Overview
“You cannot get through a single day without having an impact on the world around you. What you do makes a difference, and you have to decide what kind of difference you want to make.” — Jane Goodall, Primatologist, ethologist, anthropologist, and UN Messenger of Peace
We shape where we live just as much as it shapes us. Our home is a reflection of who we are, what we aspire to be, and what we value in life. We think about how to make our homes the healthiest places to live, work and play, especially when spending more time in them than usual. It is critical to acknowledge the privilege of having a safe space to call home, while actively working to support those who may not have a reliable roof over their heads.
Think about your living space. Maybe you have photos strung on the wall capturing precious moments, a window from which you can take in a view, or shelves full of mementos representing hobbies and passions. Colors can also say a lot about your personality, preferences, and stage of life. Consider furnishings, bedding, decor, even cleaning products. What story are you telling? And how does your personal space impact your wellbeing and that of the planet?
Here are a few things to think about:
Your bed: We spend a lot of time sleeping, almost one-third of our lives! Sleep is essential to a happy, healthy existence. But have you ever thought about what you sleep on? Many mattresses, pillows and bedding contain toxic chemicals that can negatively impact your health, including flame retardants, Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs), and Isocyanates. According to a study from MADE SAFE, these chemicals are linked to chronic illness, including respiratory disease and cancer. That’s why companies like Naturepedic are so important, committed to eliminating all toxic chemicals from products and creating only certified organic mattresses and bedding for a safe, healthy sleeping environment.
Your furnishings: Furniture is both functional and decorative, but coverings, paint and scents contain VOCs, while foam and carpet padding can also contain toxic flame retardants. Exposure to these harmful chemicals is linked to cancer, thyroid problems, and reproductive and nervous system diseases. VOCs also contribute to ozone production, which can harm sensitive vegetation and destroy ecosystems. As is the case with furniture made from particle board, the mix of materials and chemicals in manufactured goods makes them impossible to recycle, sending overwhelming quantities to already overloaded landfills.
Similar to fast fashion, fast furniture or decor offer a seemingly “cheap” or “easy” solution to fill spaces, but at the steep cost of environmental destruction. Whether a sofa or dining chair, every new item requires significant resources to produce and often ends up in a landfill too soon. In 2009, the EPA found that the US alone sends 9.8 million tons of furniture to landfills each year, a number which reached 12 million tons in 2017 and continues to rise. Furniture is now one of the fastest growing landfill categories and makes up the second largest portion of urban waste. Cheap furniture is not built to last, so often ends up needing repair or replacement, while contributing to continued wasteful, unsustainable overproduction. Think about better ways to furnish or mix up your space, including repurposing items you already have, adding foraged natural elements, finding something at a local thrift store, or renting through a service like Oliver Space. The Buyerarchy of Needs concept, developed by illustrator Sarah Lazerovic, explains some options: use what you have, borrow from a friend, swap items with someone else, thrift, or make something yourself. In addition to many environmental and social benefits, all are also more affordable than buying new. Win-win-win!
Your cleaning products: Cleaning is not always fun, but it’s even worse when ingredients in the products you think you are using to “clean” end up leaving harmful residue in place of dirt and grime. According to Women’s Voices for the Earth, chemicals in cleaning products are linked to hormone and fertility problems, as well as increased risk of cancer and respiratory disorders.
How can companies get away with this? Unfortunately, chemicals are barely regulated in the US. Since 1976, over 22,000 chemicals have been introduced without any testing for public or environmental safety. Only 11 toxic chemicals are currently banned in the US. There is no federal law requiring companies to list all ingredients on products, so you may purchase products that contain dangerous chemicals without even having access to that information. Toxins in products also have large environmental costs when washed down the drain into waterways. Both wildlife and humans may unknowingly drink contaminated water.
But as always, there is good news. You can begin to make your home a more enjoyable, sustainable, non-toxic place for both you and the planet starting today! Be a conscious, savvy consumer who considers eco-friendly (and eco-nomical!) ways to furnish, decorate and clean.
THINK
Whether sleeping, studying, reading, or hanging out, we spend about 25 years of our lives in bed. Yet, harmful toxins hide in conventional mattresses and bedding that emit gases over time, releasing dangerous chemicals into the body and air. Sleeping on bedding from conventionally grown cotton or synthetics like polyester also further increases your chemical exposure. Though conventional cotton only accounts for 2.4% of the world’s cropland, it is responsible for 24% of global pesticide use. Conversely, organic cotton is grown without pesticides or herbicides.
ACTIVITY
Think about your bedtime routine and how you might reimagine it! Read the Detox Your Sleep report from MADE SAFE.
- Select one item from your bed and do some research.
- What it is made of and where it was made?
- Share two important facts or concerns associated with the materials.
- What surprises you about this information?
- Find a sustainable alternative for one item. Share two health and environmental benefits, where you found it, and the best pricing available! For ideas, feel free to check out the above-mentioned report.
- Make a creative, simple presentation comparing the conventional and sustainable items with a caption about your learnings and discoveries.
- Share it with your classmates and family, as well as on social media, tagging @TurningGreenOrg.
Don’t forget to post about the challenge and your learnings/doings on social media and tag us on Facebook @TurningGreen, on Twitter @TurningGreenOrg, and on Instagram @TurningGreenOrg and use #TGClassroom.
THINK
If your family or household are looking for new furniture or decorations, where do you look? Big stores might have many options, but if everyone were to buy newly-produced items to meet every whim or need, far too much would end up wasted in landfills. Let’s explore alternatives to buying new, helping you save money and the planet at the same time!
ACTIVITY
Make a list of five furniture or decor items you feel are most important in your house. Maybe the kitchen table, cabinets in your room or a living room sofa. Where did these things come from?
If you were to buy these items again, what would the most sustainable option be?
- Look into resources in your community, like thrift stores or consignment shops.
- If it’s safe, consider visiting one in person to see what they have. If you go, take note of the types of furniture you see.
- Do you see anything that your family would consider bringing into your home? Make sure to take a photo!
Platforms like Facebook Marketplace, Craigslist, eBay and OfferUp are great online resources for used, local furniture and decorations. All allow you to search by location, so you can find goods in your area. You never know what kind of treasures you can discover at low prices — or even free! Take a look at one of these sites to see what is available.
For specific pieces that a second-hand source can’t provide, a sustainable alternative to the take-make-waste economy is renting, allowing you to pay monthly on a short or long-term basis. The company takes care of cleaning and refurbishing items before they are placed in another household, reducing resource consumption, production needs, transportation expenditures and overall waste. This circular business model is especially useful for students or anyone in temporary housing, also lessening the hassle of moving and storing items repeatedly, which gets costly. Take a look at Oliver Space to find what you may not have seen at a thrift store or online marketplace.
Once you find five objects that fit your list, take a picture or screenshot of each and share with family and friends. Be sure to note where you found each item and what makes the choice more sustainable than buying new.
Don’t forget to post about the challenge and your learnings/doings on social media and tag us on Facebook @TurningGreen, on Twitter @TurningGreenOrg, and on Instagram @TurningGreenOrg and use #TGClassroom.
THINK
You may not be aware of the daily dose of toxic chemicals around you, but they are everywhere and unfortunately, all too often in cleaning products. This activity will help you choose safer products that keep your home truly clean without health risks.
ACTIVITY
What are the types of cleaning products your household uses most often? Choose one and take a look at the ingredients list. Pick an ingredient and find it in the MADE SAFE Chemical Profile list or EWG’s Guide to Cleaning Supplies and Your Health. Share the chemical and what you learned.
You can find a safer alternative for anything by checking EWG’s top product list or another trusted company or database… and you can also make your own cleaning product!
By creating your own DIY cleaning product, you can avoid toxins and know exactly what you’re using! Common household items like baking soda, vinegar, lemon juice, and essential oils can yield very simple, inexpensive products that are as good, if not better than what you currently use — without the risk of undisclosed toxins that are harmful to people and planet. Time to roll up your sleeves to make a simple cleaning product!
Look through DIY eco-friendly recipes for cleaning products. Check out Lisa Bronner’s Green Cleaning Starter Kit to get started, as well as ideas from Women’s Voices for the Earth. Use ingredients you have at home, so you don’t have to purchase anything. Consider reusing a spray bottle or recycling another container for a receptacle.
Then test it out! How does it compare to products you have used in the past?
Make a drawing or illustration or take a photo of your product with the recipe. Here’s a fun example! Share with friends and family and post on social media with a caption about why cleaning green is important to human and environmental health — and tag @TurningGreenOrg.
