Sexstainability

A few weeks ago, we heard from a loyal reader and recycler who turned us on (pardon the pun) to a eco-concept we'd yet to discover: Certified Recycled Adult Toys.

Sure, "sexstainability" is a little frisky of a topic for this blog, but after spending some time reading about the company, Scarlet Girl, surveying friends on facebook, and talking with my gal pals, it became clear that a lot of people use adult toys and a lot of plastics are being used to make them. And instead of filling landfills with expired or unwanted toys and their (gasp!) batteries, this particular company offers a $10 dollar store credit for used toys and sends the parts off to a processing plant that sterilizes and breaks down the materials into plastic confetti for future use not only in toys but in lots of other consumer goods (think dishwasher handles).

Apparently this is a big business, folks. And why shouldn't it be? We're talking about plastic materials that come into contact with the most sensitive of human places - likely at higher temperatures than the average bottled water reaches. A BPA-free, reusable water bottle carrying, granola-crunching girlfriend of mine shared her experience: "I've actually heard that adult toys are making green a big deal -- like rechargeable, instead of batteries, and even the materials they are made of -- like no bad plastics, and even the oils/lubes are better for your body. This chick I worked with was throwing a party for her girlfriends. I guess it's the new Tupperware party. The girl that came with all the goods was quite knowledgeable!"

It turns out that several years ago Greenpeace issued a warning about sex toy toxicity explaining the dangers of phthalates AND Treehugger even dedicated a post to sustainable sex one Valentines Day - which means people have been greening the bedroom for years unbeknownst to us!

Lucky for us, the Internet has plenty of suggestions. Here are a few that appear to be tested and true:

• The Earth Angel Hand Powered Rechargeable Vibrator. It's the world's first ever green technology sex toy. And it's made from recycled plastic and eight minutes of hand cranking will power it up for an hour. Or if that's not your vibe, perhaps you'd be interested in the Solar Powered Bullet (which is actually half the price of the former). 
• Go Glass. Just like cooking in the kitchen, glass is always safer than plastic when exposed to heat and it won't lose shape in the dishwasher.
• Choose lube and massage oils sans petroleum derivatives. Treehugger recommends: Earth Botanicals Organic Massage Oil and Druide Sensual Massage Cream.

Of course the decision to invite tech support into the bedroom is a private one... but like so many topics here on JustSaying, making a sexstainable choice is not only safer for you, but better for the landfill. If you aren't sure about the plastic on your pleasure pistol, send it into a certified program to be recycled into something else and use your credit towards a safer, rechargeable or solar option.

(Thnx, Vicki)

Phthalates

Apologies for not alerting everyone to the episode of 60 Minutes that discussed these chemicals on Sunday night. Watch it here:

Dangerous (and Secret) Chemicals in Popular Perfumes

Laboratory tests commissioned by the Campaign for Safe Cosmetics and analyzed by Environmental Working Group revealed 38 secret chemicals - including the oh-so-sketchy diethyl phthalate, a chemical linked to abnormal development of reproductive organs and sperm damage - in 17 name brand fragrance products. The average fragrance product tested contained 14 secret chemicals not listed on the label. Here's an infographic showing secret chemicals in some popular ones:

And according to the EWG, "This complex mix of clandestine compounds in popular colognes and perfumes makes it impossible for consumers to make informed decisions about the products they consider buying," so if you are fond of scented procucts I highly recommend visiting EWG Not So Sexy to learn about the regulations and lack thereof in the frangrance sector.

Toxins: Not Just in Plastics Anymore

If you've spent much time here on JustSaying, you already know that plastics marked "7" are a big no-no. And if you've spent much time shopping or sharing space with yours truly, you already know that perfume is a no-no (and have likely had your eau de toilette yanked out of your hands and heard, "Don't use that! That stuff is carcinogenic with a capitol "C." The perfume industry is going to go down in history like the tobacco industry. Just promise you'll at least stay away from it when your pregnant?!")

So why do I bring this up today, you wonder? Because Nicholas D. Kristof wrote a must-read Op-Ed in response to the rise of autism disorders, an article posted in Current Opinion on Pediactrics linking the rise to environmental exposures experienced prenatally, and the Environmental Health Perspectives article about suspect chemicals called phthalates (unregulated and commonly found in fragrances, nail polish, cosmetics, etc).

Read Kristof's Op-Ed here.

Our advice: Do some research on your beauty products before slathering and spraying them onto your body, and keep your distance from plastics marked 3, 6, and 7.

Add it to the file...

We really do have to be aware of everything we put in, on and around our bodies these days, huh? I've posted about dangerous chemicals in skincare products and preached against bottled water, but have never touched upon the widely researched dangers of chemicals found in the plastics and the dangers association with their absorption. And since the most recent danger seems to be a connection between the phthalates used to make plastics more pliable (think rubber duck toys and water/baby bottles) and childhood obesity... well... we better take a look at this.

Jennifer Lee, for the NY Times' City Room, offers a great overview of the latest research and talks to leading researchers involved with the Growing Up Healthy in East Harlem" study in her latest post:

...The chemicals in question are called phthalates, which are used to to make plastics pliable and in personal care products. Phthalates, which are absorbed into the body, are a type of endocrine disruptor — chemicals that affect glands and hormones that regulate many bodily functions. They have raised concerns as possible carcinogens for more than a decade, but attention over their role in obesity is relatively recent...

...The findings may presage a new approach to thinking about obesity — drawing environmental factors into a central part of the equation. “Most people think childhood obesity is an imbalance between how much they eat and how much they play,” Dr. Landrigan said. But he thinks the impact of endocrine disruptors on obesity could be more significant than many people believe. “Most people think it’s marginal,” he said, paling in comparison with diet and exercise...

These phthalates are EVERYWHERE, folks. From vinyl siding to perfume. Ugh.