A lovely bunch of flowers bought from the florist or the supermarket may have been grown in a greenhouse thousands of miles away (Kenya is the largest supplier of cut flowers to the European Union). Apart from the environmental issue of transport over long distances, the boom in horticulture in some developing countries has a high social and environmental cost. In Colombia, the flower industry uses enormous amounts of polluting pesticides and exposes poorly paid garden workers to chemicals that may be carcinogenic or toxic. In drier regions, such as Kenya, horticulture requires substantial amounts of water and, as a result, overuses local water resources.
Flowers especially Roses imported into New Zealand (which let me say most Roses that we buy at florists or supermarkets are imported - I'd be surprised to find any that aren't) are dipped and sprayed with anti-fungals, virus and bacteria killing toxic chemicals. So not only are they bad for the environment becuase they have been transported from overseas, grown using pesticides, and large amounts of water but they are really unhealthy to have in your house. We have always had huge Lavender hedges growing around our houses, and I always plant Iceberg Roses, so we always have a supply of flowers in the garden for vases all year round.
If you want a traditional bouquet, seek out organic or Fair Trade flowers, Look for the Fair Trade or VeriFlora labels, which ensure your flowers come from farms with high environmental and labour standards. And consider buying or giving a potted plant from a local nursery as a gift rather than a bunch of flowers. Check out the Give Plants website on how to send a plant rather than a bouquet - gosh I'd love to receive one of these, they look amazing and it will last far longer!
I know its the wrong time of year for us but I just received an email from 'Campaign for Safe Cosmetics' and thought id share an excerpt with you:
"Have you ever wondered about the claims on the bottle of sunscreen in your medicine cabinet or beach bag? Environmental Working Group (one of the Campaign for Safe Cosmetics' founding organizations) has released its 2011 Sunscreen Guide.
Of the more than 600 beach and sports sunscreens analyzed, EWG can only recommend one in five.
Why? For starters, the sunscreen industry continues to use misleading, sky-high SPF ratings that may protect against UVB rays that cause sunburn but leave skin at risk for UVA damage.
Plus, many companies are still using retinyl palmitate, a form of vitamin A that might actually speed the development of skin tumors on sun-exposed skin, as well as hormone disruptors and nanoparticles (a particular concern for spray and powder products), both of which present other potential health threats.
Fortunately, there are companies making effective and safe sunscreens. Find safe options, see the "Hall of Shame" and learn more about sunscreen safety: Read EWG's 2011 Best Sunscreen Guide"
I have the most amazing sunscreen available at Rejuvenate, USpa's Organic Sun Defence SPF 20, this unique moisturizer created by Uspa from the ground up provides sun protection as well as offering anti-oxidant benefits and soothing hydrating properties. The Green Tea extract provides powerful antioxidants to assist in the fight against signs of aging and sun damage. The Aloe Vera nourishes and hydrates by infusing the skin with humectants. Uspa Organic Sun Defense also contains light Rose Oil, Lavender Oil, and Vitamin E to help soothe and nourish the skin. This is the perfect combination for your defense against the sun. Screens harmful UVA and UVB rays. PABA free/fragrance free. Regular use of sunscreens can aid in the prevention of some skin cancers and premature aging of the skin. Highly hydrating without leaving a residue or white tint. Sunscreen by Uspa Screens harmful UVA and UVB rays. PABA free/fragrance free. Regular use of sunscreens can aid in the prevention of some skin cancers and premature aging of the skin.
And my wonderful Sensé Daytime Protective Emulsion has an SPF15 in it, perfect for everyday use!
In our house we only eat Free-Range eggs, bacon and chicken, if we cant afford it we don't buy it and go without. My theory is I'd rather eat vegetarian than support industries that are in the business of making money without caring about the welfare of their animals.
We love Freedom Farms ham (well my son does!) And lots of other companies out there are jumping on the Free Range bandwagon and good on them, our new favorite is Kiwi Bacon who are doing New Zealand Free Farmed, its a slightly cheaper price which makes it more accessible for all, and its readily available from Pak'n'Save
My main point here is vote with your dollar, if you don't agree with something then don't buy it!
New non-metallic products that contain VOC's (Volatile Organic Compounds) will 'offgas' for years, which means they will release chemicals into the surrounding air by evaporation (this is what you can identify as the 'new car smell') in your home or place of work. The effects are even more toxic in a well insulated building. Buying second-hand furniture means that it has done most of is off gassing already and you are also giving a home and life to a piece that may end up in the dump.
I specifically chose a second-hand cot for my son firstly because of the off-gassing issue (I chose a Nature Baby Touchwood cot more than 4 years old, as the oil used back then was less toxic), secondly its an item used for a short time and doesn't need to be new, and thirdly we would never have been able to afford to buy new as these cost close to $1100 with the mattress (I'm a true believer in buying second-hand quality products that will hold their value for re-sale in the future!)
Fashions change and clothes gradually accumulate in wardrobes. On average, the manufacture of 1,000 items of new clothing produces over 200Kg of waste as cloth, paper, and packaging. If old clothes are in good condition they can be put back into circulation on the second-hand market, TradeMe is perfect for this as its a win/win situation, someone gets your old clothes that they want and will use and you get their money. You can also give to charity or if you know ow to sew, alter old clothes into new garments. The second-hand market offers an economic, environmentally friendly alternative to new clothes.
Sift through your clothes, and donate those you no longer wear to charity or sell them. Clothes that are too damaged to be worn again can be used as cleaning rages. When buying clothes think of alternatives to new, such as TradeMe or Op Shops, which is an increasing trend, keeping up with fashion, while consuming less - I bought the most lovely cream Dorothy Perkins top from an Op Shop the other day, brand new with tags, never worn $12!!
And its not just clothes, think household items as well - there are some amazing bargains to pick up - and vintage is cool!
Each year gardeners pour millions of litres of chemicals onto their lawns and gardens. Excessive use of herbicides and other pesticides threatens biodiversity and freshwater resources, two essential elements of life on earth.
Avoid using chemical weed killers. To remove weeds from your garden, hoe regularly, and pull weeds out before they can seed. Boiling water from a kettle (I tend to use what is left over from when I make a cup of tea), Vinegar and lemon juice can also be used to kill some weeds.
