Plastics are labeled in a classification system called the Resin Identification Code. It is the number printed on the bottom of most (not all) plastic bottles and containers. Resin is synonymous with polymer or plastic. The system was developed in 1988 by the US-based Society of Plastics Industry to facilitate the recycling of post-consumer plastics, which does not mean that the product is actually recyclable.
Read MoreMost band-aids are made of plastic. The adhesive sheet of a band-aid is usually made from either PVC, polyethylene, or polyurethane. It is a single-use plastic item, but unlike other single-use plastics, band-aids can’t be replaced by a reusable item. Polyurethane is, like all plastics, petroleum-based and is the same toxic compound found in chemical-laden mattresses.
Read MoreFaux leather (also pleather or vegan leather) is often used as an alternative to genuine leather, because of animal welfare issues. But is it also better for the environment? Some people might argue that animal leather is natural and thus more environmentally friendly. But the animal´s skin needs to be treated in a chemical process called tanning to make leather.
Read MoreAs Christmas is coming closer you might be asking yourself which is a better option in terms of the impact on the environment: a real Christmas tree or a fake one? To be able to answer this question, there are a number of factors that need to be considered, such as how far the tree has traveled, how much energy went into producing it and how it is recycled.
Read MorePhthalates are a group of chemicals (including DEHP, DINP, DBP, DEP) used to soften and increase the flexibility of plastic and PVC (vinyl). They can be found in hundreds of consumer products, from toys to electronics, from flooring to shower curtains and from lotions to body wash. Since phthalates do not chemically bound to the plastics they´re added to, they continue to be released long after you´ve bought them. Children are especially vulnerable to exposure to phthalates because they put so much in their mouths and because they have developing nervous and reproductive systems.
Read MoreIt is strange that so many toys that end up in our babies´ and toddlers´ mouths contain dangerous ingredients. Like PVC (Polyvinyl Chloride) that can be found in many bath toys. Toxic substances that are added to soften plastic do not bind with the product, causing them to leach these chemicals. So when your kid is chewing on that adorable bath ducky, he is ingesting harmful chemicals.
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