Ok. So green is trendy. So what? I think oxygen bars were trendy for 15 minutes or so also, but that doesn't mean oxygen isn't fairly useful in our daily lives now that people aren't lining up to breathe for fun on Friday nights.
The more people that are focusing on greener, safer alternatives for homes and families, the more demand there is for these safer products and therefore the more that these products are produced. In this way, we can have a say in products in the future.
I love the idea of making "green" just a commonplace standard rather than the exception. I don't think environmentally friendly needs to be unique or exclusive, but rather available to all people regardless of their resources or desire to research products.
When I walk into a big box store, I take a moment to think of the employees. I typically ruminate that they probably don't know how many toxins they breathe in on a daily basis. I didn't realize how strongly the places smelled until I was pregnant. But now that I am aware of it, I have a difficult time being in stores like this for any length of time due to the strong odor of flame retardants, formaldehyde and other VOCs, as well as new plastics.
I have a vision that, in the future, strict standards will cause products in the store to be safe and trusted. Until then, I research almost everything before I buy it especially if I think it is a high risk product. Just walking into a store and buying a toy that doesn't have toxins in it is darn near impossible.
Do I go overboard in my own life? hrrmm. Sometimes, but I try not to; in our family, there are a few hard and fast things we will not buy, but mainly we seek balance in our choices. Many people are surprised that we are not the environmental extremists they had supposed. However, am I overreacting about the severity of the constant toxic inundation Americans experience in their day-to-day lives? I think not.
That being said: Here's are some awesome eco products that I am itching to get my hands on! These will make your coffee taste WAY better and limit your BPA exposure. (Guess what, BPA is in coffee makers which get hot so BPA leaches. Not good. Not good at all. But here is a solution that meets all of our criteria.)
4 espresso cup - $39.95, 6 espresso cup - $45.95
(There are several kinds out there, this is just one I liked that is reasonably priced and stainless steel. Be sure to steer clear of aluminum versions of this.)
3 cup - 34.90, 6 cup - 38.90, 8 cup - 40.90, 10 cup - 42.90
You do have to purchase paper filters (around 8 dollars for 100) but there is no plastic touching your coffee ever. It will look great on your counter, is simple to use and clean and supposedly makes an extraordinary cup of coffee. I also like this one because they have the large sizes and we go through an insane amount of coffee at our house.
- Simple - easy to do coffee solutions! Yes you have to boil water, but you don't even have to know how to cook to do that really.
- Balanced - totally affordable. About the price of a decent plastic coffee maker. If you have more money and want a traditional coffee maker, CuisinArt doesn't use BPA in their plastics. They do use a new type of plastic though which has little data, so I like sticking to glass.) http://www.theatlantic.com/health/archive/2011/04/beyond-bpa-could-bpa-free-products-be-just-as-unsafe/237246/ If you are low on funds, look into getting a french press with as little plastic in it as possible.
- Real - If this solution works for you great, if not, find other ways to decrease BPA in your day to day life.
- Easy - One little change can greatly reduce your BPA exposure depending on your coffee intake. You can always get a thermos and take with you so you can bring your BPA free coffee wherever you go!
Extra benefit - Your coffee will taste a BAJILLION times better. Seriously.
Hope this makes your life healthier (& yummier).
EcoMadeEasy Update: We are in the process of putting together our kits to sell. We will be offering cleaning and toy kits with all the necessary basics in one place. Let me know what types of items you would like to see in them.
Also, I've updated the EcoCommunity page so please be sure to check it out. Contact us today to take a free evaluation of toxins in your home.
Love to all,
Val
