Recycling Green Moms

Going green is easier than you may think, just making a few changes and you are on your way.  One of the mistakes that many people make when trying to live a more environmentally responsible life is trying to make too many changes all at once.  The result is often giving up on everything to go back to what is familiar and considered easier.  By using the list offered below you can track important changes and where your family is with these changes. 

The best approach is to try and make just one or two changes at a time, when your family has completed a change on the list move on to another.  Let the whole family get involved in choosing what changes you will make and when.  No two families are exactly alike and therefore the changes you make may not be in the order given or the same order in which other families make changes; do what is right for you and your family.  Remember, every change towards a greener life is a step in the right direction! 

This is a relatively small list of important changes you and your family can make to support the green movement and be natural stewards of the Earth.  For a more comprehensive list check out the book Its Easy Being Green: A Handbook for Earth Friendly Living by Crissy Trask.  The entire book is laid out into sections and check lists to help you live a green life that is easy to begin and easy to maintain.

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Today our bodies are bombarded with a huge number of contaminates and toxins.  They are in the air we breathe, the clothes we wear and even the products we use on our skin and hair.  What is the real risk of all the chemicals we are bathed in each day?  Should we really be worried?  After all, the health regulations of the product manufactures assure our safety right?  Take a look at these top 10 reasons to go green and decide for yourself.  The first 5 reasons are the reasons you do not want to go commercial with your products and the last 5 reasons are why you want to go green.

1. Lack of proper regulation.  Since 1938 the United States cosmetics industry has been self regulated and the manufactures are not subject to federal review or approval.  There are approximately 10,500 chemicals used in personal care products and only about 11% of them are tested for health and safety.  Many of the chemicals used are known to be toxic and are used in standard products.
2. Toxic Chemicals.  As mentioned above, there are proven to be toxic chemicals that are widely used in our everyday hair and skin products.  Some of them include: Parabens which mimic estrogen and linked to the development of breast cancer, Propylene Glycol which is used in antifreeze and brake fluid and is a known neurotoxin shown to cause liver and kidney damage.  Also used is Lauramide and other foaming agents are readily absorbed by the skin and when combined with Sodium Laurel Sulfate, another harsh chemical and foaming agent, is known to be a carcinogen.  For a usable directory of toxic chemicals used in common products go to www.hallgold.com/toxic-chemical-ingredients-directory.htm
3. Harmful Fragrance.  There is an estimated 5,000 fragrance additives that are in the many hair and body products that we use.  Most of the fragrances we adore are synthetically created and because it is not regulated they do not need to list the ingredients.  Fragrances contribute the headaches, nausea and allergic reaction.
4. Safety Labels.  The personal care manufactures are not required to safety test their products; however, they must contain a warning that it is not tested.  One way to avoid such label is to test the product for safety; unfortunately, the results of the test are not a requirement.  It is an alarming fact that a tested product that kills 50% of the animals tested, whether from inhalation or ingestion and still receives a federal declaration of being non toxic.
5. Animal Testing.  Approximately 73% of all animals used for testing in the United States are used to promote consumer products.  For a list of products that do not test on animals go to http://search.caringconsumer.com

There is the bad news, but the following is the good news, how you can fight against the harm conventional personal care products cause and go green with your hair and body.

1. Natural Ingredients.  Environmentally green hair and body products use all natural and organic ingredients in their manufacture.  Natural ingredients are in or produced by nature and use minimal processing allowing the natural essences and benefits to remain.
2. Natural Fragrance.  The fragrances used in the alternative personal care products are derived from essential oils and other natural sources instead of being synthetically produced.
3. No Animal Testing.  Environmentally green care products never test their products on animals and since there are no synthetic chemicals used in the production or manufacture process you can be assured of the safety.
4. Environmentally Sound Production.  Personal care products account for a large portion of the manufacture industry and the consumer industry.  By using environmentally responsible processes you can be assured that you are supporting a healthy Earth when purchasing the products.
5. Lessen your Carbon Footprint.  Because environmentally green products will never include petroleum in their composition and manufacturing process that is not Earth friendly you will lessen your personal impact on the Earth.  You can increase the positive effects by recycling the packaging.

   Try this Burt’s Bees Hand Repair Kit!

With a simple look at the difference between the commercial products that are cheap and readily available and the environmentally green products that support the environment and our health it should be easier to determine what you will buy when replacing your shampoo, conditioner, hair gel or styling mousse, your body lotion and even your hair dye.  Burt’s Bees and Jason personal care products offer all natural and organic solutions to many of your personal care needs.  Better yet, why not make your own personal care products.  Go to www.thriftyfun.com/tf55760863.tip.html to find recipes or purchase books such as Organic Body Care Recipes by Stephanie Tourles.  Much of what we spend hundreds of dollars on are inexpensive and simple to make and work better than the products we have used for years.