We wanted to learn more about the inspiring people who motivate us to go green, so we're featuring one of these environmental leaders and their good work. Have a suggestion for a Going Green Hero? Let us know!
Last month, we greened up our personal products and were honored to present Stacy Malkan as our very first Going Green Hero!
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Why do companies put toxic chemicals in our cosmetic and personal products, anyway?
Old habits die hard. Most mainstream beauty companies use the same basic product formulations, made up of synthetic chemicals that are derived from oil byproducts. The companies argue that each product contains just small amounts of any given toxic chemical, but the same chemicals are used in so many of the products we use each day, and small amounts of toxins are adding up.
Why doesn't the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) regulate these products?
FDA does not have the authority to ensure the safety of cosmetics. In fact, cosmetics are the least regulated products at FDA. Unlike food and drug companies, cosmetics manufacturers are not required to safety test products before putting them on the shelves. Yet like food and drugs, these products are getting into our bodies. Congress will have to pass a new law to give FDA the power to better regulate cosmetics. The Campaign for Safe Cosmetics is working to make that happen.
What are the most productive actions we can take to help change the cosmetics industry?
First, choose safer products, and refuse to give your money to companies that keep using toxic chemicals. If we all stopped buying toxic products tomorrow, the beauty industry would change by the end of the week. So we have a lot of power over this industry. But it's also important to realize that we can't just shop our way out of this problem. We also need to exercise our power as citizens, and work to change the law so that companies are required to make safe products. We should be able to walk in to any store in the United States and buy any product on the shelves without having to worry if it's safe for our families, safe for pregnant women and children, and safe for the environment.
What can we do at home to keep our families safe and toxic-free?
A good rule of thumb is simpler is better. Choose products with simpler ingredient lists, fewer synthetic chemicals, no synthetic fragrance, and use fewer products overall. Air freshener, bath bubbles, cleaning products, scented products can all add unnecessarily to the toxic load in our homes -- and in our bodies. Take an especially close look at products used on babies and small children.
Here are some excellent online resources to help you track the latest news and find safer products:
> Skin Deep (www.cosmeticsdatabase.org), created by the Environmental Working Group, is a free database that scores products for toxicity and identifies safer alternatives in all product categories.
> Healthy Toys (www.healthytoys.org) is a free database of non-toxic toys.
> Environmental Health News keeps you up to date on the latest news and science.
> Also check out my book, “Not Just a Pretty Face: The Ugly Side of the Beauty Industry”
Anything else we should know?
Please help spread the word! Talk to your friends, families, neighbors, schools, churches and hospitals about these issues -- so we can begin to build toxic-free communities.
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Thank you, Stacy, for your commitment to get rid of the toxins in our personal care products. Your work is making a difference and we appreciate you! |