Site search
sponsored by
News
Sports
ENLARGE
Draw Eartha!
What does Eartha Steward look
like? Submit your drawing (or whatever) to editor@summitdaily.com. The winner will get some cool, green swag and an ongoing presence in Eartha's column! Here are some of the entries received so far.
like? Submit your drawing (or whatever) to editor@summitdaily.com. The winner will get some cool, green swag and an ongoing presence in Eartha's column! Here are some of the entries received so far.
|
ENLARGE
|
|
ENLARGE
|
|
ENLARGE
|
Dear Eartha,
As an A-Basin ski patroller, I have to apply sunscreen every day. My wife has warned me about harmful chemicals and toxins in everything from shampoo to deodorant. Should I be worried?
Judd S., Silverthorne
Your wife sounds like she knows what she's talking about! And yes, you should be concerned about PCPs or Personal Care Products for the sake of your body and the environment. PCPs include a long list of products like sunscreen, shampoo, makeup, toothpaste, lotion and fingernail polish.
By now, we've all heard about carbon footprints — how much we individually consume in energy and produce in greenhouse gases. But have you thought about your PCP footprint? According to the Environmental Working Group (EWG), a nonprofit dedicated to protecting human and environmental health, nearly 90 percent of ingredients used in PCPs have never been evaluated for safety. From hand soap to deodorant, an average of 126 “unique” ingredients are applied to our skin every day. Talk about a massive footprint!
Here at the Conservation Center we often challenge you to consider the life cycle of the products we buy. With PCPs, there are substantial impacts to the environment (and to humans) in the production phase and consumer-use phase. Many PCP contaminants are manufacturer side-effects derived from petroleum mines, and animal by-products. Researchers have also linked chemicals in PCPs to long-term gradual effects. Unlike trace contaminants found in water and food, contaminants in PCPs are base ingredients of the actual product. PCP chemicals can be absorbed by our skin or enter our bodies through application on our lips and hands.
Who doesn't like a sweet-smelling lotion? I often find myself drawn into labels that advertise avocados, lemons, and lavender. But be cautious of products with fragrance. A single fragrance can contain hundreds of different chemicals.
So how do you know what PCPs are safe to use? Some say the longer the list of ingredients on the back of shampoo bottle, the worse the product is for the environment. I don't know about that, but I will advise you to carefully read the label, especially the small print! Greenwashing is becoming a powerful marketing tool as “green” continues to increase in popularity. There are tons of PCP manufacturers that market their product as organic, natural, fragrance free, and nontoxic. However, these claims are usually not regulated under the law so it's important to put on your smart consumer hat and read the ingredients. If you see dozens of ingredients on a bottle that you don't recognize or can't pronounce, it's probably not good for you or the environment.
Check out EWG's Skin Deep Cosmetic Safety Database (www.cosmet icsdatabase.com). You can research toxic brands and products. You can even ask the database to exclude hazardous ingredients like carcinogens and neurotoxins and Skin Deep will generate a custom shopping list for you.
What about all the waste generated by PCPs? Labels, containers and caps — oh my! Have you ever noticed the fancy PCP packaging (tags, shiny plastics, and bright colored boxes) used to get your attention? I've peeled through rows of plastics and paper just to find a tiny container of product. I know that small things come in big packages, but again, why is that?
Next time you shop, why not ask yourself — “Will this increase my PCP Footprint?” Since Eartha's all about eco-stylish shoes, it time we lightened our impact!
Eartha Steward is written by Carly Wier and Jennifer Santry at the High Country Conservation Center, a nonprofit 501(c)3 organization dedicated to waste reduction and resource conservation in our mountain community. Submit questions to Eartha at eartha@highcountryconservation.org.
As an A-Basin ski patroller, I have to apply sunscreen every day. My wife has warned me about harmful chemicals and toxins in everything from shampoo to deodorant. Should I be worried?
Judd S., Silverthorne
Your wife sounds like she knows what she's talking about! And yes, you should be concerned about PCPs or Personal Care Products for the sake of your body and the environment. PCPs include a long list of products like sunscreen, shampoo, makeup, toothpaste, lotion and fingernail polish.
By now, we've all heard about carbon footprints — how much we individually consume in energy and produce in greenhouse gases. But have you thought about your PCP footprint? According to the Environmental Working Group (EWG), a nonprofit dedicated to protecting human and environmental health, nearly 90 percent of ingredients used in PCPs have never been evaluated for safety. From hand soap to deodorant, an average of 126 “unique” ingredients are applied to our skin every day. Talk about a massive footprint!
Here at the Conservation Center we often challenge you to consider the life cycle of the products we buy. With PCPs, there are substantial impacts to the environment (and to humans) in the production phase and consumer-use phase. Many PCP contaminants are manufacturer side-effects derived from petroleum mines, and animal by-products. Researchers have also linked chemicals in PCPs to long-term gradual effects. Unlike trace contaminants found in water and food, contaminants in PCPs are base ingredients of the actual product. PCP chemicals can be absorbed by our skin or enter our bodies through application on our lips and hands.
Who doesn't like a sweet-smelling lotion? I often find myself drawn into labels that advertise avocados, lemons, and lavender. But be cautious of products with fragrance. A single fragrance can contain hundreds of different chemicals.
So how do you know what PCPs are safe to use? Some say the longer the list of ingredients on the back of shampoo bottle, the worse the product is for the environment. I don't know about that, but I will advise you to carefully read the label, especially the small print! Greenwashing is becoming a powerful marketing tool as “green” continues to increase in popularity. There are tons of PCP manufacturers that market their product as organic, natural, fragrance free, and nontoxic. However, these claims are usually not regulated under the law so it's important to put on your smart consumer hat and read the ingredients. If you see dozens of ingredients on a bottle that you don't recognize or can't pronounce, it's probably not good for you or the environment.
Check out EWG's Skin Deep Cosmetic Safety Database (www.cosmet icsdatabase.com). You can research toxic brands and products. You can even ask the database to exclude hazardous ingredients like carcinogens and neurotoxins and Skin Deep will generate a custom shopping list for you.
What about all the waste generated by PCPs? Labels, containers and caps — oh my! Have you ever noticed the fancy PCP packaging (tags, shiny plastics, and bright colored boxes) used to get your attention? I've peeled through rows of plastics and paper just to find a tiny container of product. I know that small things come in big packages, but again, why is that?
Next time you shop, why not ask yourself — “Will this increase my PCP Footprint?” Since Eartha's all about eco-stylish shoes, it time we lightened our impact!
Eartha Steward is written by Carly Wier and Jennifer Santry at the High Country Conservation Center, a nonprofit 501(c)3 organization dedicated to waste reduction and resource conservation in our mountain community. Submit questions to Eartha at eartha@highcountryconservation.org.
