The Soft Landing Blog

PVC a Substitute for Polycarbonate (BPA) in Sippy Cups – WHAT?

Alicia — Thu, 02 Sep 2010 13:00:22 +0000

My good friend Sommer of Green and Clean Mom called me this morning with news I never really expected to hear: she was staring at a sippy cup marked with a #3 recycling code (PVC).

What? Wait a minute, Sommer. I think it must be a mistake. Reusable plastic food containers are very (very!) rarely made with PVC. In fact, I don’t think I’ve ever come across a PVC sippy cup in all my years of research . . .

She had ordered hundreds of the sippy cups as a promotional item for a non-profit program, but only after carefully confirming with the manufacturer that the cups were BPA-free before ordering.

Phthalate-free PVC is Safe, Right?

No. Even phthalate-free PVC still isn’t a safe plastic because of the other harmful chemicals often used during production. CHEJ names the following possible concerns with PVC:

May contain dioxin (a known carcinogen)
May contain volatile organic compounds (VOC’s)
May contain organotins
May contain lead, cadmium and other metals
Heat and humidity can increase the release of these chemicals

So here we have a reliable manufacturer (based on my own personal experience), trying to do the right thing by using BPA-free and phthalate-free plastics in their cups, while still keeping them extremely affordable. And while I was initially surprised at their choice of PVC as a substitute, I do understand where they’re coming from – especially in light of the fact that PVC isn’t recognized as a toxic plastic by the average American just yet . . .

Okay, so it’s not the end of the world. But needless to say, we recommend you stay on the alert and pay attention to the types of plastic being used as substitutes by manufacturers – whether BPA-free or not.

Are Products Made in China Inherently Toxic?

Alicia — Fri, 27 Aug 2010 20:51:43 +0000

Years of interacting with major manufacturers has lead us to a paradigm shift. We’ve come to believe that the problem with product safety really has less to do with where the product is manufactured, and more to do with the company developing and producing the product.

The U.S. has fallen asleep at the wheel in regard to our own chemical policies, leaving us to search for clear information on what chemicals are actually harmful and how to avoid them on our own. To make things more difficult, ingredient labeling isn’t required for most products so we are forced to spend endless hours trying to extract this information from manufacturers. And to add insult to injury, we’re constantly being barraged by recalls – mostly on products made in China.

Avoiding Products Made in China Doesn’t Solve the Entire Problem of Safety

Did you know that global production of bisphenol A was estimated to be over 2.2 million tons in 2009 and in 2004 over 1 million tons was produced right here in the U.S.? The point here is that by focusing on country of origin as the main issue, we miss the bigger problem and our approach to choosing safer products is skewed.

The Center for Environmental Health points to another fact that is often overlooked: toxic product recalls happen with products made in the U.S. too.

Eighty percent of all toys are made in China. Therefore, the majority of toys that we tested are also from China. However, consumers cannot automatically assume that products made in the U.S. do not contain chemicals of concern. Beyond the lead paint restriction, there are no mandatory rules to regulate what can or cannot be used in children’s products in the U.S., and no disclosure requirements on toxic chemicals in toys.

Why Do We Offer Products Made in China in Our “Non-toxic” Store?

While it’s not our first choice to sell products made in China, many companies are forced to manufacture in plants outside the U.S. for two main reasons:

The market demands value pricing which is often unattainable when manufacturing in the U.S.
Some products require specialized skills that are no longer available in the U.S., such as stainless steel fabrication (there is not a single stainless steel water bottle made in the U.S. currently)

In our opinion, the real question is whether the company has made a commitment to ensuring high quality or not.

We make our decision to retail a product based on our knowledge of each individual company. Here is an example of the interview process we begin with for each potential vendor:

1. What materials are used to manufacture your product inside and out?

2. Do you have third-party safety done testing on a regular basis? If so, please send test results along with your reply.

3. Where are your products manufactured? If in China, how do you maintain quality production and ensure fair working conditions/wages for employees of the factory?

We work with some amazing companies who committed to the safety of their products. We choose companies that have proven they’re full of integrity by monitoring the production of their products carefully and fully back the quality and safety of each one.

Of course, this is just our two cents. And we’ll always choose USA made products when given the option – assuming they meet our standards for integrity and quality assurance!

PVC-free Mattress Covers

Alicia — Wed, 25 Aug 2010 15:03:38 +0000

While searching for PVC-free mattress covers, it became apparent that most allergy relief/bed bug mattress encasements are made of polypropylene, polyethylene, or polyester, which is great news. But we also learned that you need to watch out for those that have a “membrane,” because they are usually made of vinyl or polyurethane. Because it takes time-consuming research to find out whether it’s actually PVC, we recommend avoiding that style. The membrane type encasements are also easier to identify because they’re usually not padded.

PVC-free Mattress Encasements

Aller-Ease
Brylane Home
SoftTEK
Permafresh
Econoshield
Mattress Guard
Pristine
Bargoose Bedding: waterproof 100% cotton pads and polyester fleece mattress pads for infants, allergy relief polyester/cotton membrane-free mattress encasements and polypropylene encasements for regular sized beds

PVC-free Mattress Covers/Pads

Room Essentials
Home cotton blend pad
Home waterproof polyester pad
Easy-Care cover

Top 5 Reasons Your School Should Go PVC-Free

Alicia — Thu, 19 Aug 2010 16:20:11 +0000

Did you watch CNN’s “Toxic America” a little while ago? If so, you got an unsettling look at the world of PVC manufacturing and its effects on the surrounding neighborhoods. It was exciting to see the underbelly of PVC production exposed to the general public after years of searching for safer alternatives.

For many of you, Toxic Towns was a realization that sent you reeling back a bit. Where is PVC found and is it really that unsafe? Doesn’t the removal of phthalates mean it’s fine to use? Those are great questions, and my favorite advocate for safer alternatives to PVC, the Center for Health, Environment and Justice (CHEJ), has compiled a down and dirty list of convincing reasons for moving away from vinyl (#3 plastic).

CHEJ’s Take on Why PVC is Toxic

Many children’s school supplies, such as lunchboxes, backpacks and binders, are often made out of PVC—an unnecessary toxic plastic that is dangerous to our health and the environment across its lifecycle: from production, to use, to disposal. Cancer causing chemicals that contaminate the air and water of surrounding
communities are used to produce PVC. When PVC is manufactured or burned, numerous dioxins are formed and released. Dioxins are a highly toxic group of chemicals that can cause cancer, and harm the immune and reproductive systems. These and other toxic chemicals released during the PVC lifecycle contaminate our bodies and may pose irreversible life-long health threats.

Why Shop for PVC – Free School Supplies?

PVC is unique among plastics because it containsdangerous chemical additives. These harmful chemicals include phthalates, lead, cadmium, and/or organotins, which can be toxic to your child’s health. What’s worse is the danger these chemicals pose- phthalates and other toxic additives can leach out or evaporate into the air over time posing unnecessary dangers to children. Over 90% of all phthalates are used to soften or plasticize PVC products. Children are at risk from even small exposures to these toxic chemicals. That’s why it’s important to purchase PVC-free school supplies.

Top Five Reason for Avoiding PVC

1. Children are more at risk from toxic chemicals: children are not “little adults” – their developing brains and bodies, their metabolism and behaviors make them uniquely vulnerable to harm from toxic chemicals such as those released by the PVC lifecycle.

2. Production of PVC involves cancer-causing chemicals: PVC products are made from toxic chemicals. Three chemicals are at the core of PVC production: chlorine gas is converted into ethylene dichloride (EDC), which is then converted into vinyl chloride monomer (VCM), which is then converted into PVC. Both VCM and EDC are extremely hazardous. Vinyl chloride, the key building block of PVC, causes a rare form of liver cancer, and damages the liver and central nervous system iii. Vinyl chloride is one of the few chemicals the U.S. EPA classifies as a known human carcinogen. EDC is a probable human carcinogen that also affects the central nervous system and damages the liver.

3. PVC products often contain toxic additives such as phthalates, lead and cadmium: many of these additives are not chemically bound to the plastic and can migrate out of the product posing potential hazards to consumers. In some cases, these additives can be released from the product into the air inside your home. Lead has been used to stabilize and is found in many different PVC products. PVC flooring and other PVC products can contribute to poorer indoor air quality as PVC products can offgass chemicals called volatile organic compounds (VOCs).

4. Schoolchildren, teachers and custodians may be at risk for asthma and autism: Asthma is a serious, sometimes life-threatening respiratory disease that affects 7 million American children and 16 million adults. An average of one out of every 13 school-age children has asthma. In fact, asthma is a leading cause of school absenteeism: 14.7 million school days are missed each year due to asthma. In recent years, a number of studies have found a correlation between phthalates emitted from PVC building products and asthma. Yet another study published in 2009 even found a statistically significant link between PVC flooring, asthma, and autism.

5. PVC and hazardous chemicals are in our babies and bodies: in recent years, a growing body of scientific evidence has found that toxic chemicals released by the PVC lifecycle are trespassing into our bodies. Today babies are being born pre-polluted with potentially harmful levels of phthalates and dioxins that may possibly cause lifelong health problems. Phthalates have been found in indoor air and dust, and in human urine, blood and breast milk. An extensive study of 2,500 individuals found metabolites of at least one phthalate in 97 percent of those tested. Dioxins build up in our bodies over our lifetime and can remain there for many years. The levels of dioxins in our bodies are at or near the levels known to cause harm.

Take steps to remove PVC from your child’s school by educating yourself and the members of your school board. CHEJ’s PVC-free Back to School Guide is the easiest place to start!

P.S. Looking for safe lunch gear options? Crocodile Creek, Laptop Lunches, Fuel Kids, EcoLunchboxes, Lunchbots, Lunchsense and Fresh Snack Packs are BPA, PVC, phthalate and lead-free options made by manufacturers we know and trust.

Fuel Waste-free Lunch Gear is a Non-toxic Boon

Alicia — Mon, 16 Aug 2010 20:24:39 +0000

We’re awful excited about how easy it is to go 100% reusable and waste-free with the wide array of affordable Fuel lunch gear! From sandwich boxes to insulated soup containers, Fuel products are simple for kids to use and their unique features open up a whole new world of healthy meal possibilities.

We started writing this article a little while ago when our first Fuel shipment arrived, but we found that using words to describe everything just didn’t quite cut it. So we put together demo videos on a couple of our favorites (see below).

Green and Clean Mom just did a review of the Fuel Lunch Bags today and we’re offering a back-to-school discount code too, so be sure to check it out!

*All Fuel lunch gear is BPA, PVC, phthalate and lead-free, of course

Ask TSL: Do You Know of any PVC-free Air Mattresses?

Alicia — Wed, 11 Aug 2010 21:38:10 +0000

Question: Do You Know of any PVC-free Air Mattresses?

Answer: That seems to be the question of the century! Almost ALL inflatable products are made from PVC. We’re a camping family, so it’s something we’ve been actively searching for over the last three years. We finally hit the jackpot with two trusty Aerobed products:

Aerobed Pakmat

The new eco-friendly AeroBed Pakmat is made of PVC and phthalate-free polyester material and stores inside its own pump. The pump doesn’t require batteries and inflates in about 60 seconds using a simple pumping motion

Aerobed EcoLite

Made from TPU materials that contain no PVC or phthalates, Aerobed EcoLite is l is 40% lighter than standard PVC beds and is covered in soft polyester flocking.

That’s all we’ve been able to find in the world of inflatable mattresses. Have we missed any? We’ll update our list as we gather more info. And while we really, REALLY want one of these new PVC-free air mattresses, there’s no reason to toss one made from PVC until it’s time is up.

Safe Munch School Lunch Eco-fundraiser

Alicia — Thu, 05 Aug 2010 11:38:23 +0000

We’re gearing up for school and happy to announce our latest endeavor in keeping school lunches (and fundrasiers) safe and waste-free!

The Safe Munch Eco-fundraiser is the brainchild of our teams of moms in response to the many requests we receive for help in choosing safe, affordable and waste-free lunch gear. There are many fundraisers that sell magazines, trash bags, cookie dough and wrapping paper. We dutifully sign up when our little loved ones come carrying the flyers trying to raise money for a good cause. It occurred to us that it is possible to bring the best of both worlds together, helping the non-profit organizations we love get the safe, re-usable products we all need. WAH-BAM-POW! The Safe Munch Eco-fundraiser was born. But we didn’t stop there . . .

We wanted a straight-up, no-gimmick fundraiser

We’ve noticed with our own children that many fundraisers use inflated product pricing. With Safe Munch, you buy products at the same price you’ll find in our online store every day. So when we say 10%, it’s an authentic, absolute 10% donation going straight your organization on products you need anyway!

I’m sure you can guess that we wanted only carefully chosen, high quality, non-toxic products

Greening your child’s lunch doesn’t have to be an overwhelming job! We’ve confirmed with each manufacturer that all products are made without BPA, PVC, phthalates and melamine. They are also third-party tested by manufacturers for cadmium and lead safety. So not only are you reducing your waste with reusable products, you’re reducing your exposure to endocrine disrupting chemicals.

So how does it work, you ask?

Website Sales

Website drives are the quickest way to start earning money for your organization. The Soft Landing Store offers a wide variety of products that are solutions to disposable and/or toxic lunch products and much, much more. Online orders are made using a unique code assigned to your organization. Simply choose from any of our 400+ non-toxic products and check out as you normally would — it’s that easy!

You’ll also benefit from our shipping promotion of free shipping for U.S. continental orders over $49.00 to add to your overall savings.

Catalog Drives

Catalog drives are the traditional fundraisers. All Safe Munch catalogs and order forms are available for download. You’ll print the forms and distribute to your fundraiser participants, and together we we’ll set a time period for your drive. During that time, you’ll earn 10% of all money raised by your organization in person or on the website. Once we receive all of your orders, we’ll send the in-person orders to your organization for you to distribute among your local constituents.

>> Ready to get started? Register your non-profit organization HERE

P.S If you haven’t checked out the whole slew of affordable, waste-free lunch gear we just added to our store, you need to hop over and have a look! The new Fuel line offers a wide variety of affordable options in reusable lunch containers to help prevent those search missions we send our kids on through the school trash when they accidentally toss the snack container in the trash!

Can BPA be Absorbed through the Skin?

Alicia — Wed, 28 Jul 2010 13:57:59 +0000

It’s beginning to look like the answer is YES.

Swiss scientists recently found that BPA transfers readily from receipts to skin and can penetrate the skin to a depth that it can’t be washed off.

So the next question is, can BPA continue traveling a little bit further and end up in the bloodstream? We don’t know for certain yet, but EWG’s latest report in which they tested several common stores’ receipts for BPA makes it a valid concern. They found through testing that BPA on a receipt is 250 to 1,000 times greater than the amount of BPA typically found in a can of food or a can of baby formula, or that which leaches from a BPA-based plastic baby bottle into its contents. And even more telling is the fact that retail workers carry an average of 30 percent more BPA in their bodies than other adults, although it’s don’t know how much BPA-coated receipts contribute to people’s total exposure.

As suggested by EWG, one thing is certain: because many retailers already use BPA-free paper for their receipts, it’s one source of contamination that could easily be eliminated. The EPA is even concerned enough to start looking for BPA-free thermal paper alternatives. In the meantime, EWG offers some helpful tips to reduce your exposures to BPA in receipts:

Minimize receipt collection by declining receipts at gas pumps, ATMs and other machines when possible.
Store receipts separately in an envelope in a wallet or purse.
Never give a child a receipt to hold or play with.
After handling a receipt, wash hands before preparing and eating food (a universally recommended practice even for those who have not handled receipts).
Do not use alcohol-based hand cleaners after handling receipts. A recent study showed that these products can increase the skin’s BPA absorption (Biedermann 2010).
Take advantage of store services that email or archive paperless purchase records.
Do not recycle receipts and other thermal paper. BPA residues from receipts will contaminate recycled paper.
If you are unsure, check whether paper is thermally treated by rubbing it with a coin. Thermal paper discolors with the friction; conventional paper does not.

Can We Have a Heart to Heart?

Alicia — Fri, 23 Jul 2010 20:33:01 +0000

Keeping your family safe is our passion and we enjoy making your life a little bit easier at the same time. We don’t do this often, but we need to give you an update on things.

Times are tough and the last year has taken it’s toll on our family owned and operated business. We hear the strain in your voice too when you call to ask our advice about avoiding toxic chemicals. We understand that during this economic crunch, it’s not always possible to support our research by buying the products you need from us.

We want you to know that we’re listening and making changes in hopes of benefiting both you and us. Here’s what’s going on behind the scenes on our side:

We’re streamlining our product selection

We’re trimming down to the brands and items that you show the most interest in. You may have noticed that we now have a Clearance section. We’re offering some amazing discounts on products we’re discontinuing (all sales are final).

The big question we’re hearing on a regular basis is, “Are you dropping that product because you found out it’s made with toxic chemicals?” That’s a perfectly legitimate question, especially considering that many folks check our site to confirm the safety of a product before buying. Simply put, the answer is no – each of those products is perfectly fine and was made by a manufacturer we’ve found to be trustworthy.

We’re focusing our time investment

Did you know that every aspect of The Soft Landing Store is operated by myself, my Mom and my three sisters with no outside help? We spend our time learning about endocrine disruptors, researching chemicals, contacting manufacturers to confirm materials used, providing education to families, writing blog posts, handling all marketing and social media outlets, advocating for change in chemical policies, inventory and even shipping orders.

Until now, we’ve been able to answer all phone calls and emails from concerned parents looking for help locating safe products we don’t sell in our store. Now we’re having to make a difficult choice to spend less time giving specific answers to those questions. So what will happen when you call, email or contact us via Twitter and Faceboook with specific questions now?

We’ll direct you to our blog, where we post any and all information we’ve gathered during our research efforts.
We’ll ask you to make suggestions using the Skribit box for topics we haven’t yet researched (over in the right hand sidebar).
We’re working hard to launch several ebooks which will combine all of our research into one place for ease of use. Watch for an announcement on that front soon!

We’re pulling out all the stops on shipping rates

We asked you what the main hindrance to online shopping is, and you answered very clearly . . . shipping costs! In an effort to make purchasing from our store possible for those of you who are following a tight budget, we’re lowering our shipping rates for folks on the U.S. Mainland. Starting today, you’ll get flat rate shipping of $5.95 and FREE shipping for orders over $49.00!

We love you guys

We hope to express our deep appreciation for the many kind words we hear through social media channels each day. We would truly be nowhere without you

We’ll continue to invest our hearts in locating safe products for your family and advocating for safer chemicals in this great country of ours. And remember, all products sold at The Soft Landing Store are confirmed to be free of BPA, PVC, phthalates and melamine. They’re also third-party tested for lead and cadmium safety by manufacturers we trust.

Now go shopping!

The Story of Cosmetics: the Ugly Truth of “Toxics In, Toxics Out”

Alicia — Wed, 21 Jul 2010 18:34:48 +0000

I’m thrilled to be working with the Campaign for Safe Cosmetics and my partners, 3 Green Angels, to launch a educational push called the Story of Cosmetics today. We’ll be hosting a special Twitter party tonight at 8pm CST (using the hashtag #ecowed) to talk about the products we use, learn what’s really in them, discuss the health implications and figure out what we can do.

And immediately following the special #ecowed with The Story of Cosmetics, we’ll be talking further about toxicants in soaps and detergents with our all-time favorite maker of safe personal care products, Earth Mama Angel Baby, at 9 pm CST.

Learn More about Shockingly Toxic Personal Care Ingredients

Do you wonder what is in all those products we slather on our bodies or on our children? What actually is in fragrance? What is triclosan? What are formaldehyde donors? How do you even pronounce any of these ingredients?

And who makes sure these things are safe?

Are you ready to discuss these issues? Well, then we have an #ecowed Twitter party for you! Please join us for a very special #ecowed Twitter party this Wednesday, July 21, 2010 at the special time of 9 pm Eastern (6 pm Pacific) as we talk about The Story of Cosmetics – The Ugly Truth of “Toxics In, Toxics Out.” If you need some details on what a Twitter party is, check out the information here.

The Story of Cosmetics is created by The Story of Stuff Project with free range studios and in conjunction with The Campaign for Safe Cosmetics. The Story of Cosmetics examines the pervasive use of potentially toxic chemicals in everyday personal care products – products we use because most of us believe that somebody – somebody like our government regulatory bodies – has decided that the products and their ingredients are safe. But that isn’t quite true – the FDA only bans 9 ingredients in personal care products and regulates colorants. Other than that, cosmetic companies are pretty much free to use what they want. Compare this to the European Union, which has banned or limited more than 1,100 ingredients in cosmetic products.

The Story of Cosmetics examines the health implications of the decisions to use these ingredients in every day products – in our shampoos, body washes, bubble bath, lipstick and more.

>> FIND out more about the Story of Cosmetics in their FAQ at http://storyofstuff.org/pdfs/cosmetics/SoCos_faqs.pdf. The following important questions are covered:

Carcinogens in baby shampoo?
What’s pinkwashing?
But isn’t it better living?
But it’s just a little bit, right?
How do I find safer products?
Shouldn’t there be a law against this?
What about salon workers?

The #ecowed Twitter party is brought to you by: