t mind your old bedding? Bring it with you! Stores advertise specific products like “desk lamps” and “bed lamps,” but if you’ve got any sort of lamp that works at home, it’ll work at school, too!
2. Get crafty: If you hate those old sheets, but need some curtains—try recycling the fabric! Hate the color of your old desk? Get together with some friends and paint it a color you do like.
3. Shop locally: If you do need to buy some things for your dorm, buy them locally! Don’t ship anything when you can purchase those same items from a store in your college area.
4. Organic alternatives: Absolutely just hate your comforter and refuse to take it to school? Check out Moss Envy or a local eco-home store for organic fabrics.
5. Energy efficient lighting: use compact fluorescent light bulbs instead of incandescent—it saves energy, will last you much longer, and is more cost effective!
6. Energy efficient appliances: microwaves, mini-refrigerators…you’re going to need some snacks for your late-night studying, make sure your appliances are as efficient as possible. Check out Energystar—you can find their products at most appliance store locations.
7. Use a power strip: Power strips can be plugged into one outlet and then with one click of the button all electronics can be turned off when you leave!
8. Recycling: Bring a bin or box to keep recycling in—you can keep it under your desk or by the door, so that when it comes time to clean your room your waste will already be sorted!

Good luck, and have fun designing your new college living space! And always remember to unplug what you’re not using and turn out your lights when you leave…!

Think about all the personal care products you use in the course of a day.  Shampoo, conditioner, lotion, toothpaste, make-up, baby powder, after-shave… The average American uses about 10 of these products a day.  I, for one, am generally half-asleep when applying, and not always thinking of the more than 100 unique chemicals and toxins I am exposing myself to.

Thankfully, the Campaign for Safe Cosmetics is thinking about it. They’ve introduced the Campaign for Safe Cosmetics Act of 2011 to ensure personal care products we all use are free of harmful ingredients, and that the ingredients are fully disclosed to consumers.  Legislation won’t just benefit us—the consumer—but also small business and innovation in green chemistry.

The Campaign for Safe Cosmetics has been providing us with the truth behind our once-favorite brands and helping us navigate the unsafe terrain of the cosmetics and personal care aisle for years. They’ve taught us all about the well-advertised, highly toxic, unregulated products that sit on store shelves and in our homes. And now it’s our turn to support the Safe Cosmetics Act by making our voices heard. 

TAKE ACTION! Make sure your legislators understand the importance of the Safe Cosmetics Act of 2011 and ask them to co-sponsor the bill. Already, Congressman Mike Michaud of Maine has signed on as a co-sponsor. Stand up for your health and your right to know what’s in your products!

 Tell your friends and family to SPEAK UP to your legislators; don’t let them disregard the products that affect all of us—men, women, children, and the environment.  You can also check out the Campaign for Safe Cosmetic’s list of other creative ways to get involved.

 After you contact your legislator, remember to check out Skin Deep—the database that reveals what’s in your products and ranks their toxicity.

Last week’s sweltering temperatures and the fresh burn on my pale skin painfully remind me it’s time to find some sunscreen.  I can only fool myself so many times into believing that if I just wait the extra hour to slather on the SPF-60, I’ll manage a sun-kissed glow…this year I’m determined to avoid lobster-toned August—and to fully shield my skin from skin cancer. 

Skin cancer is the most prevalent form of cancer in humans, and rates in the U.S. are rising.  Our generation is lucky to have so many preventive options, but unfortunately not every option we have is safe, healthy, and effective.  In fact, the Federal Drug Administration has been deliberating for 33 years to regulate the chemicals in sunscreen for safety, and has only just released a statement outlining the restrictions.  According to the Environmental Working Group, these FDA approved rules fall far short of adequate. 

As you know, choosing the right sunscreen products can be difficult.  We’re here to help you in the process, as is the EWG’s list of approved products.  Here are some helpful hints:

• Look for products labeled UVA/UVB or broad spectrum. My beloved SPF-60, for instance, only protected my skin from UVB rays—leaving me susceptible to harmful UVA rays responsible for skin cancer, wrinkling, and skin aging.
• Stay away from products that include retinyl palmitate. (While oxybenzone has been listed as harmful and potentially cancer-causing by the EWG, a recent article in The New York Times sheds light on an apparent lack of evidence.  We suggest erring on the side of caution, however, and choosing alternative products if possible.
• Avoid fragrance when possible.
• Look for products with zinc and titanium dioxide.  Both active ingredients shield your skin from UVA and UVB radiation and continue to be regarded by the EWG as the safest sunscreen products available.   

You can feel confident in utilizing EWG’s list of approved products, and keeping these simple guidelines in mind when searching for your product preference, that your skin is protected from the sun and from harmful chemicals.

There’s no denying how bad tampons are for the environment. The facts are staggering:

• A menstruating woman uses on average 11,000 tampons in her lifetime.
• 7 billion tampons are dumped into landfills each year (plus another 13 billion sanitary pads!)

In short, feminine hygiene products are polluting our rivers, lakes, streams, and world.  

What many people don’t realize is that conventional feminine hygiene products are also harming our bodies. Conventional tampons and pads contain chemicals, toxins, additives, and synthetic materials. They are often made from chlorine-bleached and pesticide-grown cotton blends. These chemicals are known carcinogens (substances directly involved in causing cancer) and are being directly absorbed by our vaginal walls.  

To really “go green,” you gotta start with your monthly visitor. Last summer, we posted some information about these hidden dangers and offered some safe, smart alternatives. Here’s to celebrating those alternatives again.

Although getting your period may be a nuisance to some women, it should never be life threatening. Thankfully, there are companies making products you can buy and feel good about, like Seventh Generation, Natracare, and the Diva Cup: They all have the health of women on their minds. 

Research on the dangers of conventional tampons is ongoing. But we have enough information and alternative options now to make conscious and safe choices for our bodies and our environment. Empower yourself, your friends, and your family, and tell them about alternative, affordable, organic, and sustainable feminine hygiene products.