This past week was school vacation week for many families on the east coast. We are big alpine skiers and try to spend our vacations out on the slopes. Although there hasn’t been much snow this season, we still managed to get some skiing in. Most of the days were spent gearing up three children in snow pants, ski boots and helmets so we could spend the majority of the day outside on the mountain.

For those of you who are non-skiers, skiing generally entails being outside, in a remote area, for hours at a time. When you need a bathroom break there’s not always a bathroom in close range. Finding one can take a while and then using it can be a big production. The skis need to come off, the multiple layers of ski gear needs to be shed and somehow you need to get to the bathroom in those big, clunky ski boots. Not a small effort. Add changing a tampon or pad to the mix and there’s no question I would have been sitting in the lodge with a cup of hot cocoa (for those of you not interested in hearing about tampons, pads and reusable menstrual cups now’s your chance to opt out of the discussion).

As some of you know, I started using a reusable Softcup a few months ago. I’ve been reporting to you on my progress and it’s been slow and steady. This month I’m feeling a bit more comfortable with it and can finally say that I have successfully greened my period.

What does “greening” your period mean?

Fifty to 70 percent of American women use tampons. A typical woman can use anywhere between 8,000 to 17,000 tampons in her lifetime. The number varies quite a bit since every woman is unique and her cycle is different. The average woman throws away up to 300 pounds of feminine hygiene related products in a lifetime. That’s a tremendous amount of waste. Then there’s the plastic wrapper around the tampon box or pads and the paper or plastic packaging around every box and individual tampon or pad. I haven’t even mentioned the cardboard or plastic applicator. So much waste.

The process to make each and every tampon and pad also involves a lot of waste. The cotton alone is resource intensive as the farming of cotton requires large amounts of water, pesticides and fertilizer.

Using organic tampons and pads reduces the amount of waste on the production end, but doesn’t solve the actual waste of the product and packaging.

Reusable Softcup

Reusable Softcup is a menstrual cup that can be worn for up to 12 hours and reused throughout one menstrual cycle. The cup is worn internally, around your cervix, and it collects rather than absorbs menstrual flow. It’s non-toxic, hypo-allergenic, latex-free and completely safe when used as directed.

Softcup is affordable and an eco-friendly alternative to conventional tampons and pads. Think of all the waste that’s avoided by using a resuable menstrual cup.

Back to skiing

I still have to make the occasional trip into the bathroom with one of my boys, but I don’t have to carry extra, bulky tampons or pads in my ski jacket. The best part-I can stay out for hours and there’s no worry about leaking.

Ready to give it a try? Let me know how you do.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I have been hired by Evofem, the parent company for Softcup, in their Softcup Brand Ambassador Program.  This is a “sponsored post.”  Evofem sent me a sample of Softcup and compensated me via a cash payment for this post. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers and only share my honest opinion. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

[Photo used under Creative Commons from Laffertyryan/Flickr]

Photo used under Creative Commons from Ace Solid Waste

Every year people get rid of billions of tons of trash. According to the Environmental Protection Agency, the average American produces about 4.4 pounds (2 kg) of garbage a day, or a total of 29 pounds (13 kg) per week and 1,600 pounds (726 kg) a year.  All of this garbage has to go somewhere and that somewhere is usually a landfill. We are running out of space!

Where does all this garbage come from? Most of the stuff that we send off to landfills comes from single-use products and product packaging.  Our society is all about disposability- “use-and-toss” products are filling our garbage cans.  Let’s face it, we are a trash culture. The only way to reduce the amount of garbage we contribute to landfills is to learn how to reduce our consumption of use-and-toss products. 

Check out these 20 things you can do to reduce your trash:

Let me know which are keepers……..

1. Paper towels-try out a cloth that can be washed.
2. Paper plates and cups-use the real deal whenever possible or opt for reusable.
3. Silverware-metal is the way to go.
4. Plastic grocery bags-reusable bags are a great alternative.
5. Bottled water-reusable bottles will hold all sorts of drinks.
6. Individually packaged snacks-buy snacks in a regular sized bag and put single servings in reusable bags.
7. Disposable Napkins-try reusable.
8. Plastic baggies-replace with reusable bags that can be washed.
9. Garbage bags- try to reuse bags that are not messy inside by emptying the garbage out and reusing the bag.
10. Cotton balls-try using a cloth instead.
11. Printer cartridges-get the old ones refilled rather than buying new cartridges.
12. Batteries-invest in rechargeable batteries instead of disposable batteries.
13. Mail-opt to receive statements and bills electronically when possible.
14. Bubble wrap-Beth at Fake Plastic Fish suggests trying to reuse something you already have for packaging-try newspaper or old rags.
15. Plastic wrap and foil-use a container with a cover instead for food storage.
16. Aluminum foil-use a pot with a cover or for storage, use a glass container.
17. Razors-get reusable instead of single-use razors.
18. Liquid hand soaps in plastic containers-get a few reusable, decorative containers and refill them.
19. Disposable diapers-consider changing to cloth.
20. Juice boxes- although easy and convenient these boxes could take 300-400 years to decompose in landfills and they are not recyclable. Reusable bottles are the way to go.

Don’t forget to recycle. Such simple ways to make every day earth day!

Reusable bags fill many car trunks, swing from the arms of environmentally savvy shoppers and can be seen in countless shopping carts exiting local supermarkets.  They come in all shapes, sizes and colors; displaying advertisements and statements supporting eco-conscious choices.

But the bags and their makers have recently been confronted with an ironic problem-many have been found to contain lead.

NEW STUDY CONFIRMING LEAD IN SOME REUSABLE BAGS

The non-woven polypropylene bags that are sold by most retailers and complimentary from others encourage patrons to steer clear of  plastic bags. GREAT. But studies have shown some reusable bags contain lead. Another study was released last week showing more reusable shopping bags contain excessive levels of lead.   Health experts have found any exposure to lead can be dangerous.

HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM LEAD IN REUSABLE BAGS

Take these few simple steps to take to make sure your reusable shopping bags are safe to use:

1. Check to see if your reusables have been recalled due to lead contamination. Visit the stores website or go to the Center for Consumer Freedom’s website to see if your bag was one of the brands tested.
2. A few stores have voluntarily recalled their bags: CVS, Lululemon Athletica, Sears-Canada, and Wegmans have all recalled bags due to high levels of lead. Check on the stores website to see if you have one of these bags and return your bags to the stores for a replacement.
   

   Photo used under Creative Commons from Magdogs

3. In the study often it was the bags’ inserts at the bottom of the bag that contained the high lead levels. Pull those inserts out and throw them away.
4. Wash your bags regularly-yes, they can be washed.
5. Use nylon reusable bags such as BAGGU
   or Envirosax that are lead free and can be folded away in a convenient pouch for storage. These fit easily into a backpack or pocketbook.
6. Try a cloth tote such as The Planet Bag Set of Six (6) , made out of 100% cotton with no harmful dyes or bleach.
7. Buy your reusable bags from a reputable source such as Reuseit.com.

Where do you get your reusable bags?

If this post helped you, please share it. And please grab our RSS feed or sign up for free e-mail updates to get more Groovy Green info hot off the press! Thanks!

*Disclosure: If you buy any of the bags through the Amazon links  it will put a few pennies in my pocket-thanks!

**Top photo used under Creative Commons from lululemon athletica

The Holidays undoubtedly challenge our “greenness”.  Reduce, reuse and recycle can get pushed aside while we succumb to overeating, overspending and overdoing. With some effort it is possible for the holidays and a green lifestyle to coexist. There are a few simple ways to reduce your carbon footprint while enjoying all that the holidays have to offer.

HERE ARE SOME TIPS TO HELP YOU CELEBRATE IN THE GREEN:

1. BUY LOCAL Support the little local business rather than the big box store.  Go for gifts that don’t travel far to get under your tree.  Head to a thrift or antique shop for a unique gift with a back-story.
   

   Photo used under Creative Commons from Jay Bock

2. SUPPORT COMPANIES THAT GIVE BACK Do a little bit of leg work before buying-look at the company’s mission statement and see if it jives with you.  Some companies give a percentage of their proceeds to charity, others are generous with their employees.  Its all around good to know where your purchases are coming from.
3. GREENER HOLIDAY CARD OPTIONS Where do all those holiday cards end up?  In the garbage-unless you are like me and love to look at them a year down the road. Time to make the switch to a greener option such as an eCard.   For more green holiday card suggestions check out Green Talk.
   

   Photo used under Creative Commons from Shimelle Laine

4. WRAPPING PAPER AND RIBBON I know they look pretty-but all that paper and all those ribbons end up in the trash.  Use and reuse what you already have in your house. Here is a very cool way to make bows from magazine pages and chip bags.
5. CUT BACK Reevaluate the gifts you “need” to buy.  Maybe a name draw would work rather than buying a gift for every adult in your family.  It would ease the stress, cost less and probably be more thoughtful.
6. VOLUNTEER Nothing will help you feel the holiday spirit more than helping someone in need.  There are volunteer opportunities all over-check out VolunteerMatch for all sorts of suggestions in your community.
7. TAKE CARE OF YOURSELF Gasp!  Who has time for that?  You do.  That might mean stopping for a cup of tea or coffee, taking a yoga class in the middle of the most crazy day, going to sleep early or taking a bath (bubble bath of course!).  It doesn’t mean eating fast food, skipping your workouts or pulling all-nighters to wrap those gifts.
8. GREEN YOUR TREE Wondering which is greener-real or artificial?  There are lots of factors to take into consideration. If you opt for a real tree- try to get something locally and organically grown.  Artificial tree-make sure it was made in the US to reduce the amount of petroleum used to get it to you.  Also, if it is  made in the US it is less likely the tree was exposed to lead or other toxins.  How about renting a tree?  The tree comes to you in a pot and after the holidays it is planted. Now that’s green.
9. PARTY WITH A PURPOSE Have your guests bring a canned food or other donation to your holiday party. Don’t use disposable plates, cups and flatware-use the real deal.
10. HOLIDAY LIGHTS Most of you already have your lights hung and shinning- so for next year, save energy, and money by switching your old strands of incandescent bulbs with new LEDs (light emitting diodes). Make sure your lights are on a timer to save some additional pennies.

Got tips?  Do share.

Photo used under Creative Commons from Kasia

This year I had a few goals in mind when buying gifts for my family:

• Keep it simple
• Buy gifts without a lot of packaging materials
• Use my reusable bags as much as possible
• Try to buy things that don’t need batteries

The only major mishap was the shocking realization on Tuesday that Hanukkah started on Wednesday night. I had one day to pull it all together. Somehow I did it and we are ready for the 8 crazy nights.

During my speedy shopping experience, I was really focused on getting the job done.  In hindsight, I was able to stick to most of my goals.  I was surprisingly successful in finding gifts that don’t need batteries- with one exception, my son’s new watch.

Batteries are a necessity in so many ways, making our lives convenient and portable. With this need comes a tremendous amount of waste.  Americans toss almost 180,000 tons of batteries each year, most being single-use batteries.

The hard facts (battery truths)

1. About three billion batteries are sold annually in the U.S. averaging about 32 per family.
   

   Photo used under Creative Commons from Anton Fomkin

2. Batteries contain heavy metals such as mercury, lead, cadmium, and nickel, which can leak and contaminate the environment when they are thrown away.
3. A car battery contains 18 pounds of lead and one pound of sulfuric acid.
4. Household, disposable batteries come wrapped in plastic packaging-adding more plastic to our overflowing landfills.
5. Don’t throw any used batteries in the garbage.  Save them for a hazardous waste pickup in your community, or take it to your local hazardous waste management facility (call your local Department of Public Works for the closest location to you).  You can check check with  Earth911 for a listing of local drop off locations.
6. Your batteries come wrapped a lot of excess packaging-wrapped in plastic and cardboard-all of which end up in a landfill.

In most cases rechargeable batteries are the greener choice

• Alkaline single-use  batteries are much safer than their pre-1997 version, but they still can’t be recycled. Rechargeable batteries can be recycled.
• Rechargeable batteries are more costly upfront, but can be used reused multiple times.  They, like single-use batteries,  still contain heavy metals so be careful about disposal. Green Batteries is a great site for all your rechargeable battery and charger options.
• Four rechargeable batteries can replace approximately 100 regular alkaline batteries.
• For rechargeable battery recycling options check with Call2Recycle for a location near you.  California is  a special case when it comes to recycling batteries-requiring recycling of more types of batteries than other states-always ahead of the game, aren’t you California?
• Recycling batteries keeps heavy metals out of landfills and the air. Recycling also saves resources because recovered plastic and metals can be used to make new batteries.

Photo used under Creative Commons from John Seb Barber

Disposable v. Rechargeable

It is impossible to avoid the need for batteries- cell phones, remotes, flashlights, hand-held games, cameras-the need is far and wide.  If some of your holiday gifts need batteries,  Earth911 suggests we think about what type of gadget will be using the batteries. If the device isn’t used often and doesn’t use a lot of power (i.e. remote) it might be best to use a single-use battery. If the gadget needs portable power on a regular basis (i.e. cell phone) go rechargeable.

Greenest Choice

Buy gifts that don’t need batteries.  If your gift requires batteries, try to include rechargeable batteries. If you are feeling really generous include the charger too.

Happy shopping!

If this post helped you please share it with your friends. And please become a Facebook Fan! Thanks!

This post is part of the 3rd Annual Holidays Carnival, Holidays Without the Hoopla, for  Green Moms Carnival hosted this month by Jenn of The Green Parent. Be sure to check out all the other great ideas for Holidays Without the Hoopla.