moregreenmoms.com

A Sigg-nificant Problem

The first day of school arrived.  Little uniformed people bustled about in our kitchen. Backpacks stood ready to be filled.  The energy was rising.  Has everyone brushed their teeth?

A drawer was opened.  It was empty.

My purposeful 9-year-old spun in my direction, and asked, “Mom, where are all of our Sigg water bottles?”

“I shipped them back to the manufacturer.  They are going to send me some replacements next week,” I replied.  “Maybe you can just drink from the fountain for a couple of days.”

“But Mooooooooom, why would you send all of our water bottles away when you know we NEEEEEEED them for snack and lunch?” implored my mini procedural expert.

“Well, it’s complicated,” I responded.

Like any child worth her tariff in today’s information society, she patiently awaited an explanation. 

“Okay, so you know that one reason we drink out of reusable metal bottles is so we don’t have to worry about the chemicals from plastic particles that could possibly cause us harm?”

“Yes,” she earnestly answered, thinking, oh great, what now….

“Well it turns out that the Sigg may have used the same chemical we worry about in plastics to make the lining of their bottles,” I shared with frustration.  I went on, “It’s called bisphenol A, or BPA for short, and Sigg has admitted that their bottles may not be as healthy as they promised so they are exchanging them for new bottles without BPA in their liners.”

Ever the astute consumer, my daughter wanted to confirm the unthinkable transgression, “So Mom, they told you that their products were healthier to drink from than plastic and then it turns out that their bottles have the SAME chemicals inside them?”  

Pause.  Pause.  Pause.  Wheels spinning.  “That is horrible!” she exclaimed.

“Indeed,” I admitted, somewhat saddened that this little eco-believer had to worry even for a minute about egregious and opportunistic corporate greenwashing.

“Well, Mom,” she replied, “I think you need to blog about this.  A lot of people drink out of those bottles and you need to tell them to send them back too.  Everyone should know about this problem.”

And thus my keyboard received its blessing to revive.  I have not written a word since The Girlcott in April.  After that wonderful effort, I made a pledge to my family to take a leave from environmental boot camp for the summer so that I could bring my brain back from the frontlines and home to the playground. 

And it was heavenly.

I shut my mouth and used the months to observe the various lifestyles and habits of friends and strangers alike as we meandered north and south, east and west in America. I watched what people were eating, what they were buying and how they were disposing of their trash, their money and their time. 

Of course, there were the bright moments of rainbow colored carrots at the Santa Barbara farmer’s market, endless bicycle paths in Nantucket and nature walks in Idaho. 

But these hopeful experiences were far outweighed by overflowing trashcans, streams of SUVs and convenience store picnic supplies that seemed to color every public experience we had.  Big Americans, getting bigger, making a mess along the way and hardly aware they had the power to change the entire equation.

So with renewed enthusiasm I have stacked up a pile of articles I hope to author, some of which layer on top of issues I have already explored, while others reflect entirely new insights pertaining to environmental health.

One absolute certainty is that these topics are gradually filtering in from the fringes and landing squarely in the heart of mainstream discussion, at least if you live in San Francisco, where soon it will be illegal to throw food in our trashcans!

My pledge will be to embrace brevity and hope for a more prolific potential to investigate, translate and communicate the concerns, as well as some solutions, we can pursue to keep our families – and our planet – as healthy as possible.

So to get back to the Sigg story, if you have a bottle that was made prior to August, 2008, you probably want to send it back for replacement.  You can tell if the liner has BPA by the shiny bronze or copper finish inside, whereas the ecoCare liner is a “dull pale yellow” according to the company’s Web site.

Many retailers such as Whole Foods, Mollie Stones and the Sports Basement in San Francisco will replace your bottles on-site.  This program is set to run through the end of October so gather up your costly compromised vessels and freshen them up pronto for the 2009 fall athletic season!

And in case you are still wondering what the big deal is, BPA was originally produced as a synthetic estrogen in the late 1930’s.  It later became a workhorse in the manufacture of polycarbonate plastics and epoxy resins.  So today we encounter BPA in countless consumer products including baby bottles, sippy cups and even the lining of food cans such as those that hold infant formula.

The debate about BPA exposure rages on with the chemical industry doggedly woo’ing the new Administration, but various legislative bills around the country have been passed or are in play to ban BPA from products that are manufactured for children.  Wal-Mart has taken products containing BPA off their shelves.  If that doesn’t convince Americans, what could?

The specific health concern is that BPA exposure, even at VERY VERY low doses, has the potential to cause side effects on the prostate gland and the mammary gland, among other key bodily functions.  It is also considered a driver for early puberty for females, which eventually becomes a potential precursor to breast cancer. 

Remember that BPA’s first incarnation was as a synthetic estrogen.  The potential dangers make perfect sense to me, but we all know that I am not a doctor!

So now that we know at least as much about this topic as my fourth-grader, hopefully you are inspired to a) return your SIgg bottles for safer models; b) call or write to the company and let them know how you feel about the recall and c) pass along the information to others you see using these products.

We are still waiting for our new stock of Sigg bottles.  And in the meantime, I’m feeling pretty good about Kleen Kanteen, Earthlust and some other stainless steel liquid containers that are serving this exploding market. 

And as for that drinking fountain option, I guess our kids won't ever know what a great excuse it was to slip out of class, if only for a precious moment....

If you must shop...

Wow, from the notes I’ve received over the past 10 days, it sounds like we have some believers! Seriously, I can’t tell you how inspired and impressed I have been to hear about the mini-revolutions that are going on in households across the country.

One of my favorite reports came from a friend who not only swapped out her family’s toothpastes and shampoos, but also packed up a fairly new set of expensive non-stick pans and relegated them to the garage. When her husband came home from work that night and witnessed her confident resolve, he dared to comment on whether “all this is necessary.” Fair question, but she had heard and read all she needed to re-chart her family's course. Her attitude is, “He’s a bit irritated now, but the house is MY domain and I am certain he will thank me one day for making these essential changes.” By the way, she is 39, a mother of two, and a breast cancer survivor.

As we each tackle our own version of “cleaning up,” I just want to acknowledge how much effort it can take out of our already too-full schedules. While I believe that the process of researching our environmental exposures is a worthy endeavor, I also know that it is terribly time consuming and at times incredibly frustrating. And yes, it can feel wasteful and expensive.

Just this morning, I found myself digging in a cabinet containing about eight insulated lunch containers, ALL made in China, ALL worthy of a 2nd look before they transport one more morsel of food to the park. Really, I do understand that once you begin peeling back the layers of this onion, there is no finish line, no safety shield we can erect around every potential hazard we may encounter.

But if I can provide any advice, it is to approach the process gradually. The piles of rejects begin to amass, but their replacements will soon feel like the only options you have ever used in your household. Remember, this really isn’t about sacrifice, although that wouldn’t kill us either. We are lucky to be living in a time when entrepreneurs are offering us a range of safer, effective and attractive products that are widely available, especially online.

So if it might help to weed through some of the noise, just to get you up and running, I thought it would offer a brief inventory of some of the things we are now using with a fair level of confidence and comfort in our house. Consider that this list could be massive, and perhaps will be someday. But we’ll call this one the moregreenmoms starter kit. Certainly there are limitations to how many new moisturizers and dish soaps I have been able to test, especially since I am trying to use what I buy rather than indulge in frivolous consumption while hiding behind a thin veil of almost legitimate research.

I would also LOVE to receive any great recommendations. I will keep a running reference and together we can fashion the rock star collection of healthier options for our families and for our earth. Remember we must keep sustainability in mind while consuming. Oxymoronic, I know.

Before we think about shopping, I have to remind anyone who is diligently clearing out endocrine disruptors, parabens and poisons that we must NOT dump them in the trash, or pour them down our drains. These products should be marked as hazardous waste and taken to an appropriate drop-off site near you. If you are a San Francisco resident you can head out to Tunnel Road opposite Candlestick (or whatever it’s called these days). Or log on to www.sfrecycling.com and request door-to-door pick-up. How great is that!

I am certain that if you have already made the first attempt to further examine what is on your shelves, you have noticed how difficult it is to really know what you are reading on the labels. Some are microscopic, some are obtuse, some are hidden and some have unpronounceable words that just sound toxic, like “tocopherol” which is actually friendly Vitamin E. Who knew shopping for eye shadow could require a Ph.D in chemistry?

A shortcut I have therefore adopted is to look on the bottles to guide me by describing what is NOT included in each product. You will note that most of the nasties we are trying to avoid are called out with red flags waving. For example, on my Desert Essence Organics shampoo bottle, www.desertessenceorganics.com, it says, “100% Vegan. NO: Parabens, Sodium Lauryl/Laureth Sulfates, phthalates, artificial fragrance or colors, silicones, EDTA, glycol or petroleum based ingredients. Cruelty Free and biodegradable.” You could actually spread this stuff on your toast in a pinch. You get the idea. Most of the products I buy have similar cheat sheets printed prominently on their packaging.

I will also add that while I’m very happy to pass along what works for us, there are so many wonderful resources out there that are completely devoted to sourcing great green products. I find a lot of ideas from them, but everything I chose to highlight today is actually IN MY HOUSE. For some real creative inspiration check out www.ecofabulous.com, www.greenmomfinds.com, and www.greenhome.com. Also, if you happen to run across the newly published Green Guide from National Geographic, do pick it up - it's fantastic.

For the record, I have no economic affiliation with any of the companies below, although there are a few I wish I created myself because I think they have monster potential in our burgeoning green economy. Many of items on this list can be found at natural products stores throughout the country, but I have included their Web links because all of them provide further research and resources that are of value. You will be additionally inspired to shop for these brands when you learn about their clean energy sourcing, biodynamic farming practices, recycled packaging and other sustainable business innovations.

And one last disclaimer, please. I do realize that there are some mentions of rather expensive items, namely the first two. Please don't be discouraged as it's important to remember a few key points which include a) it can be significantly more costly to develop effective, organically sourced products that WORK without the use of harsh chemicals; b) you only really require one good option (I mean really, did I ever need six different volumes of mascara in my drawer); c) the market for these products is about to blow WIDE open, which should significantly impact the economics of the industry. Even Walgreen's has a green section now and they were actually selling fresh apples and bananas alongside the Snickers bars when I popped in for a peek today. Fairly astounding, actually. But, I digress....

Drum roll please!

NUDE skincare, www.nudeskincare.com, is available at Barney’s in the U.S. and online. These organic cleansers and moisturizers are light yet effective and have a pedigree linked to Bono! I can’t tell you how many skincare lines I have dabbled with over the years and this one is a keeper. I recommend trying their travel size selection to see how it works for you as it is a more affordable option for trial and quite portable for the girl on the go!

Patyka Eye Contour, www.patyka.com. This product, along with others in their sumptuous, borderline decadent organic line-up is a splurge for sure, but worth every drop. Bearing the highest grade ecoCert(ification) from France, this liquid gold is short of magic on my sun-kissed crows feet!

Vanicream sunscreen, www.vanicreamsale.com, was recommended by my dermatologist after I whined enough about parabens, petrochemicals and suspected carcinogens in many of my former favorite brands. It was a great performer during a recent trip to very sunny Mexico and will be an affordable keeper for our summer beach bag.

Jane Iredale, www.janeiredaledirect.com. This pioneer brand of the growing mineral make-up movement is a little harder to source than your basic frosty Revlon shimmer, but well worth the effort.

ColoreScience, www.colorscience.com, has great mineral-based foundation and powders. Of course my favorite is California Girl, which I buy from my aesthetician, Shari Spakes, www.pacificheightsskincare.com, but you can type in your zip code on their site for a shopping resource near you.

Dr. Hauschka volume mascara, www.drhauschka.com . Of all the make-up I wear, mascara is THE one I absolutely adore. Finally I found a safer version that still does the job. Goodbye Maybelline!

Bare Escentuals bareMineral eye shadows, www.bareescentuals.com, offers a great selection of colors and lasting power without the chemical additives near our vulnerable and vital eyes.

Peacekeeper lip gloss and nail polish, www.iamapeacekeeper.com. This “cause-metic” company donates all of its “after tax profits to women’s health advocacy and human rights issues.” Talk about guilt-free shopping!

No-Miss nail polish, www.nomiss.com. I carry a few of these polishes in my bag all the time now. Even though I’ve basically kicked my weekly manicure off the agenda, a girl needs a treat every once in awhile.

100% Pure fruit pigment lip gloss and cheek stain, www.100percentpure.com. I love the taste and colors of these sheer products. Not only are they in my make-up kit, but I bought some pretty pinks for my daughter’s dress-up stash too.

Jason Natural, www.jason-natural.com, apricot and tea tree deodorants. This is always THE first question I get from the audience after any presentation I’ve given. I’ve been rather fickle, made a few necessary tweaks, but this brand made it through boot camp and some recent long days so I have my fingers crossed that I’m on to something here.

Max Green Alchemy shampoo, conditioner and styling gel, www.maxgreenalchemy.com. This company’s line seems to be doing the trick for my husband’s hair, and I like their products as well (although I will not lie, I do desperately miss my Kerastse).

Pangea Organics liquid and bar soaps, www.pangeaorganics.com. This “ecocentric bodycare” operation is such an inspiration. I could not believe that the box containing their divine-smelling soap can be planted in my garden. I want to learn more and buy more from this cutting edge company.

Tween Beauty shampoos, conditioner and body wash for the kids, www.tweenbeauty.com. Not only do I love the story of how this company started - a big brother worried about his little sister’s exposure to chemicals - their products are fabulous. My kids use all of them and I often do too!

California Baby diaper rash crème and sunscreens, www.californiababy.com, are definitely my favorites in these two important categories. I began buying and loving this company's products way before I ever heard the word phthalate, let alone learned how to spell it!

Burt’s Bees Naturally Nourishing Milk & Honey Body Lotion, www.burtsbees.com. Although some products in this brand (now owned by Clorox) have some fragrance “issues,” this one still works wonders when it’s time to massage little feet. Their great diaper ointment is in our nursery as well.

Natural Dentist toothpaste, www.thenaturaldentist.com. We love the taste of the Peppermint Twist and recommend you read their Web site in case you ever want to feel great about the sustainable practices this company employs to protect your pearly whites.

Preserve toothbrushes, www.recycline.com. I am happy to support this company because I like their products. And I am also fascinated by their innovative strategy to partner with a yogurt manufacturer to recycle containers and give them new life as toothbrushes, razors, utensils and other day-to-day “disposables.”

Seventh Generation chlorine-free wipes and diapers, tissues, paper towel, kitchen trash bags and toilet paper, www.seventhgeneration.com. I’m not sure how I have spent eight years knee-deep in diapers and wipes without ever considering what they were made of and how they might affect such fragile real estate on my babies’ bodies. But I can’t say enough about the entire Seventh Generation product line now that I have been enlightened. Goodbye Pampers and Brawny and Kleenex and Glad...

Sigg fully-lined aluminum water bottles, www.mysigg.com. Sigg's popularity has exploded due to concerns about phthalates and Bisphenol-A exposures from plastic bottles. Everyone in my family has a couple of their colorful bottles now. Just remember to write your name on the bottom as kids tend to leave them on the sidelines and the replacements can add up $$!

Born Free bottles and sippy cups, www.newbornfree.com. This line of Bisphenol-A free plastic bottles is our new default for the last baby in the house.

Wateroos water in a box, www.wateroos.com. If you are looking for healthy, yet environmentally friendly convenience, especially for a sporting event or birthday party, I love this company's purified water in a recyclable cardboard box (depending on where you live). No GMO high fructose, no chemicals, no empty calories, just purified water, either plain or fruit-flavored, and developed by a Bay Area Mom wanting to create a fun, healthier way for kids to drink more water without adding sugar.

Envirosax for your trips to the grocery, www.envirosax.com. I think I almost depleted their inventory over Christmas as I gave out their 5-bag series to everyone on my list. The collection fits right in your pocketbook and each bag is so chic, I can’t wait to fill them!

Biobags for compost as well as the bathroom trash cans and diaper pail, www.biobagusa.com. These biodegradable green bags are ideally designed for compost and organic waste, but I use them all over the house because they can handle the load and I figure that anywhere we can cut down on plastic is a win.

Natural Value wax paper bags, www.naturalvalue.com, for sandwiches and snacks. The kids can compost them at school on no-waste Wednesdays, and everyday for that matter!

Dishwasher detergent, laundry detergent and non-chlorine bleach from Seventh Generation. I mentioned this company above and I also highly recommend the book, Naturally Clean, written by its founder, Jeffrey Hollender. After trying several other brands, I keep going back to this line because it works well, and I am confident about the science behind their corporate R&D. I don't have to guess whether lavender is really an okay color for my dish soap, even though it is purported to biodegrade in the friendliest way.

I also buy a lot of cleaning products from eCover, www.ecover.com, a company with a wide range of eco-friendly options that won’t keep you wondering about whether their lovely, yet pungent fragrance is truly natural, whatever that means anymore….

Cast iron pans from Lodge, www.lodgemfg.com. I now choose to avoid the questionable chemical release from Teflon-coated non-stick cookware. Although it’s a little more time-consuming to clean these dishes, after you read the following article, you may agree that that precaution is a good ingredient to add to any recipe: http://www.ewg.org/reports/toxicteflon.

Of course, I could go on and on, as we have recently purchased additional lotions and potions from great companies like Avalon Organics, Alba Botanical, Tom's of Maine, Henry Tianus and several others. But hopefully you find this initial tally to be of help. I look forward to any ideas you would like to share either in a comment or email to me, [email protected]. Happy shopping and remember to bring your bags!