Our goal is to provide a one-stop resource center for a healthy, organic and sustainable life. Based on years (and years) of research, trial and error, and a lively community, we have assembled lists and recommendations for all aspects of life.
Our main criteria are plastic free, toxin free, sustainably made, locally sourced, low impact and biodegradable.
Why plastic free?
Plastic pollution is one of the largest, most pressing problems of our time. I used to hear the saying “it takes a plastic bag 400 years to decompose”. The scary reality is: A plastic bag NEVER decomposes. It disintegrates into smaller and smaller particles that eventually find their way into the ocean, our food, our water and our bodies.
I personally believe that the invention of plastic, while convenient, was one of the most devastating discoveries ever. It enabled us to live a disposable lifestyle. Before, there simply weren’t enough resources to throw stuff away after one use. Cotton was (and still is) too expensive to wear once or twice and then throw it out. Wool was to precious to turn it into something you’d use only a few times.
But now here we are: Plastic is everywhere. Our houses are full of plastic (hello rugs, insulation, upholstery, fabrics, our clothes, or food packaging, stuffed animals, shoe soles, heck, shoes!, pillows, the list goes on and on and on. Not only does plastic suck because it literally never “decomposes”, meaning that plastic vacuum bag with chicken for today’s lunch will outlive all of us), but a plastic house requires additional bad stuff: Plastic, per se, burns really well. Basically all it is is mineral oil in disguise, so of course it does. So what does that mean? Since dwellings are always at risk for house fires, and plastic ignites quickly, burns really well and creates highly toxic gasses while doing so, the industry has had to come up with all sorts of ways to help decrease the risk of devastating home fires. So many of the plastic elements in our homes contain flame retardants. Most of them are highly toxic compounds that slowly offgas over years, or even decades, to be absorbed by our bodies through inhalation and ingestion. The side effects of common flame retardants (such as PENTA BDE) include reproductive harm, cancer, allergies, and auto-immune diseases. Studies show that many newly built houses are downright toxic for up to five years. But even after the initial off-gassing fades off, plastics such as PU-foams, Vinyls, or coatings commonly disintegrate, meaning tiny particles break off and find their way into the air we breath and the dust we inhale and absorb. All of these side effects of plastic are naturally elevated in young children, whose growing bodies are more susceptible to toxins due to their developing systems, as well as their habit to crawl on the floor and put stuff in their mouths.
Through our Healthy Home Consultation Services, we provide our clients with the resources (tried and true) to help you eliminate toxics from your daily life.
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