Article

Guidelines for Eco-friendly and Healthful Purchasing Choices

Written by Norma Lehmeier Hartie

Topic: Environmental and Green LivingPublished August 12, 2009
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The following are some basic guidelines to help you make green choices: Do:
  • Replace products that are made from petrochemicals with products that are made with natural, non-hazardous and preferably renewable products. For example, use bamboo flooring that is finished with natural wax and tung or linseed oil; and purchase natural paints, lime plasters and cork floors.
  • Purchase raw materials near production sites to save on transportation expense and fuel waste.
  • Purchase materials that were processed using renewable energy.
  • Extend product life by reuse and recycling of components.
  • Recycle waste to become ingredients in other products. Called “biomimicry,” these are manufacturing processes that take one product and turn it into something else. For example: carpets that are made from recycled plastic bottles, paints that are made from vegetable extracts, tiles that are made from ceramic waste and rubber flooring that is made from recycled tires.
  • Support companies that employ safe and clean methods to produce products or that use recycled products.
  • Support companies that sell healthy, organic, sustainable products.
  • Support companies that engage in fair-trade and good wages for employees, and a safe and fair work environment.*
Don’t
  • Purchase from companies that pollute.
  • Purchase from companies that sell toxic or otherwise unsafe products.
  • Purchase from companies that do not support child-labor laws.*
  • Purchase from companies that practice unsafe or discriminatory working conditions or pay wages that do not constitute fair or livable conditions.*
  • Purchase from companies that use endangered wood or other unsustainable materials.
* Humanitarian, not eco-friendly choices. The following products cause pollution and should be avoided when possible:
  • Most commercial cleaning products and other household chemicals
  • Garden pesticides
  • Carpets glued with solvents, treated with fungicides and containing residual pesticides
  • Fabrics treated with chlorine, benzene and/or formaldehyde
  • Most plywood and particleboard, which contain formaldehyde, urea and other dangerous glues
  • Many paints and stains, which contain fungicides, VOC’s and other chemicals
  • Vinyl flooring, furniture and plastics that contain VOC’s such as bromides and chlorine
  • Dry cleaning and dry cleaning solvents
Excerpt from Harmonious Environment, copyright 2007

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About the Author

Intent.com Intent.com is a premier wellness site and supportive social network where like-minded individuals can connect and support each others' intentions. Founded by Deepak Chopra's daughter Mallika Chopra, Intent.com aims to be the most trusted and comprehensive wellness destination featuring a supportive community of members, blogs from top wellness experts and curated online content relating to Personal, Social, Global and Spiritual wellness.

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