Green Options

Oh Plah! is French for “Here you go!”.  This nifty bracelet is a colorful addition for a fashion forward Mama and does double duty as a toy to entertain a fussy baby.  Oh Plah! is free of lead, PVC, BPA, and phthalates.

My kids were always wanting to play with whatever was attached to my body and sometimes we ran out of the house without stashing a toy or two in the bag, so wearing a safe toy would have been a great help in our world.

There are no small or movable parts on this bracelet… it is one piece of durable, flexible material.  The bands are designed to stand up to lots of bending and chomping.  It can be cleaned up simply by washing in warm, soapy water.  In addition to being free of nasty chemicals, this bracelet meets or exceeds all CPSIA regulations and it is made in the U.S.A.

A Swedish study found that the rate of autism is higher for children in houses that have PVC vinyl flooring. The children in the study were apparently affected by the phthalates that are emitted from the material.

Infants and toddlers who had vinyl floors in their rooms were twice as likely to develop autism spectrum disorder (ASD) than those with wood or aluminum floors.

Have you ever had a need for custom printing? Now there is an eco-friendly company that can fulfill these needs. Ecoprintworks uses sustainable organic products, from t-shirts to totes, and water-based inks for their screenprinting. Ecoprintworks is one of the few companies that uses Permaset Aqua, a solvent free, water-based ink from Australia.  Most printers use PVC-based plastisol ink.  PVC is largely regarded as one of the most harmful of plastics.  Permaset Aqua are Oeko-tex certified class I meaning they are safe for children’s garments under two years of age.

Phthalates are out of kiddie plastic now.  Don’t worry; you can still find the endocrine-disruptor in your makeup and shower curtains and pretty much anything that includes the term “fragrance.”

But have you thought about what they put into the new Barbie dolls instead of phthalates? It’s not like they’re making her ginormous bust size out of wood nowadays.  (Insert Ken jokes here.)

So…what exactly is in your kids’ toys now?

In a effort to limit my family’s exposure to BPA and phthalates, I’ve tossed all those freebie plastic water bottles and replaced them with aluminum Sigg bottles.  I banned questionable toys.  I store and heat my leftovers in glass containers. I took down our cheap plastic shower curtain and put up a fabric one.  I even got rid of the rubber ducky. 

Frankly, I was feeling pretty pleased with myself.

Until I saw a post this weekend at ZRecommends which shares the results of their research into which brands of food processors and blenders contain BPA, PVC, and phthalates.

As a quick refresher: bisphenol-A, or BPA, and phthalates, plasticisers used to soften PVC, are components found in many common plastics.  Studies have linked exposure to BPA and phthalates to hormonal issues such as early puberty and changes in breast tissue, as well as to some cancers.

And while I was well aware of their presence in toys, sippy cups, bottles, food storage containers, and a myriad of other places in the home, it really had never occurred to me that they might also be lurking within the devices I use for food preparation.

To quote Dora - “WE DID IT!”

The CPSC has granted a one year stay for the CPSIA mandatory testing requirements that were going to make February 10, 2009 Bankrupt Day for probably hundreds of thousands of businesses in the United States, as well as forcing many European distributors out of the country.

Over the past year we have seen societal and parental concern grow about the possibility that many conventional feeding products for kids may have chemicals that can leach into food. As parents try to feed their kids healthy foods, the last thing they want to think about is that the dinnerware their kids are eating off is tainting the food!

Luckily over the past year we have seen companies old and new rise to the occasion and provide us with products that are safer for kids. We have options now, other than those plates and cups with BPA or questionable Melamine. Skip Hop Mate is one such new company that meets this growing demand for healthier children’s feeding products.

Their stay-put mat and plate is beautifully designed, very attractive, and safer for children. The plastics used have no PVC, phthalates, or BPA. It is a table setting that stays in place, which is a great idea for toddlers. It has a divided plate in the middle so that foods need not touch if you have picky eaters. The fork and spoon neatly attach to the mat so that they won’t get lost in the shuffle and the whole thing comes apart for easy cleaning. In fact if you need to remove the plate to fill it with food they are left to look at an adorable happy face on the mat.

Neither of my children used a pacifier, well that’s not entirely true. My son used one for two weeks after having open heart surgery, but it quickly disappeared on the car ride home from the hospital.  Many of my friends use pacifiers with their children to help them self-soothe, and there has been research supporting pacifiers help prevent SIDS.  Fortunately, parents today have a choice in providing their children with pacifiers made from safer plastics.

Born Free was one of the first companies I encountered that offered BPA-free baby bottles and sippy cups. Now, Born Free is providing parents with BornFree BPA-free Pacifiers for Day and Night too!  These pacifiers come in two sizes for ages 0-6 months and 6 + months.  Made from materials that are 100% free of bisphenol-A, phthalates and PVC, these pacifiers feature a flexible handle,  orthodontic silicone nipple, and a breathable shield. Gil Lemel, founder and CEO of BornFree explains, “BornFree is committed to only providing BPA-Free products.  Our goal is to offer a smart and safe alternative for the entire family.  The pacifier is the first of many products that will soon be available in our new orthodontic line.”

I was happy when I got an email about PVC free raingear for kids. So much of the raingear available is made from thick PVC, and you can smell it. Gortex is made from the chemicals used in Teflon. So what’s a green parent to do?

PVC (also known as vinyl) is also known as the poison plastic, and is bad for the environment and for our kids. PVC often carries lead (such as in some baby bibs), and uses a number of troublesome chemicals called phthalates to make the plastic soft. These phthalates are endocrine disruptors which have been linked to problems in the development of the male reproductive system and the brain development of infants.

Here is a link about the enviornmental problems that begin with the manufacturing of PVC.

In the not too distant past I called for an outright ban on using vinyl in any and all craft projects in Crafting Vs. Vinyl (Round 1). I then followed that up with Crafting Vs. Vinyl (Round 2) and explored some possible alternatives to the toxic plastic, but had no such luck on finding a substitute to clear vinyl, a material that is used in many crafting projects.

Gidget recently inquired about PEVA as a possible clear plastic alternative. I jumped at the chance to look into this plastic, which I had not heard of, to see about its potential for crafting and how it rates in relation to PVC.

Gidget pointed out that IKEA was selling clear plastic shower curtains and that they were made out of PEVA, not PVC. I happened to be at an IKEA the other day and was able to look over said shower curtain. Indeed, it said 100% PEVA. It was clear and light and flexible. The biggest difference that I noticed right away was its lack of smell! It was also thinner and a bit more cloudy (but still clear) than PVC, but still flexible and pliable enough to be run through with a needle and thread.

Last month, Apple took a big step towards becoming environmentally-friendly by eliminating Brominated Flame Retardant (BFR) and polyvinylchloride (PVR) from its iPods. Now the company is taking another huge step with its notebook computers.