By Guest Blogger on April 14, 2009

Green Down There

As the editor-in-chief of Eco to the People, I am constantly thinking about ways that I can live a greener lifestyle. I had switched to clean makeup, started bringing my own bags to the grocery store and changed all of my lightbulbs to compact fluorescents but there was one, ahem, area that still needed some work.

One of the first truly staggering statistics I came across when I started researching green living concerned conventional cotton and how bad it is for the environment. According to the Organic Trade Association, traditionally grown cotton uses approximately 25 percent of the world’s insecticides and more than 10 percent of the pesticides (including herbicides, insecticides, and defoliants), more than any other crop.

After I read this, it dawned on me exactly how much cotton is in my home. My sheets, my clothing, hell, even my tampons are made out of cotton, all of which has been sprayed with chemicals and God-knows-what-else.

Wait a minute, I thought. My tampons have been sprayed with chemicals? And I am putting them in my hoo ha? Gross, right?

According to my research, even tampons that aren’t made of cotton (some are made of synthetics, like rayon, or blends of cotton and rayon) are chlorine-bleached. Dioxin, a toxic carcinogen, is a by-product of all chlorine bleaching methods and is also found throughout the environment in varying levels as a by-product of pesticide spraying and pollution from incinerators.

Dioxin has been found to collect in the fatty tissues of animals, including humans and should, therefore, be a real concern for women. I don’t know about you but I have plenty of fatty tissue for dioxin to camp out in and considering a woman may use as many as 11,000 tampons in her lifetime, she may be subjecting herself to additional dioxin exposure.

While everyone is walking around with some chemicals in their blood stream – known as a “body burden” – thanks to pollution and other sources, women are uniquely vulnerable. Certain substances, including environmental estrogens, can affect hormonal activity. Further, some toxic chemicals that are linked to birth defects are being found at alarming levels in women of childbearing age. I don’t know about you but if I am going to pollute my body it should be with something more fun than a tampon!

I am proud to say that my vagina is now completely eco-friendly. I switch from OB to Natracare tampons, which are made from 100 percent certified organic cotton and which claim to be the only fully certified organic cotton tampons available in the world today, though I can’t vouch for that. Seventh Generation, which may be more readily available, also makes a line of organic feminine hygiene products, as does Trader Joe’s. I picked Natracare up at my local health food store and they cost $3.39 for a box of 10, cheaper than the conventional tampons I used to buy.

Here are some other products I use on my eco-friendly lady parts. Making some or all of these changes will benefit your health. If it could talk, your vagina would thank you.

1. There’s nothing eco-friendly about most vibrators. The ideal vibrator is free of phthalates, a deadly chemical found in some plastics that can absorb into your skin upon contact. Although phthalates are banned in sex toys abroad, these play things aren’t regulated by the government here because vibrators are considered novelty items in the U.S.

Some gals with real common sense over at Good Vibrations made the decision to sell only plastic vibrators that are labeled phthalates-free and are safe for close contact with the body. Besides being harmful to the skin, these chemicals aren’t biodegradable, but then – while they may be a healthier, better buzz – neither are all the phthalates-free vibrators whose motors have conked out. Close your eyes and make a mental picture of how many vibrators are clogging up landfills right now simply because of a dead motor. The image would be funny if it weren’t so scary.

Jimmyjane solves that conundrum: its vibrators come with a replacement motor guarantee, making them one of the first eco-conscious sex toy companies. At $125, the Little Chroma is especially sweet. It is nearly silent when on but still strong, waterproof to up to five times the depth of your bathtub and – to top it all off – is dishwasher safe. A motor replacement costs about $35.

2. If part of your eco-friendly efforts include reducing the amount of trash you create, switching from tampons to the Diva Cup is a great alternative. The soft, latex-free cup is inserted into the vagina and to collect menstrual blood. The soft, latex-free cup is inserted into the vagina to collect menstrual blood. The cup is then emptied, rinsed and reinserted. It sounds gross but the product works really well, and since it only needs to be emptied twice a day, is very convenient. I like to use mine at night to prevent leaks.

3. On the same vein, I love the washable panty liners by Lunapad. The pads are designed for light to very heavy menstrual flow, as well as light or stress incontinence. The Liner-on-top design allows you to change liners quickly and easily throughout the day without having to change your entire pad. Toss them into the wash and you have a brand new set of pads and have created no new trash.

4. Diva Wash is made specially for cleaning the Diva Cup or it can be used as a body wash. The botanically-based, all natural formula is contained the essense of sweet orange and is naturally deodorizing. The wash is free from sulfates and harmful chemicals and it 100% vegetable-based.

5. Like with tampons, it dawned on me that using lubricant made with chemicals was probably not the best idea. Collective Wellbeing and Yes both make organic personal lubricants that work just as well as the chemical brands.

6. If you have the yeasties, which can happen from taking certain medications, try Boiron Homeopathic Yeastaway Suppositories, which will relieve symptoms of vaginal yeast infection, such as minor itching, burning and discomfort using all-natural ingredients.

7. When my kitty feels like getting fancy, I use Moom Classic Organic Hair Remover. The hair remover is chemical-free, wax-free and resin-free and conditions your skin with chamomile and healing tea tree oil.

Before founding Eco to the People, a blog dedicated to green living, Heather worked as the managing editor of a beauty trade magazine; as a copy editor for an online tech magazine; as the associate editor of a city magazine and as a newspaper reporter and columnist. Most recently Heather served as the senior editor at the popular online newsletter ecofabulous.

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