In a Nutshell: Greener Living

¨      For any product that touches your body, including lotions, sunscreen and makeup, avoid those with fragrance, triclosan, BHA, DEHP, CBP, BBP and oxybenzone.

¨      Use plastics cautiously—don’t cook with them and avoid those with #3, #6 and most #7 recycling codes.

¨      Buy products with the least packaging.

¨      Use filtered water.

¨      Use greener cleaners (buy certified green.)

¨      Avoid pesticides, insecticides and herbicides in and around the home.

¨      If you must use toxic cleaners, have someone else do the cleaning or follow safety precautions like wearing gloves and opening windows.

¨      Use paint that is low- or no-VOC.

¨      Avoid air fresheners.

¨      Stay away from nail salons and choose water-based or less toxic nail polish.

¨      Choose organic produce for foods highest in pesticides and for foods you eat daily. See page XX for more.

¨      Choose organic cotton when possible. (25% of worldwide pesticide use is for growing cotton!)

Finally, here are some resources to help you live the “green” life.

¨      National Geographic: environment.nationalgeographic.com/environment/green-guide/

¨      Green living with a UK point of view: www.greenchoices.org/

¨      Green living tips from “down under”: www.livinggreener.gov.au/