3
July
2008
As far as holidays go, Independence Day may not rank as the most eco-sinful, but there is still plenty of room for improvement. Here are a few easy ways to begin getting some green in with your red, white and blue.
Greener Grilling
Resist the temptation to buy conventional hot dogs and hamburgers for the grill. Opt for organic products from your supermarket, or better yet, seek out local, grass-fed meats from a farmer’s market or food co-op. There are great vegetarian options for the grill as well. Try grilled eggplant burgers, grilled pizza, and rum marinated fruit kabobs.
Skip the Disposables
Nothing says “plastic forks and paper plates” quite like the Fourth of July. Picnics, parades and BBQs go hand in hand with disposables, consuming virgin resources and creating heaps of heartache for our exponentially expanding landfills. Consider these alternatives:
1. Invest in reusable bamboo dinnerware and flatware: Durable and comes from a renewable resource.
2. Create a picnic dinnerware set. Buy used items from a thrift store and have them on hand for outdoor entertaining.
3. Serve finger food, and eat with your hands.
4. Bring indoor napkins outside: Cloth napkins save trees and add ambience.
5. Use bagasse plates made from annually renewable sugarcane. Bagasse plates are biodegradable and will completely compost in 45-60 days.
6 Choose paper over foam: Paper comes from trees, foam comes from petroleum.
Drink Organic Beer
While we may not immediately associate beer with agricultural products, we should. By choosing beer made with organic hops, malt and barley, we are reducing the need for toxic and persistent pesticides that harm the soil and contaminate water. Organic beer is increasingly available at organic and natural food retailers and in mainstream supermarkets with organic and natural food sections.
Choose Healthy Sunscreen
Listen to Green Girl: According to a study by the cosmetic safety database, 86 percent of sunscreens on the market are either ineffective against the sun or raise safety concerns because of their ingredients. Many contain microsized and nano-scale UVA filters with toxic properties, and some contain ingredients that absorb into the blood and may have toxic effects, acting as hormone disruptors, releasing free radicals into the skin, and causing allergic reactions. you can buy an organic suncreen here
Posted: Is it really organic ?, Skin Care, Cosmetics
27
June
2008
When the U.S. Centers for Disease Control found unusually high levels of hormone-disrupting phthalates in women eight years ago, no one had any idea how ugly the beauty industry really was.
In this episode of EWG’s Mixed Greens podcast, Enviroblog’s Amanda speaks with Stacy Malkan, author of Not Just a Pretty Face. This revealing book recounts the formative years of the Campaign for Safe Cosmetics, including a chapter on Environmental Working Group’s Jane Houlihan and the development of Skin Deep, our cosmetics safety database.
listen to podcast
Posted: Is it really organic ?, Skin Care, Cosmetics
23
June
2008
Phthalates are endocrine disruptors linked to problems of the reproductive system, including decreased sperm motility and
concentration in men and genital abnormalities in baby boys. (Oh, and did you know that average sperm counts have decreased
significantly since the 1940’s?) More recently they’ve also been linked to asthma and allergies.
How can I minimise my exposure?
Avoid these, and you’ll also be avoiding phthalates:
1. Nail polish: Dibutyl phthalate is often used to make nail polish chip-resistant. Look for it on the ingredients list, where it may
be shortened to DBP.
2. Plastics in the kitchen: Take a critical eye to your cupboards. Phthalates may be more likely to leach out of plastic when it’s
heated, so avoid cooking or microwaving in plastic.
3. Vinyl toys: Phthalates are what make vinyl (PVC) toys soft, so don’t give them to children. Opt instead for wooden and other
phthalate-free toys, especially during that age when they put everything in their mouths!
4. Paint: Paints and other hobby products may contain phthalates as solvents, so be sure to use them in a well-ventilated
space.
5. Fragrance: Diethyl phthalate (DEP) is often used as part of the “fragrance” in some products. Since DEP won’t be listed
separately, you’re better off choosing personal care products, detergents, and cleansers that don’t have the word “fragrance” on
the ingredients list.
6. Vinyl: Vinyl shows up in a lot of different products; lawn furniture, garden hoses, building materials, and items of clothing (like
some raincoats) are often sources. Aside from carefully choosing materials when you’re making purchases, there is one easy
change you can make: switch to a non-vinyl shower curtain. That “new shower curtain” smell (you know the one) is a result of
chemical off-gassing, and it means your shower curtain is a source of phthalates in your home.
7. Air Fresheners: Just like fragrances in personal care products, most air fresheners contain phthalates.
Read the Full Story: http://www.enviroblog.org/2008/05/cheatsheet-phthalates.htm
Posted: Is it really organic ?, Skin Care, Cosmetics
20
June
2008
Choosing the skin type that is right for you is really important. After you have read the information below, please CLICK HERE to take you to our main website, where you will be able to view the entire product range and do your shopping.
Posted: Is it really organic ?, Skin Care, Cosmetics
16
June
2008
According to the green-directory-uk, up to 60% of what you put on your skin is absorbed into your body. Most high street skincare products contain synthetic chemicals whose long-term effects are unknown. Switching to natural and organic products will reduce the level of toxins in your body.
Posted: Is it really organic ?, Skin Care, Cosmetics
9
June
2008
“As the number of people who are concerned about toxins in our environment grows, more and more skin care companies are jumping on the “natural” and “organic” bandwagon for cosmetics and also for personal and body care products.” by Narelle Chennery
And what a great bandwagon to be on!
As the number of people who are
concerned about toxins in our
environment grows, more and more
cosmetic companies are seen to be jumping
on the natural and organic bandwagon. But
what does natural and organic mean when
we see it on a product label? How do we
know what we are buying is really natural
and organic? What are the natural
alternatives to chemicals? And is natural
really better for us?
Our skin is the largest eliminatory organ in
the body. It is a two-way membrane. Toxins
are eliminated through the skin via
perspiration and absorbed through the skin,
into the body’s systemic circulation, through
hair follicles and sebaceous glands (not
through sweat glands). One square inch of
skin contains 65 hairs, 100 sebaceous glands,
and 650 sweat glands,
Cosmetic manufacturers are not supposed to
claim that their products penetrate our skin.
If they did (the products would then be
labelled a ‘drug’ and henceforth be governed
by much stricter regulations. This is both
good and bad. Good because it means your
skin can be nourished from the outside with
some wonderful ingredients. Bad because it
means some cosmetic manufacturer can put
into their products that would never be
allowed to be taken orally, but are still
absorbed into our system, through our skin.
WHAT DOES “NATURAL” AND “ORGANIC”
MEAN ON PRODUCT LABELS?
Nowhere does the idea of “natural” or
“organic” take a more gratuitous bruising
than the cosmetics industry.
If we look at the term “natural” we probably
define it as “existing in, or formed by nature;
not artificial”. Many labels have long lists of
chemical names, some followed by the
phrase “derived from . . .” (some natural
substance). This is misleading to consumers.
When chemicals such as Cocamide DEA or
Sodium Hydroxysultaine are followed by the
term “derived from coconut oil” the
consumer is led to believe that these
synthetic chemicals must be natural. While
this may be true in some cases; it is
ultimately irrelevant because what you end
up with after the chemical processing is
usually anything but natural or pure.
For example, to create Cocamide DEA, a
foaming agent in some shampoos, requires
the addition of a synthetic chemical and
known carcinogen, Diethanolamine – DEA,
to the coconut oil. It is therefore no longer
natural, or safe!
If we look at the term “organic,” we usually
think it means ‘grown and cultivated without
the use of chemicals’. That is the conclusion
most cosmetics companies would like us to
make when we see the term “organic” on a label.
Some of those companies are cynically using
the chemistry definition of “organic” -
meaning a compound that contains a carbon
atom. Carbon is found in anything that has
ever lived. By using this definition of
organic, they are saying that a petrochemical
preservative called Methyl Paraben is
“organic” because it was formed from leaves
that rotted over thousands of years to become
crude oil, which was then used to make this
preservative.
An increasing number of companies are now
claiming to use “organic” herbs in their
products. But what about the rest of the
ingredients? Are they safe? Isn’t there an
authority that governs the use of the term
“organic” on labels? The simple answer is NO.
However, the term “certified organic” IS
governed by a number of internationally
recognised bodies. In Australia, Australian
Certified Organic (ACO) is the largest.
Searching for products with the logo of a
certifying body on the label is the only way
you can guarantee the organic authenticity
and integrity of every ingredient in the
product. Without this, the organic claim
means nothing, as it cannot be verified. Here
are some examples of internationally
recognised certifying bodies:
HOW DO WE KNOW WHAT WE ARE BUYING
IS REALLY “NATURAL” AND “ORGANIC”?
Fortunately, there is a very simple way to
differentiate between hype and truth in
cosmetics - and that is to read the ingredient
list on the label. It is a legal requirement
that all skin care products must be labelled
with the ingredients in descending order of
their quantity in the product. A good rule of
thumb is to divide the ingredients list into
thirds: the top third usually contains 90-95%
of the product, the middle third usually
contains 5-8% and the bottom third, 1-3%.
Here is the ingredient list of a “natural” and
“organic” body moisturiser from a well
known “natural” skin care company.
APRICOT CREAM
Natural or Organic ingredients include:
1. Water (Deionised),
2. Isopropyl Palmitate (Palm Oil Derivative),
3. Apricot Kernel Oil,
4. Bis-Diglyceryl Caprylate/Caprate/Isostearate/
Stearate/Hydroxystearate Adipate (Vegetable
Triglyceride),
5. Glyceryl Stearate SE (Vegetable Derived),
6. Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride (Glycerin-derived
emollient),
7. Ceteareth - 12 (Organic Emulsifier),
8. Tocopherol Oil (Vitamin E),
9. Chamomile Extract,
10. Sage Extract,
11. Linden Extract (Lime Blossom Extract),
12. Balm Mint Extract,
13. Shea Butter (From Karite),
14. Wheat Germ Oil,
15. Carrot Oil,
16. Cetyl Alcohol (Organic Co-emulsifier),
17. Sodium Hydroxide (pH Adjuster),
18. Sorbic Acid (Organic Compound),
19. Tocopherol Acetate (Vitamin E Derivative),
20. Methylparaben (Organic Compound),
21. Propylparaben (Organic Compound),
22. Imidazolidinyl Urea (Organic Compound),
23. Fragrance,
24. FD&C Yellow No. 5, D&C Red No. 33.
Content: Apricot Oil (2.5%)
Take note of the last point that says “Content:
Apricot Oil (2.5%)”. Notice that Apricot Oil is
number 3 on the list. Because skin care
manufacturers are required to list the ingredients
in descending order this means everything AFTER
Apricot oil makes up LESS than 2.5% by volume.
This means that about 90% of that product is
water and Isopropyl Palmitate. Isopropyl
Palmitate, is derived from Isopropyl Alcohol,
synthetic alcohol, and Palmitic Acid, a fatty acid
from palm oil. It is known to cause skin irritations
and dermatitis in rabbits and has been shown to
have comedogenic (acne promoting) properties.
Nos 4, 5 and 6 are all produced by chemical
reactions between various fatty acids and glycerol
(synthetic glycerine). They are largely synthetic
and have been shown to cause allergies and
dermatitis.
No. 7 is a synthetic emulsifier that may contain
dangerous levels of ethylene oxide and dioxane,
both known carcinogens.
Nos 8-15 are natural ingredients used in very
small amounts that may have been grown using
pesticides and herbicides.
No. 16 may be natural or synthetic and has been
shown to cause contact eczema.
No. 17 is otherwise known as Caustic Soda and is
extremely alkaline and corrosive.
No. 18. Sorbic acid was once isolated from the
mountain ash berry, but is now chemically
synthesised and is a toxic preservative.
No. 19 is synthetic Vitamin E.
Organic Cosmetics
for Natural Beauty! ? How do we know
what we are buying
is really natural?
Organic Cosmetics
for Natural Beauty!
Narelle
Chenery
Director of
Research and
Development
Posted: Is it really organic ?, Skin Care, Cosmetics
7
June
2008
Our whirlwind USA tour included stopovers in LA (Pasadena), New York City, Washington D.C. and Miami. I’m happy to say the
quality of the time we spent with the reps that came and met with us was certainly valued by us - we really enjoyed the more
personal discussions and felt honoured to get to know some lovely people on a level that can’t usually be achieved in a public
forum setting.
We got some great ideas from our talks with representatives, including improvements we can make to the website (which have
already been passed on to IT) Of course, I received plenty of requests for new products, many of which are already on our to-do
list and a few on our soon-to-be-released list!
Washington DC was great. We were expecting a small dinner gathering and, instead, hosted a friendly and raucous 18 people!
One couple drove 4 hours to meet with us, which we really appreciated. Apart from enjoying the beautiful scenery as we were
taking off and landing on the plane, we didn’t get to see many other sights along the way. New York was the exception…we’d
never seen a Broadway show, so we jumped at the opportunity. We have 3 kids, so the Lion King held a special place in our
hearts (after seeing the movie at least 600 times!) The Lion King on Broadway was absolutely awe-inspiring… I burst into tears
from the first scene… the music, the costumes, the singing and the scale of the production was overwhelming!
We attended the Natural Beauty Summit in New York City and this certainly confirmed that we are not only on the right track,
that we are leading the pack! So many industry folks we met there wished they could meet Organic Food Standards… it is
perceived as the “Gold Standard” for organic skin care. One of the industry professionals I had the opportunity to meet was the
Senior Research Scientist from Aveda (who is a lovely man!) and I was humbled and inspired when he told me it was an honour
to meet me! Sometimes I feel I’m really out on a limb with what I’m trying to achieve for the industry, and it was very heartening
to be acknowledged as a leader from such a well respected industry player. In fact, at this conference, and the other cosmetic
industry conferences, it is apparent that our products are held in very high esteem by industry professionals. My vision is that we
can create that same recognition in the marketplace.
A large part of the discussion at the summit was the plethora of widely varying options for ‘certification’ for cosmetics. They vary from
totally pathetic certification (Ecocert, which only requires 10% total organic content to be certified), to the stringent food standards,
and everything in-between. There was heated debate as to which way the industry should go, and no consensus was reached.
There were vocal accusations to the representatives of the various standards on offer with claims that they were contributing to
the fragmentation of the certification process and consumer confusion. Commercial
factors will drive the uptake on the different standards, and consumers will have the
final say…. our challenge is to educate consumers as to the difference between the
standards, and let them decide who they wish to support. Rest assured that we
will be maintaining the highest possible standards for our products, and any future
development. Only Organic Food Standards provide a guarantee of absolutely
pure, beneficial, vital, health-promoting products. We use the same pure and
beneficial ingredients across all our brands… all products, whether they be applied
to the skin, ingested, or used in our home environment are developed with the same
intention.. to be pure, vital, health-promoting, beautiful products.
Watch this space for an expose on all the different ‘organic’ standards (or substandards
;-) being developed… which will be a great tool for answering questions
about the differences between the standards.
Posted: Climate Change, Is it really organic ?, Probiotics, Skin Care, Antioxidants, Cosmetics, Probiotic House Cleaner
31
May
2008
The BFA has had in place a cosmetics standard for some six years now. It has been kept simple, based upon the existing food standards.
Further to strong market growth for this sector in recent years, there has been recognition of the need to further expand on the current standards and clarify i
ssues specific to processing of cosmetics.
The Australian Organic Standard (AOS) now has a new working document that will be included in the next version of AOS to be published in 2008 while in the meantime operators are able to begin incorporating these new standards into their practices.
The AQIS National Standard has also recently released new provisions for cosmetics/ beauty products.
The AOS revisions for cosmetics are more detailed than the AQIS minimum requirements.
The AOS is stricter than either the international Eco-cert or Soil Association allowances. Note that at all times importing country requirements still need to be met (eg there is no allowance to use the JAS mark on cosmetics).
The BFA’s newly revised standard for cosmetics has been created via extensive consultation with industry, utilizing the services and input of the BFA Cosmetics Subcommittee.
All credit goes to the efforts and input of industry members including in particular the Cosmetics Subcommittee members for their hard work and support.
To download the revised cosmetics standard, click here
Posted: Is it really organic ?, Skin Care, Cosmetics
29
May
2008
Did you know? Up to 60% of what you put on your skin is absorbed into your body! Most high street skincare products contain synthetic chemicals whose long-term effects are unknown. Switching to natural and organic products will reduce the level of toxins in your body.
If everyone boiled only the water needed instead of ‘filling’ the kettle every time, we could save enough electricity to run practically all the street lighting in the UK.
One long haul return flight can produce more carbon dioxide per passenger than the average UK motorist does in an entire year.
The energy saved by recycling one aluminium can is enough to run a TV for three hours.
Ninety per cent of the energy washing machines use is for heating the water.
Posted: Climate Change, Is it really organic ?, Skin Care, Cosmetics
