The way the tests work today is we think that by testing at high doses we’re gonna see everything. So that once we get to a dose that’s intermediate and we don’t see anything, we’re golden.

But the science is telling us that at really low doses as contaminants mimic hormones. They can have effects that are totally unpredictable by what happens at high doses.

Pete Myers spoke to Living on Earth about the consequences of current testing.

Read more of this story »

Born out of the movement to eliminate plastic water bottles, the SafeSporter’s limited plastic parts do not contain BPA or phthalates.

Why go with stainless steel bottles from Kid Basix when so many BPA-free plastic bottles are available now? We can give you 300 billion reasons. That’s the approximate number of plastic water bottles discarded around the world every year. Enough to power 12 million cars for an entire year. And that’s just the water bottles! It doesn’t include all the plastic bottles used for sodas, sports drinks, fruit juices and the like. All told, the plastic bottles we throw away each year would reach to the moon and back – 1500 times. So using reusable stainless steel bottles makes sense on every level: personal, local and global.

Read more of this story »

The good folks at Enviro Products sent over a stainless steel food container. I was a bit skeptical at first, because my son is the only one who packs a lunch and sometimes these things are too difficult to unlatch. It turns out I had no reason to worry, the latches are firm but easy enough for an elementary school boy to maneuver and there’s no metallic taste. It’s a large container, and I’d love to see one that’s sandwich sized, because that would keep the sandwiches from flailing around and falling apart. It’s perfect for pastas grains and fruits. My kids seldom want soft skin fruits like peaches or nectarines in their lunch boxes because they’re ruined (smashed) by lunchtime.

Read more of this story »

Editor’s note:  Please read the comments below. This company has come under scrutiny by consumers.

I’ve been noticing more and more people from all walks of life using metal water bottles. At about half the price of other stainless steel water bottles, non-profit Eco Canteen’s mission is to get as many people as possible off of bottled water, since 80% of plastic water bottled are not recycled.  Of the plastic water bottles that do make it to the recycling center, 40% of them end up in China or Indonesia.

Here are some staggering statistics about the detrimental environmental effects of plastic water bottles:

• 2.5 million disposable water bottles are thrown away in the US every hour.
• In 2007, $16 billion was spent on bottled water.
• 20 oz. of bottled water costs almost as much as a gallon of gas.
• Discarded plastic water bottles take 700 to 1,000 years to break down.
• A 20 oz. bottle of water takes 5 oz. of oil to produce and ship.
• Dioxin, one of the deadliest air pollutants, is created when unrecyclable PVC is separated from PET/PETE #1 plastic water bottles and then incinerated.

Read more of this story »

Read more of this story »

I’ve been bringing breakfast, which is either yogurt, fruit and ground flaxseeds or oat bran, in this container for more than a week now and I have to say it is lighter than the glass containers I usually use. As promoted, this container does not offer any additional chemical or metallic taste to my food and it is very easy to clean.

Read more of this story »

This is a picture of my ‘day job’ desk. Among the clutter of items, you will see my two favorite fluids and their favored respective containers - my tea mug with a caption that reads ‘tips for dieting: if you can’t lose it, decorate it!’ I find this strangely encouraging. The other fluid container is my new favorite stainless steel water bearer. This awesome insulated container is a Thermos. This hip update on a classic is called the Intak Fashion Vacuum Insulated Hydration Bottle - that’s a mouthful, huh? I’ve never liked the plastic straw containers, but this one is flexible AND it is BPA free!

“1.1 billion people on this planet lack adequate hydration due to a shortage of clean and safe drinking water”

- according to the HydrationForAll website.

Read more of this story »

The most common materials are plastic laminate and solid surface materials. Plastic laminate is a thin sheet of colored plastic glued to a backing which is most often composition wood board - a combination of wood bits and glue - which offgasses formaldehyde from the urea formaldehyde glue used to make it. Solid surface countertops (including such brands as Corian) are made from plastics and epoxy resins. Some solid surface materials have some mineral content (like Zodiaq, a sister line to Corian that incorporates quartz chips into the material), which lessens the use of petrochemicals and other synthetics.

There are many other possibilities to be considered. Individual style as well as tolerance for character and variability are also part of the decision-making process. A person who wants a very pristine appearance may not be suited for a material like soapstone, which will show marks and develop a character over time. Ideally, a countertop should be as long-lasting as possible, so that the material doesn’t need to be replaced and it stays out of the landfill.

Granite is a natural stone material. It does not wear out or decay, and can potentially be re-used. It does not break down, and discarded countertops only contribute bulk to landfills. The negatives with using granite include the mining process and the shipping. Mining is inevitable for any mineral product, and quarrying of granite for building purposes has a lot lower overall environmental impact than, say coal mining. As a stone product, it is pretty resistant to heat, but some things can leave stains on it. Increasingly, stone products are being imported from Asia, and the shipping impacts and environmental costs of that versus more locally sourced materials should be considered. Soapstone, slate, and other alternative stone products may be another option, particularly if they are regionally produced near the area where they are to be installed.

A number of solid surfacing products have more of a green edge to them these days. Avonite has a line of solid surfacing countertops which have some recycled content. They are re-using reclaimed solid surface material (presumably pre-consumer recycling, but reducing waste nonetheless) in one line. IceStone is a product that uses recycled glass and concrete. It is not a solid surface material. The company also notes that "McDonough Braungart Design Chemistry (MBDC) awarded Cradle to Cradle™ SILVER Certification to IceStone durable surfaces." Paperstone is a product made from recycled paper, and includes a line that uses 100% post-consumer paper in its products. Paperstone is FSC certified, and the company notes that it uses a water based resin to manufacture its countertops. All of these options offer increased durability (even PaperStone resists heat up to 350 degrees F). But the manufacture and shipping may be a consideration. (PaperStone is manufactured in Washington state, and IceStone is made in Brooklyn, so if you are within 500 miles of either of these manufacturers, LEED would consider them a local material supplier.)

There is even the option of a concrete countertop for a serious do-it-yourselfer. Concrete countertops offer great flexibility in configuration, and can be inlaid with decorative elements and finished in a wide range of options. Concrete is generally produced fairly locally, so the shipping is reduced. But there is more embodied energy in manufacturing concrete than in some other materials. And the production of cement is a major contributor to atmospheric pollution.

Stainless steel countertops are used in commercial kitchens because of their durability and easy cleanability. While stainless steel countertops might be an option for some, they are generally too institutional looking for most households. Steel has much more embodied energy in the processing of metal. But it is also eminently recyclable at the end of its useful life. Unless there is another use for a natural stone or a synthetic countertop, it will most likely be down-cycled into some lesser use, or else go into a landfill. But a stainless steel counter can be recycled into other steel products.

Wood is another possibility that can be considered. Wood butcher block can be very durable, though it will develop wear and exhibit marks as it is used over time. While many people may not like the way it looks after a few years, the honesty of the appearance may be appealing to some, and the low impact nature of the material may make it a choice to consider.

Tarma is a company that designs, manufactures and sells unique, high quality, personal art that celebrates the spirit of adventure and a love of the outdoors. Guiding our enterprise is a commitment to meaningful social and environmental issues. We understand that everyone’s journey is exquisitely their own. Our personal art provides those who invest in it with a visual representation of their life’s journey and a demonstration of commonly shared values. For the Tarma family, our guideposts reflect our most closely held hopes, dreams and intentions. Our belief is that businesses have a social and ethical responsibility. We will strive to live by our guideposts, to do our part, and set a good example for others to follow. Social and environmental issues are at the forefront of public concern. Our goal is to deliver creative products that we 'adventurists' enjoy backed by an environmental and socially responsible company.

Two separate collections are available in Tarma Designs' online store: Active and Artisan.

The Active Collection brings natural shapes and your favorite outdoor activities to life in casual jewelry for women and men. Crafted from recycled 316 stainless steel, accessory cord and nylon webbing, all Active pieces come with a high polish that's durable and fashionable. The Artisan series is all about discovering new people, places and cultures. We travel the earth and bring back a little taste of our adventures with this distinctive artwear. Free spirited and made to be worn, every piece is custom crafted by skilled artisans. Wear these handcrafted pieces with the pride in which they were created.

80% of the stainless steel used is recycled, and the steel can be recycled 100% in the future. All packaging contains no less than 95% recycled content and no bleaching processes are used. "For the Artisan products, we work closely with non-profit organizations that are members of IFAT, the International Federation of Alternative Trade, a coalition of the handicrafts and agricultural producer organizations and alternative Trade organizations (both importers and exporters) around the world. Our suppliers adhere to IFAT(International Federation for Alternative Trade)'s standards of fair trade and to its objectives."

The Artisan collection is meant mainly for women, but the Active collection contains a wealth of pieces for both sexes. From the Artisan collection, earrings range from $15-25, rings are $15, pendants range from $25-32, and necklaces range from $35-56. From the Active collection, earrings range from $12-25, pendants for men and women range from $18-$30, wristbands for men and women range from $18-$30, and bottle openers range from $22-25.