ClearLite Safer CFL Lightbulbs
One of the biggest complaints about CFL lightbulbs is the major risk of being exposed to mercury if one breaks. Clearlite has come up with a solution that could help ease all our worries about CFLs called ArmorLite. This new compact flourescent bulb is designed with safety coating to prevent the leakage of toxins if a bulb were to break.
About Clearlite
Back in 2005, both Tom Irvine and Lisa Niedermeyer wanted to find a solution for those wanted to go eco-friendly with lightbulbs without the risks associated with CFLs. That’s when they formed the company and came up with a safer CFL that are liquid mercury free. They also created their ArmorLite coating that keeps your family safe from dangerous glass or toxins with the bulbs. The coating is made of a silicon composite that keeps all the internals enclosed within the bulb. Just as with normal CFLs, they last much longer than traditional incandescent bulbs and are fully recyclable.
Lets find out a little about ArmorLite directly from Clearlite:
How does it hold up?
Clearlite has done extensive testing to ensure that a little leakage occurs as possible. I did a little research to see what kind of reviews the company has received and if any tests were done to determine how well the bulbs hold together. Concrave did a great comprehensive review of their product along with a test to see how the light bulb would hold up:
Where to Buy?
Overall, Clearlite seems like a great company that are trying to make CFL light bulbs safer. Amazon has a great selection of their bulbs, but they are a priced a little higher as compared to other CFL bulbs. If you have a family with small kids, the extra cost seems well worth any exposure to mercury.
If you have used a Clearlite bulb, please share your experience with their products.
Belegenza Hair Care Products: Greener Hair
Many shampoos on the market today contain several undesirable ingredients, such as artificial fragrances, colors and phthalates. Not only are these chemicals harmful to your body, they are washed down the drain and may contribute to the polluting of our groundwater. But it can be hard to find natural shampoos and conditioners that doesn’t break the bank and also have the look and feel of traditional drug-store products. One such line of products are made by the Belegenza hair care company (www.belegenza.com).
Belegenza was founded by Alan G. Eschenburg, the owner of The Secret Salons in Houston, Texas. Eschenburg decided to develop his own line of hair care products that are designed to heal common skin and scalp conditions, using natural ingredients. The result is the Belgenza line, which, in addition to shampoos and conditioners, also includes hair styling and skin care products.
The Belegenza hair care line is so unique because the ingredients come from nature and are safer for the body and for the environment. What’s more, Belegenza products are free of many of the chemicals found in traditional shampoos and conditioners. The company is also committed to eco-friendly packaging and shipping.
According to the Belegenza website, The GrowOut Shampoo that I have been using is effective for growing new hair because it is without the harsh chemicals that can literally “suffocate” your hair over time. In theory, when the hair is healthier, there is less breakage and the hair will grow faster.
A pretty green color, the GrowOut Shampoo has a light, fresh smell that is neither artificial-smelling nor fragrance-y. Although the product does not foam up as much or as fast as traditional, store-bought shampoos, it still produces a nice, soft-feeling lather. The DraMatic Daily Volumizing Conditioner is for fine hair, like mine, and contains vitamins and anti-oxidants to bring out more body in your hair. I can definitely tell that my hair is softer and shinier after using both the products and I love the smell!
Because the products are all-natural, they are gentle enough for my daughter to use. My daughter also has fine hair that she, too has been trying to grow out, and I can’t wait to see if the Belegenza products will make a difference. In the meantime, her hair looks bouncy and feels soft. Because of Belegenza’s commitment to the environment and their reasonable prices, they are now a must-have on my list of beauty products. Not just for girlie-girls, I recommend Belegenza for the whole family.
Toothbrush Tips
Brush up with “eco” toothbrushes. They clean one of the most susceptible parts of our body everyday, and are typically changed every 4-6 weeks.
Despite being a small disposable consumer product, toothbrushes can pile up with an estimated 50 million pounds being discarded yearly in the US alone. These toothbrushes each target different waste streams and resources, so feel free to choose based on style, your mouth’s sensitivities, or their differing environmental “un”impacts.
Replaceable Head Toothbrush
The Fuchs Ekotec Replaceable Head Toouthbrush is an easy and inexpensive way to keep up on your dental hygiene, save money, and save resources. The head of the toothbrush has a blue line, like conventional brushes, that indicates when it is time to switch heads. You literally pop out the head of the toothbrush and then pop in a new one. Each brush comes with three extra heads and replacement packs come with four, so you can keep your costs low. The company also offers other toothbrushes with natural bristles and eco-friendly toothbrush styles. This is actually the toothbrush I use because it significantly reduces the amount of waste over the long-term and can be found locally (for me). Personally, I like this toothbrush, its great for everyday use and, so I would recommend it.
Recycled plastic Toothbrush
The toothbrush by Preserve is made in the US with 100% recycled #5 plastic and is actually recyclable through their Gimme 5 program. The curved handle and three levels of bristles are designed to thoroughly clean your teeth and gums. Preserve has chosen #5 Plastic because it has not been found to have serious negative environmental impacts, such as off gassing and does not contain BPA. They are truly trying to stop the cradle to grave ideology of most product consumption and work toward a cradle to cradle approach, offering recycling for all of their products. They offer three different types of bristle strength: ultra soft, soft, and medium.
Wooden handle, Natural Bristles
The toothbrush made by Naturborsten is so natural you can compost it. This brush has natural bristles, meaning boar or badger hair, which they state can be harmlessly removed similar to sheering a sheep. The wooden handle is from sustainable wood, although I didn’t find any certifications like the Forest Stewardship Council. The wood is varnished with vegetable oil, keeping in line with its compost-friendly design. Even their packaging is sustainable with biodegradable plastic and cardboard. The only trick is finding company information and ordering the product, I found it on a few online shops but couldn’t track it further then being a German-based company. Just FYI in case you are working on localizing your supply chain.
Ionic Toothbrush
With electric toothbrushes being praised for their “new and improved” cleaning capabilities, this innovative Japanese toothbrush doesn’t even use toothpaste. The Soladey ionic toothbrush is an interesting addition to today’s mix of devices. The toothbrush’s handle has a titanium rod that is charged by indoor and outdoor lighting with negative ions. According to the company, these ions ‘blend with saliva to attract the positive ions (hydrogen) from the acid in the dental plaque of your teeth.’ The result is neutralized acid and disintegrated plaque, leaving your mouth clean. One note of caution, I don’t know anyone who has used this product, but have read the reviews of consumers online that are surprised that it works. So, for the curious, this may be an interesting long-term solution to teeth cleaning, although Titanium is not typically categorized as renewable nor abundant.
These aren’t the only options out there, so please share if you have any additional recommendations. And don’t forget used toothbrushes can be great cleaning brushes, art tools, and put to other innovative uses before they hit the trash can (or recycle bin and preferably the compost bin).
Green Paints Top Consumer Reports List
In Consumer Report’s 2010 interior paint report, almost all of the top performers were also the lowest in VOCs. This is fairly surprising considering that many in previous years, many of the top performing paints were not all that environmentally friendly.
Bob Markovich, the senior home editor at Consumer Reports sums this new trend up nicely:
Paints have advanced in their ability to perform and be green
Some of the top performing paints include:
- Behr Premium Plus Ultra ($33/gallon)
- Kilz Casual Colors semigloss & low-luster ($22/gallon)
- Benjamin Moore Regal ($45/gallon)
The biggest thing that Consumer Report suggests is that paints should be chosen not by brand since some of the top brands did not perform that well. It’s also key to do your research and properly read the labels to make sure you are buying a paint that is in fact either low or zero VOC. I would suggest also checking out natural paints that perform just as well without dangerous ingredients and absolutely no VOCs.
Taking the ‘Ugly’ Out of Flowers
I will be the gladdest thing
Under the sun!
I will touch a hundred flowers
And not pick one.
va~Edna St. Vincent Millay, “Afternoon on a Hill”
Flowers can symbolize love, thank you, sorry, and goodbye yet behind this sentimental gesture is an extensive global supply chain that is often anything but beautiful.
The cut flower industry is worth over $40 billion dollars, the majority of which are imported from Latin America if you are living in the United States. According to Amy Stewart’s book Flower Confidential, an Ecuadorian flower farmer earns $150/month, totaling less than 4 cents per rose sold. This is on top of the extensive chemicals used to manipulate the plants including pesticides, herbicides, and “growth” sprays. The cut flower industry is anything but personal, and has a significant impact for a one-time use product.
Here are five things to consider when giving flowers to the green at heart:
Plants
Bouquets can be beautiful, yet during the winter months local, organic, or fair trade flowers can be hard to come by. By giving the gift of a plant, you can provide them with something to nurture, that can have positive effects on their health, and hopefully something to add to their spring garden! These will last longer than cut flowers, even with the miracle grow they come with these days, and can beautify their living space. Keep in mind though that not everyone with a green heart has a green thumb, so for those of us with black thumbs perhaps there are other options.
Plant -able Cards
Perhaps one of my favorite ideas that has sprouted up (pun intended) over the years, are cards that can be shredded and then watered, turning into indoor wildflower gardens. This gives it an element of surprise since you never know what will pop-up and makes the card not only compostable, but an instant nutrient. Flower card artisans each have their own approach, so make sure that the flowers are native to your region, then plant away.
The Symbol of the Flower: Not only roses
Cultures have developed special relationships with their native plants. Roses, tulips and carnations make up the majority of cut flower sales in the US, but what do these flowers symbolize? In some regions of China, the carnation symbolizes marriage, while in Western cultures the rose is connected to love, psychic powers, and protection. You can make your gift more personal by not only selecting based on local, seasonal, organic, and native flowers but also what the plant itself signifies. Here are a few ideas taken from China and the Western World, these resources are based more on suggestion than extensive research.
| Plant | Symbolism | Culture |
| Apricot | Beauty, Beautiful woman, Spring, Good Fortune | China |
| Bloodroot | Love, Protection, Purification | Western World |
| Gardenia | Love, Peace, Healing, Spirituality | Western World |
| Passion Flower | Peace, Sleep, Friendship | Western World |
| Peach Petals | State of an intense trance of love | China |
| Tangerine | Abundant happiness | China |
| Willow Branch | Able to bend/adapt but not break | China |
| Violet | Luck, Wishes, Lust, and Faith | Western World |
To learn more, please follow these links:
China’s Plant Symbology
Western World’s Plant Symbology
Eco-Friendly Plants
As mentioned earlier, selecting flowers or plants from an eco-friendly perspective can include the following combination of factors:
- In season
- Local
- Organic
- Fair-Trade
- Transferable to your own garden
Of course come spring time, any flowers cut from your own garden meet much of this criteria, so snip and then compost away.
Flowers are Dead to Me
Now for some of us, the thought of spending money to show someone that we care isn’t our chosen route. There are plenty of remedies beyond flowers, but hopefully this will help when flowers feel appropriate.
And now to leave you with a little sarcastic humor:
Why do people give each other flowers? To celebrate various important occasions, they’re killing living creatures? Why restrict it to plants? “Sweetheart, let’s make up. Have this deceased squirrel.”
~The Washington Post
For more information on the cut flower industry, I highly recommend Amy Stewart’s Flower Confidential. Here is a link to her fact sheet with information, statistics, and tips for maintaining cut flowers . She has also printed other books about floriculture and other garden-related pieces that can be found on her website.
Toxic Candles under Fire this Valentine’s Day
Turn on the romance, not the toxins with candles. The seemingly innocuous candle can be a source of lead poisoning, indoor air pollution, and cause long-term damage to your house along with the environment. So here are the top things to know about candles to make any romantic venture a safe one.
Wax and Waning
There are seven candle waxes used to date: beeswax, palm wax, paraffin, soya, synthetic gel, tallow, and vegetable oil. Tallow, at one time the most widely used wax, is made essentially from animal fat. As you may have guessed, production of tallow-based candles has significantly declined since the industrialization of food, in particular the meat industry so these candles are rare in developed countries. Palm wax, harvested primarily in Southeast Asia, undergoes a refining process prior to being used in a variety of body products including candles. It is not a major candle resource, so there is little research on its impact but it is expected to be small. Vegetable oil has a similar story to palm oil, yet is more readily available locally.
Paraffin is the most common and least expensive wax available. It is a petroleum byproduct, although is more commonly produced synthetically today. It is linked to non-renewable resources and a global supply chain. Studies by the EPA and American Lung Association link these candles to poor indoor air quality and Black Soot Deposition. There are other particulate emissions linked to these candles. Since manufacturers are not required to provide an inclusive ingredient list, it is uncertain whether the carcinogens found in the candle emissions are due to paraffin or other additives. The bottom line is to avoid buying these candles, and if you have some in your household, do not burn several at one time.
The synthetic gel candles, although intriguing to look at and play with, are severely understudied regarding their health and environmental impacts. The US Consumer Product Safety Commission has on record several issues with gel candle containers exploding. I use the precautionary principle on this one, if there isn’t enough research to prove that it is safe for me to use, I avoid it. This gel is also non-renewable and typically manufactured in several different locations adding to its overall footprint.
Soy candles have exploded in popularity, yet they are not without their own hazards. Soy candles are considerably better for human health and the environment than paraffin and synthetic gel candles. Yet, as a monoculture that is quickly catching up to corn, it is also not as renewable as it once was. Studies on adverse health effects have proven the candle benign, but there are new studies analyzing “White’ Soot Deposition, so the jury is out on damage to the home. As for the age old concoction of beeswax, well there is only good news except for the bees. It is believed with a few supporting scientific documents that burning beeswax releases negative ions that improve an individual’s health. As for being renewable, the debate continues as bee populations are in flux. So time will tell if this resource will continue to renew itself.
Here is a wax guide to help you choose:
| Wax | Renewable Resource | Supports Local Economy | Negative Health Benefits | Cost | Green Rating |
| Beeswax | Yes | Yes | No | $$$ | #1 – Greenest |
| Soya | Yes | Sometimes | Unproven | $ | #2 – Green |
| Veggie Oil | Yes | Yes | Unknown | $ | #3 –Green |
| Palm Wax | Yes | No | Unknown | $$ | #4 – Green |
| Tallow | Somewhat | Sometimes | Unknown | $$$ | #5 – Green |
| Gel | No | No | Unproven | $$ | #6 – Not Green |
| Paraffin | No | No | Yes | $ | #7 – Not Green |
Wicked Wicks
Lead poisoning is back in a big way when you burn a lead core wick candle for an hour. Lead, zinc, and tin are added to provide support to the wick, but after health studies urged the National Candle Association to voluntarily ban lead from wicks, their use has declined significantly. Unfortunately, a study of a few US candles and the majority of candles from Asia revealed lead core wicks that could be lethal. So perform this simple test on all your candles: rub a piece of paper on the wick and watch for a pencil-like residue. If you see this result, immediately dispose of the candle, otherwise you could be exposing yourself and family to carcinogenic levels of lead poisoning.
Scents
Be aware that there is a difference between fragrances and synthetic scents versus essential oils. Essential oils can be therapeutic, while the others are fillers. There are a few studies conducted that have found adverse health effects from various fragrances. It was unclear whether these were tied to specific cases or overall sensitivities to the fragrances. So if a product advertises calming sensations and the like, check for the use of essential oils. If they are fragrance based it is unlikely to have this effect.
Colorants & Containers
Au natural is best when it comes to colors, although the majority of dyes have been found to be benign. If you are fortunate enough to buy your candles from a local artisan feel free to enquire to learn more. As for containers, beware of plastic containers. The US Consumer Safety Commission has documented several containers melting or imploding due to excessive heat, these studies were typically linked to the container and the synthetic wax.
So what now?
Top Tips
Here is a quick tip list to help you make the season of romance healthy and eco-friendly.
1) Check your Wax
2) Do the lead wick test
3) Do not burn several synthetic candles at one time
4) Check the claims of the company
5) Enjoy your romantic dinner for two!
Sources:
National Candle Association
EPA Candle Report
Palm Wax
Encyclopedia Britannica
Spirit of Change
U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission
Marcal Paper Products Review
Marcal is an “Earth-Friendly Paper Goods Company” that strives to provide quality recycled paper products at an affordable price. Marcal uses 100% recycled paper to make all their products, saving millions of trees from being cut down every year.
What Makes Marcal Different?
For over 60 years, Marcal has been providing recycled products. Though their brand name has changed names over the years, their products have remained as strong and environmentally friendly from the beginning. I really like their saying:
By purchasing Small Steps by Marcal brand, you are taking a small, easy step to a greener earth.
Marcal separates itself from the normal paper products on the market by providing only post consumer recycled paper in their products. Many of the major paper companies use virgin paper, with only a small percentage coming from sustainable forests. There are also no harmful chemicals and have refined their process to make it as environmentally friendly as possible.
The company also is ahead of many of the other paper companies using recycled products. While there are many products using recycled paper, Marcal uses only a large portion of post consumer recycled paper in all of their products. There products also are far cheaper and can be found in many local grocery stores around the country. You may be surprised, but their prices are even cheaper than the major brands.
Want to know how Marcal makes their products, check out the great in-depth look into their manufacturing process or check out this great video:
My Review
My main criteria for paper products many years ago was that it was soft to the touch and held up strong. After realizing how much of a waste most paper products were, I switched over to recycled products. The main frustration with many of those products is that they are not durable at all or were almost twice as expensive. I found Marcal not too long ago and have yet to be disappointed. Here are the products I have tried and my feeling about each.
Toilet Paper
Marcal’s does a great job with their toilet paper. Whether it’s one or two ply, they both are great. They are much softer and more durable than most other brands.
Paper Towels
I always try to use reused clothes to handle most of the cleanup jobs in the kitchen. There are time that I do need to use a paper towel and have found Marcal to be great. Their paper towels are extremely durable for a recycle paper towel. They aren’t soft, but who cares when dealing with a paper towel.
Napkins
When it comes to napkins, Marcal feels exactly the same and works just as well as many other napkins on the market. I can’t even think how other companies justify their napkins not being made from recycled paper when they seem like the same product. They also have dinner napkins for special occasions or parties.
Tissues
Their tissues don’t contain lotions or are extremely soft, but they get the job done. If you want a softer product, stick with an old-fashion handkerchief.
Final Thoughts
Marcal has done a great job to make their products as environmentally friendly, yet affordable as possible. If you are in the market for paper products, give Marcal a try and you won’t be disappointed.
