There seems to be no end to bad news about the state of our environment, but there is good news too. This bi-weekly Environmental Moment will highlight some good news and offer tips on how you can help reduce waste, energy, and use of plastics. May this instill hope for our future. Janine Tommasi contributed to this installment – thanks Janine!
Good News: Gavin Newsom signed the Toxic Free Cosmetics Act which is the nations first ban of 24 toxic ingredients in personal care products.
Green Tip #6:
Personal Care products are a multi-billion dollar largely unregulated industry. If you’ve looked carefully at the ingredients of shampoos, lotions, and toothpaste, just to name a few, you will find a perplexing list of chemicals. The Environmental Working Group has an on-line database to decode some of these ingredients: Skin Deep online database. In general, look for fewer and organic ingredients. Also, look for sustainable (i.e. not plastic) packaging. The Tommasi family uses toothpaste tablets that come in a recyclable package (available on Amazon). They also use shampoo bars (like soap bars but for your hair). Alternatively, try a product re-fill site (e.g. Oliver’s Market) where you buy a container once and refill it as needed, you pay for the product (shampoos, conditioners, lotions, soaps, etc) by the ounce. You use the original container over and over.
P.S. Don’t forget to put your turkey bones in the Green Recology Bin!
Thank you! And if you have any Good News or Green Tips, or if you would like some specific product recommendations, please contact Eileen Haflich via the church office at andrewpres@sbcglobal.net
