Microbeads in Toothpaste I’ve posted previously about states who’ve banned personal care products, like exfoliants, soaps etc, that contain microbeads. But did you know that they can also be found in some toothpastes? Dentists are finding small plastic microbeads embedded in their patient’s gums. These microbeads do not biodegrade and can get stuck in your […]
Posted in: Amy's Green Blog, Health, Plastic
DIY Energy Savings – Foam Outlet Gaskets The Skinny I discovered an ingenious DIY energy saving product this week and wanted to share for those of you who may not have heard about it. The product is called a foam electrical outlet gasket and they make them to fit your plug and switch plates. You […]
Posted in: Amy's Green Blog, DIY
Benefits of a Shoe-Free Home Do you wear shoes in the house or remove them at the door before entering? In some cultures it is customary to leave your shoes at the door. I was curious to find out if the benefits of enacting a no-shoes-in-the-house policy outweighed the inconvenience, so I did some research. […]
Posted in: Amy's Green Blog, Chemicals, Do This Not That, Safe Havens
Dangers of Road Salt Usage For most people, the winter months mean icy snowy weather and using a hefty amount of road salt. But scientists at the U.S. Geological survey say that the amount of road salt we’re using is contributing to toxic amounts of chloride found in rivers and streams in the Midwest. The […]
Posted in: Amy's Green Blog, Chemicals, Conservation, Environment, How You Can Help, Water
The impact of toxins on children has been studied for the past 30 years; researchers have come to the inescapable conclusion that little things matter. They’ve discovered that extremely low levels of toxins can impact brain development and that subtle shifts in the intellectual abilities of individual children have a big impact on the […]
Posted in: Amy's Green Blog, Chemicals, Kids
MAKE IT AN ECO VALENTINE’S DAY! Ahhh… the day of LOVE! Your expression of love can only be enhanced by you making it an “eco” Valentines Day. Organic Flowers If you are giving flowers, go organic and/or local and demonstrate your love of mother earth too. Most natural food stores, co-ops, even many farmers’ markets […]
Posted in: Amy's Green Blog, Do This Not That, Food
Indiana Becomes Third State to Ban Microbeads Indiana House Committee leaders unanimously passed a bill banning the manufacture and sale of products containing hard tiny plastic balls called microbeads. This legislation follows the microbead bans enacted by Illinois and New York in 2014. These tiny bits of plastic are typically found in cosmetics and personal […]
Posted in: Amy's Green Blog, Environment, Plastic
Chemicals of Concern 2014: Clean Formula and Clean Conscience For the 2014 Norwex North American Conference, I continued with my Chemicals of Concern series, addressing the environmental hazards of plastics, triclosan and SLS. Some excerpts from this presentation. Triclosan is an antibacterial and also an antifungal agent. It’s found in more than 2000 hand and […]
Posted in: Amy's Green Blog
With 2014 the first full year for my Norwex R.A.C.E. blog, the year end break is a natural opportunity to review the past year’s successes. Here are some standouts. Share the Love – Food Dyes 20 Tips for Creating Safer Havens Chemical Free Summer – Home Pests One Less – Avoiding Plastics One Less – […]
Posted in: Amy's Green Blog
Revisiting Endocrine Disruptors During the 2013 Norwex North American Conference, in my Chemicals of Concern discussion, I discussed the new and emerging consensus with regard to the problem of endocrine disrupting chemicals in our homes and our environment. The following are some excerpts from this talk. “Endocrine disruptors are chemicals that interfere with normal hormone […]
Posted in: Amy's Green Blog, Chemicals
