In the night garden: Create a moon garden

There is something mystical and romantic about walking through a garden on a summer evening.

The moonlight casts a spotlight of shadows capturing and emphasizing moody white flowers and shimmery plants amongst the greenery. The sounds are quietly eerie. Day lilies are closed up tight and sleeping.

Nightfall brings entirely new and intoxicating fragrances that awaken the senses to a unique garden experience.

What is a night garden?
A night garden incorporates plantings whose, color, texture, sound, and scent can be appreciated in the evening. Sometimes night gardens are called "moon gardens".

Are night gardens new?
According to this Lifescript article, night gardens have been around for a long time: "A night garden is not new to the contemporary world. Moonlight gardens were planted in medieval Japan using white or pale-colored rocks and sand. Pools of water caught the shine of the moon and white chrysanthemums cast a ghostly profile. In the 1600s India's mogul emperor planted a stunning night blooming garden using fragrant and beautiful flowers like jasmine, narcissus, and lilies all in white."

Why plant a night garden?
People who work all day and have busy schedules that keep them away from home until the evening get to enjoy the beauty of the garden. For those who want to unplug and unwind in the evening to the sounds of nature, a night garden is the perfect place to relax.

Where to plant a night garden?
Plant it in a place where you will enjoy it most. Small container night gardens are perfect for those with limited space.

What plants to plant in a night garden?
These plants listed on the DoItYourself site are night bloomers and aromatic, making them perfect for night gardens:

• moonflower
• white sand verbena
• fragrant plantain lily
• evening campion
• yucca
• night-flowering catchfly
• thornapple
• scarlet gaura
• citron daylily
• lemon lily
• evening iris
• evening star
• gumbo lily
• soapwort
• vesper iris
• evening primrose
• night-blooming tropical waterlilies
• four o' clock
• desert lily
• white gaura
• evening stock

Do you have a night garden? Add some plants that you enjoy in the evening hours to the list above.

Ronnie Citron-Fink is a writer and educator. Ronnie regularly writes about sustainable living for online sites and magazines. Along with being the creator of www.econesting.com, Ronnie has contributed to numerous books about green home design, DIY, children, and humor. Ronnie lives the Hudson Valley of New York with her family. 

More from Care2:

• Snare those Slugs and Snails! 
• Full Moon Ritual 
• The Moon as a Symbol of Women – and Why 

 

 Print This Post

In the night garden: Create a moon garden

There is something mystical and romantic about walking through a garden on a summer evening.

The moonlight casts a spotlight of shadows capturing and emphasizing moody white flowers and shimmery plants amongst the greenery. The sounds are quietly eerie. Day lilies are closed up tight and sleeping.

Nightfall brings entirely new and intoxicating fragrances that awaken the senses to a unique garden experience.

What is a night garden?
A night garden incorporates plantings whose, color, texture, sound, and scent can be appreciated in the evening. Sometimes night gardens are called "moon gardens".

Are night gardens new?
According to this Lifescript article, night gardens have been around for a long time: "A night garden is not new to the contemporary world. Moonlight gardens were planted in medieval Japan using white or pale-colored rocks and sand. Pools of water caught the shine of the moon and white chrysanthemums cast a ghostly profile. In the 1600s India's mogul emperor planted a stunning night blooming garden using fragrant and beautiful flowers like jasmine, narcissus, and lilies all in white."

Why plant a night garden?
People who work all day and have busy schedules that keep them away from home until the evening get to enjoy the beauty of the garden. For those who want to unplug and unwind in the evening to the sounds of nature, a night garden is the perfect place to relax.

Where to plant a night garden?
Plant it in a place where you will enjoy it most. Small container night gardens are perfect for those with limited space.

What plants to plant in a night garden?
These plants listed on the DoItYourself site are night bloomers and aromatic, making them perfect for night gardens:

• moonflower
• white sand verbena
• fragrant plantain lily
• evening campion
• yucca
• night-flowering catchfly
• thornapple
• scarlet gaura
• citron daylily
• lemon lily
• evening iris
• evening star
• gumbo lily
• soapwort
• vesper iris
• evening primrose
• night-blooming tropical waterlilies
• four o' clock
• desert lily
• white gaura
• evening stock

Do you have a night garden? Add some plants that you enjoy in the evening hours to the list above.

Ronnie Citron-Fink is a writer and educator. Ronnie regularly writes about sustainable living for online sites and magazines. Along with being the creator of www.econesting.com, Ronnie has contributed to numerous books about green home design, DIY, children, and humor. Ronnie lives the Hudson Valley of New York with her family. 

More from Care2:

• Snare those Slugs and Snails! 
• Full Moon Ritual 
• The Moon as a Symbol of Women – and Why 

 

 Print This Post

In the night garden: Create a moon garden

There is something mystical and romantic about walking through a garden on a summer evening.

The moonlight casts a spotlight of shadows capturing and emphasizing moody white flowers and shimmery plants amongst the greenery. The sounds are quietly eerie. Day lilies are closed up tight and sleeping.

Nightfall brings entirely new and intoxicating fragrances that awaken the senses to a unique garden experience.

What is a night garden?
A night garden incorporates plantings whose, color, texture, sound, and scent can be appreciated in the evening. Sometimes night gardens are called "moon gardens".

Are night gardens new?
According to this Lifescript article, night gardens have been around for a long time: "A night garden is not new to the contemporary world. Moonlight gardens were planted in medieval Japan using white or pale-colored rocks and sand. Pools of water caught the shine of the moon and white chrysanthemums cast a ghostly profile. In the 1600s India's mogul emperor planted a stunning night blooming garden using fragrant and beautiful flowers like jasmine, narcissus, and lilies all in white."

Why plant a night garden?
People who work all day and have busy schedules that keep them away from home until the evening get to enjoy the beauty of the garden. For those who want to unplug and unwind in the evening to the sounds of nature, a night garden is the perfect place to relax.

Where to plant a night garden?
Plant it in a place where you will enjoy it most. Small container night gardens are perfect for those with limited space.

What plants to plant in a night garden?
These plants listed on the DoItYourself site are night bloomers and aromatic, making them perfect for night gardens:

• moonflower
• white sand verbena
• fragrant plantain lily
• evening campion
• yucca
• night-flowering catchfly
• thornapple
• scarlet gaura
• citron daylily
• lemon lily
• evening iris
• evening star
• gumbo lily
• soapwort
• vesper iris
• evening primrose
• night-blooming tropical waterlilies
• four o' clock
• desert lily
• white gaura
• evening stock

Do you have a night garden? Add some plants that you enjoy in the evening hours to the list above.

Ronnie Citron-Fink is a writer and educator. Ronnie regularly writes about sustainable living for online sites and magazines. Along with being the creator of www.econesting.com, Ronnie has contributed to numerous books about green home design, DIY, children, and humor. Ronnie lives the Hudson Valley of New York with her family. 

More from Care2:

• Snare those Slugs and Snails! 
• Full Moon Ritual 
• The Moon as a Symbol of Women – and Why 

 

 Print This Post

In the night garden: Create a moon garden

There is something mystical and romantic about walking through a garden on a summer evening.

The moonlight casts a spotlight of shadows capturing and emphasizing moody white flowers and shimmery plants amongst the greenery. The sounds are quietly eerie. Day lilies are closed up tight and sleeping.

Nightfall brings entirely new and intoxicating fragrances that awaken the senses to a unique garden experience.

What is a night garden?
A night garden incorporates plantings whose, color, texture, sound, and scent can be appreciated in the evening. Sometimes night gardens are called "moon gardens".

Are night gardens new?
According to this Lifescript article, night gardens have been around for a long time: "A night garden is not new to the contemporary world. Moonlight gardens were planted in medieval Japan using white or pale-colored rocks and sand. Pools of water caught the shine of the moon and white chrysanthemums cast a ghostly profile. In the 1600s India's mogul emperor planted a stunning night blooming garden using fragrant and beautiful flowers like jasmine, narcissus, and lilies all in white."

Why plant a night garden?
People who work all day and have busy schedules that keep them away from home until the evening get to enjoy the beauty of the garden. For those who want to unplug and unwind in the evening to the sounds of nature, a night garden is the perfect place to relax.

Where to plant a night garden?
Plant it in a place where you will enjoy it most. Small container night gardens are perfect for those with limited space.

What plants to plant in a night garden?
These plants listed on the DoItYourself site are night bloomers and aromatic, making them perfect for night gardens:

• moonflower
• white sand verbena
• fragrant plantain lily
• evening campion
• yucca
• night-flowering catchfly
• thornapple
• scarlet gaura
• citron daylily
• lemon lily
• evening iris
• evening star
• gumbo lily
• soapwort
• vesper iris
• evening primrose
• night-blooming tropical waterlilies
• four o' clock
• desert lily
• white gaura
• evening stock

Do you have a night garden? Add some plants that you enjoy in the evening hours to the list above.

Ronnie Citron-Fink is a writer and educator. Ronnie regularly writes about sustainable living for online sites and magazines. Along with being the creator of www.econesting.com, Ronnie has contributed to numerous books about green home design, DIY, children, and humor. Ronnie lives the Hudson Valley of New York with her family. 

More from Care2:

• Snare those Slugs and Snails! 
• Full Moon Ritual 
• The Moon as a Symbol of Women – and Why 

 

 Print This Post

In the night garden: Create a moon garden

There is something mystical and romantic about walking through a garden on a summer evening.

The moonlight casts a spotlight of shadows capturing and emphasizing moody white flowers and shimmery plants amongst the greenery. The sounds are quietly eerie. Day lilies are closed up tight and sleeping.

Nightfall brings entirely new and intoxicating fragrances that awaken the senses to a unique garden experience.

What is a night garden?
A night garden incorporates plantings whose, color, texture, sound, and scent can be appreciated in the evening. Sometimes night gardens are called "moon gardens".

Are night gardens new?
According to this Lifescript article, night gardens have been around for a long time: "A night garden is not new to the contemporary world. Moonlight gardens were planted in medieval Japan using white or pale-colored rocks and sand. Pools of water caught the shine of the moon and white chrysanthemums cast a ghostly profile. In the 1600s India's mogul emperor planted a stunning night blooming garden using fragrant and beautiful flowers like jasmine, narcissus, and lilies all in white."

Why plant a night garden?
People who work all day and have busy schedules that keep them away from home until the evening get to enjoy the beauty of the garden. For those who want to unplug and unwind in the evening to the sounds of nature, a night garden is the perfect place to relax.

Where to plant a night garden?
Plant it in a place where you will enjoy it most. Small container night gardens are perfect for those with limited space.

What plants to plant in a night garden?
These plants listed on the DoItYourself site are night bloomers and aromatic, making them perfect for night gardens:

• moonflower
• white sand verbena
• fragrant plantain lily
• evening campion
• yucca
• night-flowering catchfly
• thornapple
• scarlet gaura
• citron daylily
• lemon lily
• evening iris
• evening star
• gumbo lily
• soapwort
• vesper iris
• evening primrose
• night-blooming tropical waterlilies
• four o' clock
• desert lily
• white gaura
• evening stock

Do you have a night garden? Add some plants that you enjoy in the evening hours to the list above.

Ronnie Citron-Fink is a writer and educator. Ronnie regularly writes about sustainable living for online sites and magazines. Along with being the creator of www.econesting.com, Ronnie has contributed to numerous books about green home design, DIY, children, and humor. Ronnie lives the Hudson Valley of New York with her family. 

More from Care2:

• Snare those Slugs and Snails! 
• Full Moon Ritual 
• The Moon as a Symbol of Women – and Why 

 

 Print This Post

Eco-friendly tips to insulate your home

(Image Credit: Creative Commons photo by moosicorn)

It is hot out there! We know that insulation helps us run that air conditioner a bit less, but what you might not know is that there are lots of different insulation options, and certain types are much more environmentally sound than others. Insulators like spray foam contain harsh chemicals and even emit greenhouse gases.

Here are some insulation options that get it right:

Blue jeans

In 2008, Levi's recycled over 200,000 pairs of discarded jeans into insulation for the California Academy of Sciences in Golden Gate Park, and you can find recycled denim insulation for the home, too. Not only is denim insulation easier on the environment, you're keeping all of that discarded material out of the landfill!

For folks looking to score denim insulation for the home, Bonded Logic makes home insulation using post-consumer cotton and denim.

Sand

Sand is a renewable resource, and EcoBatt has sorted out a way to turn that into home insulation. They combine sand with post-consumer recycled glass to create natural insulation that's Greenguard certified. They even have a handy locator tool to help folks find it by state.

Straw bale construction

Straw bale is a totally natural insulator that's easy to source locally in many areas. It's a great addition to a natural building project, because it's easy to work with. A great insulator, straw is a renewable resource and contains none of the harsh chemicals you'd associate with conventional insulators.

A great way to learn more about natural materials like straw bale is to hunt down sustainable building courses in your area. The more you know how to do yourself, the more money you can save on construction costs.

 Print This Post

Eco-friendly tips to insulate your home

(Image Credit: Creative Commons photo by moosicorn)

It is hot out there! We know that insulation helps us run that air conditioner a bit less, but what you might not know is that there are lots of different insulation options, and certain types are much more environmentally sound than others. Insulators like spray foam contain harsh chemicals and even emit greenhouse gases.

Here are some insulation options that get it right:

Blue jeans

In 2008, Levi's recycled over 200,000 pairs of discarded jeans into insulation for the California Academy of Sciences in Golden Gate Park, and you can find recycled denim insulation for the home, too. Not only is denim insulation easier on the environment, you're keeping all of that discarded material out of the landfill!

For folks looking to score denim insulation for the home, Bonded Logic makes home insulation using post-consumer cotton and denim.

Sand

Sand is a renewable resource, and EcoBatt has sorted out a way to turn that into home insulation. They combine sand with post-consumer recycled glass to create natural insulation that's Greenguard certified. They even have a handy locator tool to help folks find it by state.

Straw bale construction

Straw bale is a totally natural insulator that's easy to source locally in many areas. It's a great addition to a natural building project, because it's easy to work with. A great insulator, straw is a renewable resource and contains none of the harsh chemicals you'd associate with conventional insulators.

A great way to learn more about natural materials like straw bale is to hunt down sustainable building courses in your area. The more you know how to do yourself, the more money you can save on construction costs.

 Print This Post

What to do with bathroom plastics

By Virginia Sole-Smith, Planet Green

I decided that Step One of my Plastic Detox Program would be to find out what I have. It's both worse and a bit better than I thought.

The bad news: Virtually every product in my bathroom (save the hand soap and one moisturizer in glass bottles -- and even they come with plastic tops, but let's not split hairs, okay?) is in a plastic bottle or tube. And I have a LOT of products.

The good news: A lot of these plastic containers are made from the safer types of plastic.

(Not sure what type of plastic you're dealing with? Flip the item over and check the number in the little recycling symbol on the bottom. Then read on.)

Here's the breakdown in my bathroom:

#1 Plastic

What Is It? -- PETE. Polyethylene terephthalate ethylene, used for soft drink, juice, water, detergent, cleaner, and peanut butter containers.

What's Wrong With It? -- #1 plastics are designed to be disposable, meaning they create more waste. If you try to reuse them, they can break down on you. The good news is, they are usually recyclable.

Where Is It? -- Facewash, eye-makeup remover, and body scrub.

Goal -- Recycle these when they're used up and look for reusable containers when I replace them.

 

#2 Plastic

What Is It? -- HDPE: High density polyethylene, used in opaque plastic milk and water jugs, bleach, detergent and shampoo bottles, and some plastic bags.

What's Wrong With it? -- Not so much in terms of health -- this is one of the "safe" plastics (along with #1, #4 and #5). But it's still made from petroleum products and ends up in landfills, so like all plastic, is not ideal from an environmental standpoint.

Where Is It? -- Facewash (yes, I use two different kinds), shower gel, shampoo, several kinds of hair gel, and hairspray.

Goal -- Look for more sustainable options as I use up these items (can I find them sold in glass containers? Can I make them myself?), and try to pare down the number of products I'm using to reduce waste. But if I do buy a plastic bathroom item, it should be #1, 2, 4, or 5.

 

#3 Plastic

What Is It? -- PVC or V: Polyvinyl chloride, used for cling wrap, plastic squeeze bottles, cooking oil and peanut butter containers, and detergent and window cleaner bottles.

What's Wrong With It? -- Just about everything. So much, in fact, that I'm referring you to IATP's Smart Plastics Guide:

PVC -- THE POISON PLASTIC: Polyvinyl chloride, also known as vinyl or PVC, poses risks to the environment and human health. PVC is the least recyclable plastic.

• Vinyl chloride workers face an elevated risk of liver cancer.
• Vinyl chloride manufacturing creates air and water pollution near the factories, often located in low-income neighborhoods.
• PVC needs additives and stabilizers to make it usable. Lead is often added for strength, while plasticizers are added for flexibility. These toxic additives contribute to further pollution and human exposure.
• Dioxin in air emissions from PVC manufacturing and disposal, or from incineration of PVC products, settles on grasslands and accumulates in meat and dairy products, and ultimately, in human tissue.
• Dioxin is a known carcinogen. Low-level exposures are associated with decreased birth weight, learning and behavioral problems in children, suppressed immune function and hormone disruption.

Where Is It? -- A bottle of toner and a clay face mask, which comes in a tube.

Goal -- Follow Annie Leonard's advice to pack these up and mail them back to the manufacturer with a letter explaining why I want them to stop selling, making, and advocating for this junk.

 

#5 Plastic

What Is It? -- PP: Polypropylene, used in most Rubbermaid; deli soup, syrup, and yogurt containers; and straws and other clouded plastic containers, including baby bottles.

What's Wrong With It? -- Like #2, this type of plastic seems to be OK from a health perspective (though, as with all plastic, I'd be leery of microwaving it in case chemicals leach out during the heating process). But this thicker type of plastic is usually not recyclable and will take centuries to break down in a landfill.

Where Is It? -- Two big tubs of moisturizer and body lotion, a stick of deodorant, a tub of conditioner and a tub of face mask.

Goal -- Figure out ways to reuse these containers when they're empty, since I can't recycle them. If I can punch a few holes in the bottom, they're all about the right size for re-potting seedlings.

 

#7 Plastic

What Is It? -- This is a catch-all category for plastics that don't fit into the #1-6 categories. It includes polycarbonate (usually, but not always, labeled #7-PC), bio-based plastics, co-polyester, acrylic, polyamide, and plastic mixtures like styrene-acrylo-nitrile resin (SAN). Number 7 plastics are used for a variety of products like baby bottles and "sippy" cups, baby food jars, 5-gallon water bottles, sport water bottles, plastic dinnerware, and clear plastic cutlery.

What's Wrong With It? -- For one thing, it's hard to know what type of plastic you're even dealing with, since so many fall under the Number 7 umbrella. For another, the list includes polycarbonate, which is the type of plastic found to leach Bisphenol-A, a known endocrine disruptor.

Where Is It? -- A tube of sunscreen, a tube of self-tanner, an exfoliating scrub, some acne medicine, and a pump container of an SPF face cream.

Goal -- I'm really not into BPA in my body lotion, or unknown mystery plastics -- though it's worth noting that a lot of "compostable" and bio-based plastics get this number, too -- so I'm going to avoid these in the future unless the manufacturer makes the type of plastic very clear. Not sure what to do with the containers I've got, though -- tubes don't lend themselves well to reuse or recycling. Which is another good reason to avoid them in the future!

 

So, what kinds of plastic are in your bathroom cabinet? Have you found any great non-plastic personal care products or DIY versions?

While I don't want to waste perfectly good (and nearly full) facewash, acne medicine, masks or scrubs, I am almost out of shampoo, conditioner, shower gel, deodorant, and moisturizer, so I'll be hunting up non-plastic replacements for these guys over the weekend. If you have a favorite source to share, do tell!

 

More from Care2:

• How to Feng Shui Your Bathroom 
• Banish Mold From Bathroom Grout Formula 
• Top Three Clean Air Priority Fixes in the Bath 

 Print This Post

What to do with bathroom plastics

By Virginia Sole-Smith, Planet Green

I decided that Step One of my Plastic Detox Program would be to find out what I have. It's both worse and a bit better than I thought.

The bad news: Virtually every product in my bathroom (save the hand soap and one moisturizer in glass bottles -- and even they come with plastic tops, but let's not split hairs, okay?) is in a plastic bottle or tube. And I have a LOT of products.

The good news: A lot of these plastic containers are made from the safer types of plastic.

(Not sure what type of plastic you're dealing with? Flip the item over and check the number in the little recycling symbol on the bottom. Then read on.)

Here's the breakdown in my bathroom:

#1 Plastic

What Is It? -- PETE. Polyethylene terephthalate ethylene, used for soft drink, juice, water, detergent, cleaner, and peanut butter containers.

What's Wrong With It? -- #1 plastics are designed to be disposable, meaning they create more waste. If you try to reuse them, they can break down on you. The good news is, they are usually recyclable.

Where Is It? -- Facewash, eye-makeup remover, and body scrub.

Goal -- Recycle these when they're used up and look for reusable containers when I replace them.

 

#2 Plastic

What Is It? -- HDPE: High density polyethylene, used in opaque plastic milk and water jugs, bleach, detergent and shampoo bottles, and some plastic bags.

What's Wrong With it? -- Not so much in terms of health -- this is one of the "safe" plastics (along with #1, #4 and #5). But it's still made from petroleum products and ends up in landfills, so like all plastic, is not ideal from an environmental standpoint.

Where Is It? -- Facewash (yes, I use two different kinds), shower gel, shampoo, several kinds of hair gel, and hairspray.

Goal -- Look for more sustainable options as I use up these items (can I find them sold in glass containers? Can I make them myself?), and try to pare down the number of products I'm using to reduce waste. But if I do buy a plastic bathroom item, it should be #1, 2, 4, or 5.

 

#3 Plastic

What Is It? -- PVC or V: Polyvinyl chloride, used for cling wrap, plastic squeeze bottles, cooking oil and peanut butter containers, and detergent and window cleaner bottles.

What's Wrong With It? -- Just about everything. So much, in fact, that I'm referring you to IATP's Smart Plastics Guide:

PVC -- THE POISON PLASTIC: Polyvinyl chloride, also known as vinyl or PVC, poses risks to the environment and human health. PVC is the least recyclable plastic.

• Vinyl chloride workers face an elevated risk of liver cancer.
• Vinyl chloride manufacturing creates air and water pollution near the factories, often located in low-income neighborhoods.
• PVC needs additives and stabilizers to make it usable. Lead is often added for strength, while plasticizers are added for flexibility. These toxic additives contribute to further pollution and human exposure.
• Dioxin in air emissions from PVC manufacturing and disposal, or from incineration of PVC products, settles on grasslands and accumulates in meat and dairy products, and ultimately, in human tissue.
• Dioxin is a known carcinogen. Low-level exposures are associated with decreased birth weight, learning and behavioral problems in children, suppressed immune function and hormone disruption.

Where Is It? -- A bottle of toner and a clay face mask, which comes in a tube.

Goal -- Follow Annie Leonard's advice to pack these up and mail them back to the manufacturer with a letter explaining why I want them to stop selling, making, and advocating for this junk.

 

#5 Plastic

What Is It? -- PP: Polypropylene, used in most Rubbermaid; deli soup, syrup, and yogurt containers; and straws and other clouded plastic containers, including baby bottles.

What's Wrong With It? -- Like #2, this type of plastic seems to be OK from a health perspective (though, as with all plastic, I'd be leery of microwaving it in case chemicals leach out during the heating process). But this thicker type of plastic is usually not recyclable and will take centuries to break down in a landfill.

Where Is It? -- Two big tubs of moisturizer and body lotion, a stick of deodorant, a tub of conditioner and a tub of face mask.

Goal -- Figure out ways to reuse these containers when they're empty, since I can't recycle them. If I can punch a few holes in the bottom, they're all about the right size for re-potting seedlings.

 

#7 Plastic

What Is It? -- This is a catch-all category for plastics that don't fit into the #1-6 categories. It includes polycarbonate (usually, but not always, labeled #7-PC), bio-based plastics, co-polyester, acrylic, polyamide, and plastic mixtures like styrene-acrylo-nitrile resin (SAN). Number 7 plastics are used for a variety of products like baby bottles and "sippy" cups, baby food jars, 5-gallon water bottles, sport water bottles, plastic dinnerware, and clear plastic cutlery.

What's Wrong With It? -- For one thing, it's hard to know what type of plastic you're even dealing with, since so many fall under the Number 7 umbrella. For another, the list includes polycarbonate, which is the type of plastic found to leach Bisphenol-A, a known endocrine disruptor.

Where Is It? -- A tube of sunscreen, a tube of self-tanner, an exfoliating scrub, some acne medicine, and a pump container of an SPF face cream.

Goal -- I'm really not into BPA in my body lotion, or unknown mystery plastics -- though it's worth noting that a lot of "compostable" and bio-based plastics get this number, too -- so I'm going to avoid these in the future unless the manufacturer makes the type of plastic very clear. Not sure what to do with the containers I've got, though -- tubes don't lend themselves well to reuse or recycling. Which is another good reason to avoid them in the future!

 

So, what kinds of plastic are in your bathroom cabinet? Have you found any great non-plastic personal care products or DIY versions?

While I don't want to waste perfectly good (and nearly full) facewash, acne medicine, masks or scrubs, I am almost out of shampoo, conditioner, shower gel, deodorant, and moisturizer, so I'll be hunting up non-plastic replacements for these guys over the weekend. If you have a favorite source to share, do tell!

 

More from Care2:

• How to Feng Shui Your Bathroom 
• Banish Mold From Bathroom Grout Formula 
• Top Three Clean Air Priority Fixes in the Bath 

 Print This Post

What to do with bathroom plastics

By Virginia Sole-Smith, Planet Green

I decided that Step One of my Plastic Detox Program would be to find out what I have. It's both worse and a bit better than I thought.

The bad news: Virtually every product in my bathroom (save the hand soap and one moisturizer in glass bottles -- and even they come with plastic tops, but let's not split hairs, okay?) is in a plastic bottle or tube. And I have a LOT of products.

The good news: A lot of these plastic containers are made from the safer types of plastic.

(Not sure what type of plastic you're dealing with? Flip the item over and check the number in the little recycling symbol on the bottom. Then read on.)

Here's the breakdown in my bathroom:

#1 Plastic

What Is It? -- PETE. Polyethylene terephthalate ethylene, used for soft drink, juice, water, detergent, cleaner, and peanut butter containers.

What's Wrong With It? -- #1 plastics are designed to be disposable, meaning they create more waste. If you try to reuse them, they can break down on you. The good news is, they are usually recyclable.

Where Is It? -- Facewash, eye-makeup remover, and body scrub.

Goal -- Recycle these when they're used up and look for reusable containers when I replace them.

 

#2 Plastic

What Is It? -- HDPE: High density polyethylene, used in opaque plastic milk and water jugs, bleach, detergent and shampoo bottles, and some plastic bags.

What's Wrong With it? -- Not so much in terms of health -- this is one of the "safe" plastics (along with #1, #4 and #5). But it's still made from petroleum products and ends up in landfills, so like all plastic, is not ideal from an environmental standpoint.

Where Is It? -- Facewash (yes, I use two different kinds), shower gel, shampoo, several kinds of hair gel, and hairspray.

Goal -- Look for more sustainable options as I use up these items (can I find them sold in glass containers? Can I make them myself?), and try to pare down the number of products I'm using to reduce waste. But if I do buy a plastic bathroom item, it should be #1, 2, 4, or 5.

 

#3 Plastic

What Is It? -- PVC or V: Polyvinyl chloride, used for cling wrap, plastic squeeze bottles, cooking oil and peanut butter containers, and detergent and window cleaner bottles.

What's Wrong With It? -- Just about everything. So much, in fact, that I'm referring you to IATP's Smart Plastics Guide:

PVC -- THE POISON PLASTIC: Polyvinyl chloride, also known as vinyl or PVC, poses risks to the environment and human health. PVC is the least recyclable plastic.

• Vinyl chloride workers face an elevated risk of liver cancer.
• Vinyl chloride manufacturing creates air and water pollution near the factories, often located in low-income neighborhoods.
• PVC needs additives and stabilizers to make it usable. Lead is often added for strength, while plasticizers are added for flexibility. These toxic additives contribute to further pollution and human exposure.
• Dioxin in air emissions from PVC manufacturing and disposal, or from incineration of PVC products, settles on grasslands and accumulates in meat and dairy products, and ultimately, in human tissue.
• Dioxin is a known carcinogen. Low-level exposures are associated with decreased birth weight, learning and behavioral problems in children, suppressed immune function and hormone disruption.

Where Is It? -- A bottle of toner and a clay face mask, which comes in a tube.

Goal -- Follow Annie Leonard's advice to pack these up and mail them back to the manufacturer with a letter explaining why I want them to stop selling, making, and advocating for this junk.

 

#5 Plastic

What Is It? -- PP: Polypropylene, used in most Rubbermaid; deli soup, syrup, and yogurt containers; and straws and other clouded plastic containers, including baby bottles.

What's Wrong With It? -- Like #2, this type of plastic seems to be OK from a health perspective (though, as with all plastic, I'd be leery of microwaving it in case chemicals leach out during the heating process). But this thicker type of plastic is usually not recyclable and will take centuries to break down in a landfill.

Where Is It? -- Two big tubs of moisturizer and body lotion, a stick of deodorant, a tub of conditioner and a tub of face mask.

Goal -- Figure out ways to reuse these containers when they're empty, since I can't recycle them. If I can punch a few holes in the bottom, they're all about the right size for re-potting seedlings.

 

#7 Plastic

What Is It? -- This is a catch-all category for plastics that don't fit into the #1-6 categories. It includes polycarbonate (usually, but not always, labeled #7-PC), bio-based plastics, co-polyester, acrylic, polyamide, and plastic mixtures like styrene-acrylo-nitrile resin (SAN). Number 7 plastics are used for a variety of products like baby bottles and "sippy" cups, baby food jars, 5-gallon water bottles, sport water bottles, plastic dinnerware, and clear plastic cutlery.

What's Wrong With It? -- For one thing, it's hard to know what type of plastic you're even dealing with, since so many fall under the Number 7 umbrella. For another, the list includes polycarbonate, which is the type of plastic found to leach Bisphenol-A, a known endocrine disruptor.

Where Is It? -- A tube of sunscreen, a tube of self-tanner, an exfoliating scrub, some acne medicine, and a pump container of an SPF face cream.

Goal -- I'm really not into BPA in my body lotion, or unknown mystery plastics -- though it's worth noting that a lot of "compostable" and bio-based plastics get this number, too -- so I'm going to avoid these in the future unless the manufacturer makes the type of plastic very clear. Not sure what to do with the containers I've got, though -- tubes don't lend themselves well to reuse or recycling. Which is another good reason to avoid them in the future!

 

So, what kinds of plastic are in your bathroom cabinet? Have you found any great non-plastic personal care products or DIY versions?

While I don't want to waste perfectly good (and nearly full) facewash, acne medicine, masks or scrubs, I am almost out of shampoo, conditioner, shower gel, deodorant, and moisturizer, so I'll be hunting up non-plastic replacements for these guys over the weekend. If you have a favorite source to share, do tell!

 

More from Care2:

• How to Feng Shui Your Bathroom 
• Banish Mold From Bathroom Grout Formula 
• Top Three Clean Air Priority Fixes in the Bath 

 Print This Post

Next Page »