These are three common chemicals used as active ingredients in traditional sunscreens, as they are most efficient in providing broad-spectrum ultraviolet coverage protection. In addition, they are also prevalent in nail polish, hairspray and cosmetic products as a stabilizer. Their proposed concentration level in the EU ranges from 1.4 - 2.2%, while in the US, it ranges from 6-15%. All three chemicals have been proven to absorb quickly into skin after just one use. However, they are linked to a variety of health concerns including hormonal disruption and allergic reactions. Additionally, oxybenzone has a close relationship to coral bleaching, with studies finding that ocean oxybenzone disposal can cause severe coral damage.

These are man made chemicals used to make polycarbonate plastics and are seen in many household items such as food storage containers, PVC plastics and even baby bottles. They are mainly used in beverage containers, compact disks and plastic dinnerwares. This genotoxic chemical damages the male reproductive system as it has other endocrine disrupting properties. Oftentimes you see “BPA-free” on marketing and packaging, however, BPF, BPS or one of the other bisphenols could easily be used as a replacement that is equally as harmful.

Formaldehyde acts as an aqueous solution, which can also act as a preservative for corpses. It is also used as a disinfectant that can kill bacteria and fungus. Formaldehyde is found in many household items, from building materials to furniture. A large majority of furniture sold in America has a certain amount of formaldehyde emissions from various components, most notably glue, that effect indoor air quality. However, the exposure to it can have both short and long term effects. At short term exposure, it can cause respiratory problems and skin irritation. Long term, it has been named a cancer causing carcinogen by The International Agency for Research on Cancer.

Fragrance is a chemical group consisting of hundreds of chemicals that provides scent in cosmetics, skincare, candles, cleaning and commercial products. The most common ingredients include acetone, ethanol, synthetic musks and phthalates. The latter two are potentially hazardous compounds that can damage nerve system development and hormone functions. Fragrance is not regulated in the United States and product labels can list words like ‘fragrance’, ‘parfum’, or ‘perfume’ using them as a mask for hundreds of unregulated chemicals that do not need to be legally disclosed.

Lead is a heavy metal, with softer and malleable chemical qualities and played a crucial role in the development of the printing press. Today, lead is common in many everyday products including appliances, paint, ceramic dishes, glassware, and lipstick. In fact, about 61% of lipstick has lead as an ingredient. However, lead is known for its toxicity where it damages the nervous system and interferes with our enzymes, causing neurological disorders and brain damage. There is not a safe level of lead exposure, and this metal should be avoided at all costs.

Parabens are used as a chemical preservative in everything from personal care products to food. Products such as shampoos, moisturizers, shaving creams, tanning products often contain parabens as their ingredient. Parabens have been found in human tissue, blood and urine samples. They are linked to poor reproductive health in women, early puberty in girls and boys, and have even been associated with breast cancer.

Pesticides including herbicides, insecticides, fungicides are used in agriculture to spray & protect crops, plants and animals from being harmed by insects and other organisms. Examples of these chemicals include Glyphosate, Acephate, Deet, Propoxur, Metaldehyde, Boric Acid, Diazinon, Dursban, DDT, Malathion amongst many others. Consumption of pesticides and pesticide residue on our foods can lead to a buildup in the body of toxic substances and even lead to long term health issues such as various cancers and reproductive issues. Among different pesticides, consumption of glyphosate can increase cancer risk, especially for children. Eating organic is important when selecting food items, especially the ‘dirty dozen’. 

Petroleum derived chemicals and oils are used in a variety of products including cosmetics, plastics, detergents, paints and more. There are both environmental and health concerns relating to exposure to petroleum. For example, burning petroleum is one of the largest contributors to the increase of CO2 in the atmosphere, causing global term-erasure increase. Exposure to petroleum can cause liver and kidney damage. Skin irritation and allergies can also result from over-exposure to petroleum

These “forever chemicals” are often used in waterproofing, wrinkle resistance and non-stick surfaces. They are in everything from baby strollers to outerwear and waterproof mascara to food packaging, and it is used as an industrial surfactant (a liquid that decreases frictions between two surfaces) in chemical processes which has led to industrial waste contributing to the contamination of our wildlife, water and air supplies. They remain in our blood, compounding overtime and are not detoxable. 98% of the tested American population had levels of PFOs in their blood. PFAS are found to be highly correlated with liver, testicular, and pancreatic cancer incidents. They decrease liver and kidney functionality, fertility, and are associated with thyroid disease. Oftentimes you see “PFOA-Free”, especially on items like pots and pans, however, PFOA is only one of 9,000 PFAS chemicals and the others in the family are just as detrimental to the environment and our bodies.

This group of chemicals including i(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP), diisodecyl phthalate, and diisononyl phthalate have detrimental effects on human health as they are known endocrine and reproductive disruptors. Most commonly found as plasticizers in plastic products (like PVC), personal care products and beauty products (like fragrance) amongst countless others, they are also often released into the environment, and can be easily consumed in diet, water and air supplies. High phthalate exposure is correlated with heart problems, causing about 100,000 premature deaths in the US annually. This chemical group is banned in the EU, but remains prevalent in the US. 

Toluene is a colorless, water-insoluble liquid often found in paints, lacquers and even nail polishes. It is mostly used as an industrial solvent for paint thinners, permanent markers, and certain types of glues. Studies have shown that inhalation of toluene can cause tiredness, intoxication and dizziness. On the other hand, toluene has been known to cause liver and kidney damage. However, the toxicity of toluene is smaller than benzene, and it has been for recreational use before being banned by the US government in 2007. 

The term “biodegradable” is the natural breakdown process of organic matter into smaller particles such as gasses, sugars, and other compounds found in nature by microorganisms including bacteria and fungi. Materials that decompose include plant products such as paper, wood, and natural fiber textiles, as well as food, human and animal waste and dead organisms. Many companies are now using biodegradable plastics which are advocated for being eco-friendly. The problem is biodegradable plastics have complex chemical structures that microorganisms cannot always break down and also require large amounts of energy to do so. Furthermore, in order to break down further, a set of strict environmental conditions are required such as pH, temperature, oxygen levels and more.

See also: Composting

A carbon footprint refers to the amount of greenhouse gases (CO2 and NO) generated by our actions. In 2014, the World Bank estimated that the annual carbon footprint per person was about 5 tonnes, and the average carbon footprint for a US citizen is 16 tonnes. Increasing carbon footprint is one of the main culprits for global warming, as CO2 and NO are all contributors to this. The bright side is, our carbon footprints can be reduced by our daily actions such as consuming less meat and less leather products, buying less products in general, and reusing and upcycling what we already have.

This term does not mean carbon-free, it means the amount of CO2 emissions produced balances out the amount of CO2 the company removes from the environment. These are terms companies may use to market their products to a crowd looking for more sustainable options. While some companies promise to become carbon neutral at a further date, it is important to see proof and transparency from companies in an annual impact report. Some climate scientists believe that the idea of a net zero, “waste now, pay later” approach may not equate to better environmental performances in the future. Learn more about Net Zero and Carbon Neutral.

Composting is the process that takes biodegradable materials such as food scraps, coffee grounds, plant & yard waste, paper towels and napkins, tea bags, manure and other organic matter and adds it all together in a container to naturally assist in its breakdown process. The result of the mixture creates a nutrient-dense, rich fertilizer that helps nourish the health of soil. This process is an excellent alternative to organic material waste removal and also helps to reduce anaerobic methane emissions.

See also: Biodegradable

There are no legal definitions of “cruelty-free” and “not tested on animals” unless officially certified through a third party such as the Leaping Bunny Certification. Cruelty-free products are most prevalent in cosmetics, skincare and fashion and brands can label products as “not tested on animals”, when they may actually be misleading consumers. Having an overall final product that is not tested on animals does not mean that the individual ingredients that make up the product weren’t. There can be mistreatment of animals at any point during the sourcing and production process, since individual ingredients may still be tested on animals and oftentimes in foreign labs with lax laws and regulations.

Electric and magnetic fields are invisible energy sources commonly referred to as radiation. High frequency, ionizing EMF sources include sunlight, X-rays and Gamma rays and are some of the most prevalent EMF we encounter in our life. There is nothing intrinsically wrong with electromagnetic waves undetectable by human eyes. However, some examples of non-ionizing EMF sources including overexposure to household electronics, excessive cellphone and wifi usage, and consistently sitting with a laptop on your lap can cause high levels of DNA and cellular damage, including tumors and cancer, if not protected correctly. Since this is such a new topic that is still being studied, pregnant individuals and babies should avoid exposure to EMF radiation as much as possible.

Factory farmed fish is the practice of raising fish for human consumption in a man-made or altered body of water. The factory confines a high density of fish within a small container—-which is unnatural for species like salmon and tuna and often have higher instances of viral, bacterial and fungal diseases due to polluted water, shared pesticides, parasites and waste, as well as poor farming conditions. When consuming farmed fish, individuals can therefore eat such viruses, toxins as well cancer and fetal brain impairment-causing PCB’s (polychlorinated biphenyls) according to an EWG study. Since farmed fish do not eat naturally occurring algae and other freshwater fish, the nutrient profile is different, and arguably worse, than wild caught fish. Unfortunately the overwhelming majority of fish on the market and in grocery stores is factory farmed and the price difference between factory farmed and wild caught is significant.

This term refers to products that are traded with rigorous environmental, ethical, and social standards. It is an arrangement that helps companies and brands to achieve sustainable and equitable trade standards. Hence, it ensures safe working conditions and fair pay. Look for products that are officially certified with the ‘Fair Trade’ label as opposed to the blanket statement of being fair trade with no official certification or proof.

Greenwashing is a term used when a company or brand promotes a product as “green” or “sustainable” without any proof or evidence that it is actually environmentally conscious. Such companies spend more time and resources on marketing and targeting consumer groups without physically minimizing their environmental impact. An example is Volkswagen using a defect device on their emissions testing while their regular models were using up to 40 times allowed limits for certain pollutants. Signs of ‘greenwashing’ in everyday consumer products include overpackaging, using popular or trendy buzz words like “BPA-free”or “all-natural”, or irrelevant and fluffy langage like “eco-friendly” or “non-toxic” that don’t actually mean anything specific as well as terms like “organic” with no actual proof that it is or only a fraction of the overall content is made up of organic materials while the rest is toxic or synthetic.

The government has no legal definition of the term “Natural” with regards to “Natural Flavors” being listed on our food labels, therefore products including the “Natural Flavors” posted as either marketing text on packaging or listed as an ingredient on nutrition and ingredients label has absolutely no meaning, no accountability, and no proof it is healthy or safe. Theoretically, natural flavors should include spices, fruit and vegetables. However, any ingredient could be labeled as “Natural Flavors”, and many of them only contain excessive sugar, which is detrimental to American health standards. 

The term “organic” means naturally occurring materials and products (such as foods, personal care ingredients, botanicals and natural fiber textiles) grown and produced without the use of toxic chemicals or synthetic pesticides and fertilizers. However, it is important to note that even with organic food, the USDA Organic Certification does not require zero synthetic pesticides, it requires “minimal” amounts, which means synthetic pesticides are most likely still used. The chances of cross contamination with organic crops and conventional crops is high as well as most farms grow both and many toxins live for extended periods of time in the soil and water tables; which is why the recent report on heavy metals and toxins found in certified organic baby food was a big concern. It should be noted that the term “organic” is still not federally regulated and may be used on the information panel of product’s packaging leading the term to be overused by the market to promote all sorts of products from home and clothes textiles to food and beauty products. Therefore, understanding the fundamentals and the complexities of the concept can help to distinguish true organic products from the others as well as knowing what certifications to look for on packaging.

Recycling refers to the process of converting waste products into new materials and objects. While America produced 292 million tonnes of solid waste (in 2018), of that, paper, glass, cardboard and metals tend to have an extended life and a significantly higher rate of actually getting recycled; far more than plastic which, in 2021, was less than 5%. In fact, most plastics that end up at a recycling facility are unable to be recycled due to contamination, having unrecyclable components attached or simply just being the wrong type of plastic. Of the meager 5% that does get recycled, it is important to note that the recycling process usually requires combustion and significant energy to be successful and the process degrades the recycled material to a lesser quality where it will likely not be able to be recycled again; ultimately ending up in a landfill anyway after its next use. Furthermore, companies started “Chemical Recycling” which sounds like a good alternative to filling landfills, but it has proved not to be. The NRDC found that chemical recycling does not actually recycle any plastic, it just incinerates plastic, producing mass amounts of hazardous waste and air pollutants. However, water recycling shows great potential. Many companies such as SUEZ, are considering increasing the percentage of recycled water into domestic use. An example of a successful water recycle system is in Singapore, where all domestic water is recycled back into the system.

See also: Upcycled

Ecosystems can be regenerative in the sense that they can restore and regrow itself back to local ecology after destruction and damage. For example, in regenerative farming, farmers practice the use of photosynthesis in plants to sequester carbon in the soil while improving soil health, crop yields, water resilience, and nutrient density. Similarly, regenerative fashion emphasizes businesses that enhance the health of socio-ecological systems (SES) in a co-evolutionary way, encouraging that clothing is made from natural materials and regenerative fibers. An example being that some companies prefer to use bamboo over tree wood as bamboo is able to regenerate a lot faster.

See also: Renewable

Renewables refer to the transition in our society from being carbon-intensive to being more sustainable. A circular economy is a framework which is fed by renewable resources; meaning that economic activities would be conducted in a way that does not impact our future relationship with the environment such as causing climate change, loss of biodiversity and ecosystem degradation. This process requires a lot of technological infrastructure and up-to-date waste management systems. For example, solar panels and windmills are renewable energy sources, compared with traditional coals and fossil fuels.

See also: Regenerative

Slow Fashion is a movement that promotes conscious, ethical and environmental practices in regards to the production of clothing and textiles. Slow Fashion takes an awareness-approach to fashion products, including an understanding of textiles, sourcing, manufacturing, and the entire product lifecycle from pre-production to post-consumption. Slow Fashion aims to respect people, the environment and animals. Conversely, Fast Fashion is extremely wasteful by creating a “throw-away” culture when it comes to our closet. Fast Fashion products are characterized as being trendy and affordable but with poor quality and little design originality. Fast Fashion not only creates monstrous amounts of textile waste, but also promotes unethical working conditions.

Where recycling requires destruction of the materials to create something new, upcycling creates something new out of the existing state of the materias, and often of higher value and purpose. It is also known as ‘creative repurposing’ and it requires significantly less energy than recycling. An example of upcycling would be taking old t-shirts and rather than throwing them away, cutting them into strips of fabrics and creating a blanket out of them.

See also: Recycled