Many common household products contain toxic chemicals. These products pose a health risk to you, your family and the environment.
Free Online Resources
Environmental Working Group
A non-profit environmental research group in the U.S., the EWG has information on its website
on toxic ingredients to avoid in cosmetics and personal care products.
www.ewg.org
Campaign for Safe Cosmetics
Another site for information on cosmetic products is the Campaign for Safe Cosmetics.
www.safecosmetics.org
Georgia Strait Alliance — Green Boating Guide
Tips on environmental practices in boating, including recommended products to use.
Available as a PDF on their website.
www.georgiastrait.org
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making smart consumer choices
Pick up a magazine, flick on the TV and the product pitches are everywhere: get the new scrubbing power of our floor cleaner … catch the scent of ocean breezes with our new air freshener… feel the clean from our body wash. Virtually every week, there’s a new product to clean your home or freshen your skin. But do you need them all? And even for the products that you do need, are there better choices that reduce the impact on the environment and on your health?
Sometimes the first question is easy to answer. Products like plug-in air fresheners, for example, do little more than mask odours and contribute to indoor air pollution. Heavily fragranced products often contain endocrine-disrupting synthetic musks that have been shown to cause reproductive problems in wildlife. But even for products you do need, it’s important to know what the ingredients are. For example, some common household cleaning products may contain carcinogens (cancer-causing substances) or ingredients that are considered to be CEPA-toxic (toxic to human health and the environment under the provisions of the Canadian Environmental Protection Act).
Check it out before you buy with some of these tools below:
Enviro Choice
One good product identifier is the EnviroChoice Ecologo, an environmental certification program developed by Environment Canada but certified by a third party, Terra Choice. Products must meet strict standards on ingredients, packaging, biodegradability and other criteria. There is a wide range of product categories covered by Enviro Choice standards, from cleaning products to RV products to rechargeable batteries. Products bearing the Enviro Choice Ecologo are usually the best environmental choice available.
Green Seal
Less known in Canada, but similar in purpose is the Green Seal certification, a U.S.-based standard. Certified products must meet a set of standards on ingredients and other criteria. The range of product categories is not as wide, but within each category there are usually a number of certified products. Like products bearing the Enviro Choice Ecologo, Green Seal-certified products are also a good choice.
