Filed under: Business Practices, Consumer Products | Tags: bags, Consumer Products
There are two kinds of degradable carrier bags on the market today. The first being a biodegradable bag – Note the ‘bio’ part of it. This bag is made from a natural maize, which once manufactured, starts to degrade slowly. These are generally the most expensive, and are not ideal if some of the stock needs to be shelved for a lengthy period of time. The second type is a degradable carrier bag. These are basically a plastic carrier bag which has a special agent added to it during the manufacturing process. This agent slowly breaks down the plastic material over a fairly long period of time, which eventually turns it into a harmless vapour and dust, none of which are toxic in any way. These are the cheaper option and probably the most popular. The quality of this type of bag is the same as a standard plastic carrier bag, the only difference being that they are far more environmentally friendly.
These biodegradable bags are also great to use as a promotional tool. They can be printed and personalised with company logos and wording and are proving extremely popular for use at events and exhibitions. It gives the opportunity for businesses to advertise themselves to hundreds, if not thousands of people attending the event, as well as give the visitors something to carry there freebies and literature in.
Most councils and government organisations have switched to using biodegradable bags due to their eco-friendly nature. With the government actively promoting environmental issues and solutions, they have to be seen to be operating in a greener way themselves. There are many other eco type products on the market today, for both domestic and commercial purposes. These range from recycled products, through to energy saving products. The world is becoming more aware of the damage that we are causing to our planet. If more people, and businesses made a few changes to their daily practices and changed their habits with the products they bought and used, the world would be a greener, safer place to live.
Filed under: Consumer Products | Tags: condoms, Consumer Products, the environment
Firstly, don’t flush your condoms, ever! Flushing condoms is not the way to deal with them. Condoms can clog the plumbing in your house (or the plumbing wherever you happen to be). This can be an expensive and embarrassing situation. If the condom manages to make it through your septic system, it will only end up with the solid waste. This means that somebody has to pull it out of the sewage treatment, which isn’t pleasant for anybody. The condom might even make it past the treatment plant. This is not good because it means that it could end up in the water supply, and the last thing we need is more pollution in our rivers, lakes, and oceans.
Not all condoms are made equally. Most condoms are made of latex, which means that they will biodegrade. Latex, however, does not biodegrade when it is under water, which is why it is not good to flush your used condoms. Condoms are not entirely made of latex, however, and the other things on condoms (spermicide, lubricant) might affect the biodegradability. The best option seems to be to send them to a landfill and see how they pass the test of time.
Some condoms, including all female condoms, are made of polyurethane, a type of plastic. These will not biodegrade. There is no option, however, except to put them in the garbage, because your local recycling depot won’t recycle used condoms. They won’t even recycle new condoms.
Other condoms are made of lambskin. These are completely biodegradable condoms. Don’t run out and get lambskin condoms just yet though! Lambskin condoms do not protect against sexually transmitted diseases. The pores in the lambskin are small enough to stop sperm, and so prevent pregnancy, but the pores are large enough to let sexually transmitted diseases and infections through. This option is only viable for people in monogamous relationships who have been tested for sexually transmitted diseases. If this is the case, you could consider an even more environmentally friendly barrier form of birth control such as a diaphragm, cervical cap, or shield. Ask your doctor what is best for you.
Regardless of what material of condom you use (latex, polyurethane, or lambskin), you are going to have a wrapper to dispose of. These foil wrappers will not biodegrade, nor can they be recycled. This simply has to be put in the garbage.
Even if your latex or lambskin condoms are biodegradable, it is best not to try to compost or bury your condoms. Animals will smell the human scent and try to dig up what you have buried. This means that there will be unsightly used condoms around. Burying your condom is tantamount to littering: and there are better ways to deal with your condoms available.
So, in the end, what is the best way to dispose of your condoms? The best thing is to wrap it in a bit of toilet paper or paper towel (or any other biodegradable material: think paper bases such as paper bags) and then to put it in the garbage. Don’t wrap your condom up in plastic, as then it certainly won’t biodegrade. The good news is that the semen and vaginal fluid on the condom certainly will biodegrade, and might facilitate the condom biodegrading.
And lastly, remember…never reuse a condom. Although reduce, reuse, and recycle is the motto for environmentalism, you need to put your health first on this one. Don’t minimize your condom use, don’t reuse your condoms, and it’s too bad that you can’t yet recycle them. To think on an environmentally broader scale, using condoms is environmentally friendly because it is preventing the spread of communicable diseases. It is also preventing conception, and children have been documented to be hugs consumers of global resources.
Hopefully soon we will be able to figure out an environmentally friendly way to practice safe sex. Until then, we’ll make do with what we can, and we will continue using condoms.
For more information on condoms and condom use, visit http://www.theguideto-birthcontrol.com/barrierbased_birth_control_methods/male_condoms/ The Guide to Birth Control.
Filed under: Consumer Products, Uncategorized | Tags: bugs, eco-friendly, pest control, the environment
The following list contains environmentally friendly ideas for pest control in your garden. They are worth trying before using chemical pesticides.
1. A saucer of beer will lure and drown slugs and snails.
2. To combat mildew quarter fill a rubbish bin with seaweed, cover with water and leave for several weeks. Dilute the mix to the ratio of one part seaweed stew to six parts water before application.
3. Make a chive spray to reduce mildew on zucchini and squash plants by steeping 1 cup of chopped chive leaves and three cups of water for several hours. Strain and add an equal part of water before spraying.
4. Aphids can be squashed by hand, or blasted with a garden hose (water restrictions permitting). Aphids can also be deterred by making a nasturtium spray. The spray is made by taking one cup of nasturtium leaves and one cup of water and gently bringing to the boil over 15 minutes. When the mix is cool, strain and spray.
5. To protect young seedlings create a protective collar from an old yogurt container.
6. To deter aphids and caterpillars make a spray by boiling rhubarb leaves in water. Strain the mix and dilute to the ratio of one part rhubarb to four parts water.
7. Gritty sawdust spread around seedlings will deter snails and slugs who dislike the texture.
8. To keep birds from eating your home grown fruit drape bird netting over trees or alternatively hang aluminum pie dishes or old CDs from the branches to create a reflection to scare the birds away.
9. Used coffee grounds spread around seedlings will kill slugs and snails.
10. Control pear and cherry slug by throwing wood ashes into the affected trees. The ashes dehydrate the slugs.
Eco Friendly House (http://www.ecohousefootprint.com) – Making you home Environmentally Friendly How to make your home more environmentally friendly and reduce your Ecological footprint. Information on Solar Power, Lights, Waste Water, Recycling, Garden, Green Buildings, Renewable Energy, Green Energy, Saving Water, Environmental Issues and more. Help save the planet. http://www.ecohousefootprint.com
Filed under: Consumer Products | Tags: eco-friendly laundry, environmentally friendly, planet earth, the environment
Not only are laundry detergents harmful to you and your family, but they can hurt the environment as well. Each time your washing machine spins, water and laundry detergent residue are emptied into our sewer systems. This means that the harsh chemicals and pollutants are being spilled into our oceans each year, causing even more harm to the planet we call home. Luckily, there is a solution to the problems caused by store-bought laundry detergents. Buying organic and eco-friendly detergents can keep your family safe and the environment as well.
Unlike food products and medications, laundry detergent companies are not required by law to list their ingredients or prove that they are in fact environmentally friendly. There are many brands on the market that do in fact list their ingredients, since they are not scared to show consumers what they include in their eco-friendly formula for laundry detergent. They are happy to show their integrity on their packing, so show your eco-friendly support by purchasing products that are proud to list their ingredients. This is important to look for when purchasing laundry detergent, since there’s no way of knowing what those other companies are trying to hide from you.
Labels that show what is not included in the detergents are also equally as important, such as phosphate-free or chlorine-free. Products that state they do not include harsh ingredients in their formulas are usually safe, and you should look for products that are proud to show what they leave out of their products.
Products that should be avoided are any that state they are harmful or toxic, since you really shouldn’t keep anything like that in your home. The laundry room should be a place where everyone in your family can do laundry, without having to worry about someone being burned by bleach or spilling a toxic product that the baby can get in to. Plant based and eco-friendly products will be healthy for your entire family, healthy for our environment, and completely safe in your home.
Next time you wash a load of laundry, consider the damage you could be causing to your home, your family, and our environment. You won’t have to worry about this when using safe products and you can save money when purchasing eco-friendly products as well.
Washing machine wizard provides Laundry detergent information, an online buying guide and the best washing machine reviews.
