Super Eco

Photo credit: Picture Perfect Pose

"Because we don't think about future generations, they will never forget us." Henrik Tikkanen

There are so many harmful pollutants in our environment that we have little, immediate, control over. Waste from manufacturing and harmful runoff from agricultural processes. Industrial and motor vehicle emissions such as nitrogen and sulfur oxides that cause acid rain, I could go on and on.

Here are some simple, easy ways to minimize our exposure to harmful chemicals in our day-to-day lives:

1. Try to avoid all products that have "chloro" as part of their name such as wood preservatives, herbicides, insecticides, chlorine bleach and triclosan. Triclosan--a chlorophenol--is often found in antibacterial cleansers and toothpastes. Studies have linked triclosan to cancer. Avoid PVC cling wraps as well, look for wraps that are identified as non-chlorinated plastic.
2. Avoid Styrofoam--Polystyrene--like the plague, Bring your own BPA free container, to get takeout food and drinks. Plenty of people are already doing this on a regular basis, no one will think you're weird.
3. Never ever burn trash, treated wood, or any kind of plastics. Avoid burning things in general. Reduce, reuse and recycle, responsibly.
4. Using simple biodegradable cleaners like lemon, vinegar and baking soda is a great way to avoid a host of toxic chemicals in our home. There is not much, in the way of grease or grime, that these three can't handle.
   
5. Filter our home drinking water. Although the United States has one of the safest, most bountiful supplies of potable drinking water, there is no guarantee that the water coming out of our tap is completely safe.

More and more we need to think about the repercussions of our everyday actions. Building awareness is the first step. Taking action by being responsible consumers and stewards of our planet is the next, most important, step.

Action without knowledge is irresponsible, knowledge without action is useless.

Make each new day, greener than the last.