Hi. I'm Danielle, a high school senior in Northern California. There are simple changes that we can make to better "green" all aspects of our daily lives. Below are four more tips that will get you started as we head back to school. If you CAN make healthier choices, why not?This past year I replaced my plastic water bottle with a Klean Kanteen opens in a new tab. I feel much better about drinking from a bottle that it is not contaminated with phthalates, a chemical used to make plastic softer that is a known endocrine disruptor and toxic to our bodies opens in a new tab.In the process of doing my own research, I’ve come to realize that there IS a "greener" alternative for pretty much every action you do and every item you use.As the new school year approaches, I challenge each of you to identify five things that you can do to live a "greener" lifestyle. Let us know what you come up with and we will post your ideas. Turning Green is fun, simple and you can start right now!If you want to get involved in our campaign opens in a new tab and help form a chapter in your city or town, we'd love to hear from you opens in a new tab.
Carpool, ride the bus, bike, or walk to school. Think about how much fuel you are using in transportation and work to reduce or offset opens in a new tab your carbon footprint.
Bring lunches of organic, local, healthy food in To-Go Ware or other recyclable, reusable, and biocompostable containers opens in a new tab including sugarcane and corn based plastic. Pack a reusable tote (like Whole Foods Market 99¢ Better Bags opens in a new tab and FEED opens in a new tab bags) or recycled/recyclable brown paper bag with cloth napkins and SpudWare’s potato based cutlery or utensils made from plastic bags. And store your goodies in glass containers opens in a new tab at home, instead of leeching plastics.
Be sure to use a non-toxic hand sanitizer – at home and school – as ingredients in conventional sanitizers are made with harmful chemicals and never break down in the body. Plus, the greener alternatives moisturize and leave hands smelling great! Try EO Products opens in a new tab spritz or gel, available at Whole Foods Market.
Swap chemical-leaching plastic water bottles for reusable metal ones. These are so durable that one bottle can last a lifetime. Klean Kanteen opens in a new tab uses no plastic liners (no cancer-causing, estrogen-mimicking phthalates or bisphenol-A opens in a new tab!) and is available in a great selection of colors.
About Teens for Safe Cosmetics opens in a new tabTeens for Safe Cosmetics is a coalition led by dynamic and passionate young women raising awareness about potentially harmful ingredients in beauty and daily use products that may be linked to cancer, reproductive harm and other health risks. Their mission is to educate the public about harmful chemicals found in cosmetics and personal care products, advocate for legislation that protects one’s right to health and to inspire teens across the nation to work together around these issues and create change within their communities.Teens for Safe Cosmetics launches Teens Turning Green CollectionTeens for Safe Cosmetics has brought together phenomenal eco-conscious companies to create a line that attains Whole Foods Market’s Premium Body Care opens in a new tab seal, the most comprehensive retail standards. Companies have used a holistic approach in the creation of these products, incorporating how age, variation in skin type, and environment can effect teenage skin. The line will launch exclusively at Whole Foods Market nationwide in October 2008. For the first time in history, Teens Turning Green will offer teenagers a line made specifically for their skin that is safe. Hand-selected by teenagers for safety, sustainability, and practicality, the Teens Turning Green collection is a cross-section of the best products on the market.
