Is there a difference between products labeled “natural,” “non-toxic,” or “eco-safe”?  Is one better for our health? Or worse? Beth Greer at the Huffington Post tackled this label confusion in a recent article about cosmetics and personal care products. 

Greenwashing, a trick used by many manufactures, is the act of using labels which are misleading, vague, or even present false claims about the eco/health benefits of a product.  Below is list of greenwashed words Greer says to be wary of the next time you’re shopping.

Top 10 Greenwashing Watchwords

10. “Environmentally friendly” and “eco-safe.”

9. “Dermatologist tested,” “sensitivity tested,” and/or “hypoallergenic”

8. “Allergy-friendly fragrance” and “fragrance-free”

7. “Nontoxic”

6. “Derived from…” (For example, “derived from coconut oil”)

5. “Free of…”

4. “Certified Green”

3. “Natural”

2. “Organic”

1. “Made with…” (For example, “made with real lemon”)

For more information about each of the 10 Greenwashing Watchwords, go to the article, “10 ways to tell if a product is (or isn’t) really ‘natural’”

My 2-year-old nephew is very excited for Christmas. When I asked him what he would like Santa (aka, me) to bring, he exclaimed, “Toyyyyys!!!!” I should have known. 

Being the fastidious Aunt I am, I started researching presents. I came across what appeared to be common toys: train sets, stuffed animals, fire trucks, building blocks, books, puzzles. Then I came across a startling website that exposed the toxic truth behind many of today’s popular toys.

Toxic Toys R Us is working to inform consumers and investors about the dangerous chemicals lurking in children’s toys at Toys R Us—particularly PVC--the poison plastic. PVC has been linked to chronic diseases in children, birth defects, cancer, endocrine system disruption, reproductive impairment, and immune system suppression. Bottom line: PVC is really bad news.

You may be wondering why they are targeting just Toys R Us when there are numerous toy stores on the market. In 2008, Toys R Us made a promise to reduce PVC plastics, phthalates, and lead in children’s and infant’s toys--a promise they broke. Toys R Us continues to sell products containing PVC without warnings or labels of any kind.

A report from the Center for Health, Environment & Justice (CHEJ) points out “in order for PVC to be used in toys, it must be mixed with lead, cadmium or organic chemicals containing tin.” When ingested, these chemicals are extremely toxic, especially for children. I think about my nephew playing with a PVC-laden toy, and imagine him biting it, or sticking it in the mouth of his younger sister. Though toys aren’t meant to be eaten, kids inadvertently ingest chemicals from them all the time.

What can you do to make sure the kids you care about aren’t being exposed to toxic chemicals? Take action and sign a petition urging Congress to eliminate PVC in toys. Share this story with your friends and family to help expose the truth. And most importantly, avoid buying toys containing PVC. Sign up with CHEJ to download a PVC-Free Guide for Your Family & Home.

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Here are some companies and makers of non-toxic toys, suggested by our readers:

• Pretty Dreamer--Original & handmade waldorf-inspired wood toys, art toys, home decor and housewares. All materials are carefully chosen and non-toxic. http://www.etsy.com/shop/prettydreamer
• The Color Shop & More--Professional art supplies, anthroposophical books, Waldorf toys and children's books, etc. In Wilton, NH .http://www.facebook.com/pages/Wilton-NH/The-Color-Shop-and-More/85573709375

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, and it seems as of late every product around us contains the famous pink ribbon. Buying these products makes us feel like we’re doing something to fight the disease affecting more than 207,000 women each year. What most people don’t realize though, is a large majority of these pink items actually perpetuate breast cancer.

Is this pink ribbon helping to fight breast cancer, or actually causing it?

It’s a phenomenon known as “pink washing,” and it means “companies purport to care about breast cancer by promoting a pink ribboned product, but in reality manufacture products that are linked to the disease.” Examples of pink washing include plastic water bottles, which leach BPA; Nail polish, which contains formaldehyde, phthalates, and other carcinogens; and lipsticks, which contain lead.  

While this is disheartening, there's something you can do about it. Check out Breast Cancer Action's Think Before You Pink website to help make informed decisions when purchasing a pink product. They offer these five easy questions to ask yourself:

   1. How much money from your purchase actually goes toward breast cancer? Is the amount clearly stated on the package?

   2. What is the maximum amount that will be donated?

   3. How are the funds being raised?

   4. To what breast cancer organization does the money go, and what types of programs does it support?

   5. What is the company doing to assure that its products are not actually contributing to the breast cancer epidemic?

 You can also visit this site to download and print handy tip cards for you and your friends.

Apple picking is undoubtedly one of New England’s most anticipated fall activities. Unfortunately, apples tend to be heavily sprayed with pesticides. One study found evidence of 42 different pesticide residues on apples!

Luckily, New England is home to a growing number of certified organic apple orchards. The following orchards use organic growing practices or are certified organic, which means that they have been produced and handled without the use of synthetic chemicals (Organic Foods Production Act of 1990).

Maine

Raven Hill Orchard
225 Ossipee Hill Road, East Waterboro, Maine 04030 - 207-247-4455
In addition to more than 30 varieties of organic apples, this orchard also boasts a bakery and café filled with homemade, organic coffee and pastries. Their website invites the visitor to come “walk the orchard or sit by the fire,” making this an extremely inviting place to pick your own.

Sewall Organic Orchard
259 Masalin Road, Lincolnville, Maine 04849 - 207-763-3956
Sewall’s orchard is the “oldest organically certified orchard in Maine” and is located on the south side of Levensellar Mountain, making it also one of the most scenic apple picking spots in Maine.

Vermont

Shelburne Orchards
216 Orchard Road, Shelburne, Vermont 05482 – 802-985-2753
Located on 80 acres overlooking Lake Champlain, Shelburne Orchards is another scenic apple picking spot that offers a 10 acre section of organically grown apples. This orchard also won the first ever “Sustainable Farm of the Year Award” in 1997.

Dwight Miller Orchards
511 Miller Road, East Dummerston, Vermont 05346 – 802-254-9635
This farm has been certified organic since 1996, and in addition to pick your own apples, the farm has pumpkins and squash. Definitely worth the trip, as the website claims that the Miller family has been cultivating the same land since before Vermont was a state!

New Hampshire

Alyson’s Orchard
615 Wentworth Road, Walpole, New Hampshire 03608 – 603-756-9800
Alyson’s follows organic growing practices and boasts 50 varieties of apples, including heirlooms.

Lost Nation Orchard, located in Groveton, New Hampshire, will unfortunately not be offering pick your own this year, but is a great resource for growing your own organic apples!

Know of other organic orchards? Let us know about them by leaving a comment!

We’ve all grown up with that one friend whose parents refused to own a microwave, right? Well, after reading this new article by Dr. Joseph Mercola, let’s hope we all spent a significant amount of time in said friend’s home.

By exploring many different studies, Dr. Mercola proves our kooky friend’s parents right—ditch that microwave. Evidence shows they can leak radiation, deplete nutrients from your food, and cause a whole host of health problems, including something called “Microwave Sickness.”

Don’t be discouraged; think of Mercola’s conclusion as another excuse to eat more fresh, fruits and vegetables and to cut down on processed foods. Concerned about time? Check out these tips for healthier, microwave-free eating, for those of us who lead extremely busy lives.

Debbie Robins has written an insightful piece on the possible dangers lurking in feminine hygiene products for the Huffington Post.  She not only addresses the pesticide residue in tampons and the dioxin used to bleach them, but gives some astounding facts about the amount of chemicals we could prevent from entering the environment with even a small change in consumption behavior.

If we are so careful about what we eat, shouldn't we be holding everything we put in our bodies to the highest of standards?

While you check out letstalkperiod for more information, I am going to clean out the medicine cabinet.

Today at the New Hampshire Statehouse, a committee is discussing the health effects of children’s exposure to pesticides.  Planned Parenthood of Northern New England is a part of the conversation, urging legislators and opinion leaders to stop using pesticides at public play spaces such as school play grounds, and to use safer alternatives.  Let’s take a minute to answer some questions (pay attention, there might be a quiz):

What exactly are pesticides?
Pesticides are used to control or kill weeds, bacteria, rodents, fleas and ticks, mosquitoes, and other insects or pests. They are made up of more than 1,000 active chemical ingredients and come in different forms: liquids, aerosols, baits, powders, concentrates, and fumigants.

Who makes sure pesticides are safe? 
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is responsible for regulating pesticide use, but their regulations have weaknesses that allow hazardous chemicals on the market. These exposures are often sufficient enough to cause illness.

How do I become exposed to pesticides?
You can encounter pesticides in your everyday activities: residue in water, food, dust, homes, schools, commercial buildings, parks, and other recreation areas. Chemicals may be eaten, inhaled, or absorbed through the skin. You can also be exposed at work especially if you are an agriculture worker (farmer), landscaper, exterminator, or livestock breeder. (more…)

What do the stores H&M, Coldwater Creek, and Saks Fifth Avenue have in common?  They have all agreed to a new set of industry-wide standards that will end the sale of lead-filled purses and other fashion accessories. This is GREAT NEWS, people! Not only is it a strong statement for retailers to take action and recognize that these chemicals are dangerous, but it’s also a relief knowing that I don’t have to research which bags are safe and which aren't.  Wahoo!

The Center for Environmental Health (CEH) recently made the announcement about agreement with more than 40 major retailers and vendors, including Macy’s, Sears/Kmart, Target, Kohl’s, JC Penney, Guess, Victoria’s Secret, Saks and others, about handbags, purses, wallets and other accessories sold in stores nationwide. The agreement follows CEH findings released last year that hundreds of purses and other accessories contain high levels of lead that can pose a health threat, especially to pregnant women and women of child-bearing age.

Lead is a highly toxic metal and there is no known safe level of lead in the human body. Low levels of lead can increase blood pressure, decrease brain function, decrease kidney function, and increase a women’s risk of miscarriage. Higher amounts of lead exposure can damage the nervous system, kidneys, and other major organs.

The CEH discovered three items at Wal-Mart with very high levels of lead, one of which included a Miley Cyrus-brand wallet with 30 times more lead than the limit other companies have agreed to.  Check out the full list of stores participating in the purse promise (well, that’s what I like to call it anyway) here.  The CEH also provides these helpful tips to avoid lead in handbags and wallets: 

• If you’re purchasing a wallet or handbag, buy one that is made of natural materials rather than faux leather;

• If you already own a faux leather handbag, don't let your children play with it. Also, wash your hands after touching it;

• Ask your favorite accessory store to carry lead-free products.

Happy shopping!

It is easy to fall into the trap of greenwashing since “being green” is the latest craze these days. What exactly is “greenwashing?”  It’s defined as “the act of misleading consumers regarding the environmental practices of a company or the environmental benefits of a product or service,” according to TerraChoice Environmental Marketing.

As you’ve hopefully learned by now, there are little industry standards and regulations when it comes to chemicals in this country. This means companies could define their product as “natural” or “eco-friendly” and not be held to any sort of accountability.   Most products on the market contain “trade secrets” or fragrances.  Even a company like SC Johnson, which is entering the green market with its Nature’s Source cleaning products, labels their products on the bottles and on their websites, but fails to list what is actually in their “fragrances.”

To arm yourself and fight greenwashing, check out TerraChoice’s 2009 report - 7 Sins of Greenwashing.  It will not only help companies from committing these sins, but will help consumers look for these sins so they are not stuck with a less than green product.  You can be aware of greenwashing as long as you are equipped with the right information and these helpful hints from http://sinsofgreenwashing.org/