Submitted by: Alison Mey, Marketing Intern

That wonderful woman in your life who raised you, fed you, sheltered you, and loved you finally gets some appreciation. Every second Sunday of May we come together to celebrate our mothers, and their impact in our lives. Mother’s Day falls on May 12^th, and it seems to be fast approaching! Now what better way is there to show your love than by having a completely green mother’s day!

Here are a few tips we’ve come up with to keeping your Mother’s Day environmentally friendly:

Green cleaning products

You know what your mom would really like to wake up to on Mother’s Day? A clean house. That might be a nice change for her! She will definitely appreciate having someone else looking after her for the day. So while she’s still sleeping in, a nice gift would be to shine and buff the house. Our suggestion here is to use environmentally friendly cleaning products that keep your home and family healthy. This means staying away from chemicals that can eventually lead to health hazards.

Give her a “green” gift

Everyone knows that the gift is one of the most important parts of Mother’s Day! She’s spent the day with her family, and is starting to feel the love, but that little gift will just put it over the top.

So what do you pick? We suggest going for something that uses all recycled packaging, and preferably made in Canada. Try to stay away from products that include harsh chemicals and irritants such as SLS, parabens, PEG, artificial fragrance and colours. This way your gift is helping the environment on top of helping your mom lead a more comfortable and enjoyable life.

If you’re interested in what products include nasty ingredients for the top two tips, visit www.ewg.org/skindeep to get the facts.

Keep your celebrations closer to home

Mother’s Day is a day to be with your family, and to enjoy each other’s company. While it may be fun to do a long road trip, keep in mind that all that gas-guzzling isn’t helping the environment! As a replacement, why don’t you try going for a bike ride together, or having a picnic at your local park. If you aren’t the outdoors type, why not make your mom a nice dinner at home to show she means more than just spending a few dollars.

In the end, Mother’s Day should be about happiness, health, and love. So let’s all say a big thanks to Mom for everything she’s done for us!

The uproar of singing, the chatter of friends, the early morning beer, it’s that special time of the year when green shamrock endowed outfits, beer with breakfast and Celtic music are meshed together to celebrate St Patrick’s Day!

St. Patrick’s Day traditionally marks the celebration of the Irish saint, Saint Patrick. For most of us however, the true meaning of this holiday is often overshadowed with beers, food, and friends. The common mark of St Patrick’s Day, or “St. Paddy’s” Day is the colour green. Yes, green is the traditional colour of Ireland and the colour of shamrocks. But now more than ever the word green is synonymous with healthy environments.

Go greener than ever on Sunday March 17! Celebrate your love of the environment and this fun festive holiday by following these three St. Paddy’s Day tips.

#1 Beer! Number one on the list is beer! Out with friends for a few pints? Decide to support a local brewery when you celebrate.  It’s guaranteed to please your taste buds and provide a low carbon alternative to your local watering hole.  Local breweries have a low carbon footprint because the beer is brewed right in your neighborhood and right on site. They often have unique flavors and weekly features that you can’t find at larger breweries.

Local beer is as green as you can get! Follow this link to microbreweries in Ontario. Search for the location nearest to you. http://realbeer.com/canada/brewtour/ON-microbrewery.html

Can’t find a local brewery? If you’re at a pub, order a beer that is organic and local. These beers are made with no pesticides, have a low carbon footprint and taste amazing. Consider trying: Mill Street Organic from Mill Street Brewery. 

Remember to drink responsibly – Saint Patrick didn’t drive on March 17^th and neither should you!

#2 Buy second hand! Want to flaunt your amazing St Paddy’s spirit without revamping your wardrobe? Try shopping at your local second hand shop. Let’s be realisti:  your St Paddys day outfit will probably only be worn one day of the year. No need for a great look to cost an arm and a leg. Thrift shops are fun to shop at, a huge money saver, and have great selection. Look for green shirts that you can decorate with shamrocks, ribbons, and mardigras beads.

#3 Consider Vegetarian! Try making or ordering vegetarian food. According to the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), chemical and animal waste runoff from factory farms is responsible for more than 173,000 miles of polluted rivers and streams. Runoff from farmlands is one of the greatest threats to water quality today.[1] Farmlands also create methane with contributes directly to global warming. So this St Paddy’s day exploring vegetarian options has never been more important. Whether you are out for a bite to eat or entertaining at home trying a new dish could be just the way to add some variety into your normal St. Paddys routine. There are so many healthy vegetarian alternatives loaded with vitamins, you might even find that your veggie meal gives you more energy for the many hours of partying a head.

Still striving for the perfect gift for that special someone?  If the label says “fragrance” it may be perfectly awful

Many individuals experience a wide range of discomforts from scented products. However, for the past few decades advertisers have done an impressive job of casting a romantic light on perfumed personal care and house hold products. In response to this, more and more people are adopting a fragrance free lifestyle. So this Valentines day, challenge yourself and your loved one to say “fragrance free for me!”

Why Go Fragrance Free?

Synthetic fragrance is the most common ingredient found on the label of personal care products. The generic terms, “fragrance” or “parfum” can indicate the presence of up to 3,000 separate ingredients, most or all of them are synthetic. Fragrance is a sensitizer and a known trigger of asthma, skin irritation, sneezing, dry eyes, and headaches.[1] Some fragrance chemicals are of particular concern. They are known as being bio accumulative because they do not readily break down in the environment and as a result accumulate in plants and animals. These are then consumed by humans and therefore the chemicals are passed along through ingestion. For example, measureable levels of man-made synthetic musks are accumulating in fish in the Great Lakes and the levels in lake sediments are increasing.[2] As these levels increase they pose a greater risk to aquatic life and human health.

Avoiding artificially scented products can be beneficial for your health, the health of those around you, and the environment.

So How Do I Have a Fragrance Free Valentines?

You’ve just had a romantic dinner, and now its time to set the mood. Cuddle up with your loved one by grabbing some warm blankets, get cozy on the couch and light a fragrance free candle. Beeswax candles are about as natural a product as you can find. It is simply a natural wax that is made by bees and collected from the hives by beekeepers. It has a light natural scent of honey, which is extremely beautiful and soothing. Soy candles are another great alternative; they burn clean with no harmful fumes and have a very long burn period. Tea lights are another fantastic way to give any room a romantic glow. They are often unscented and inexpensive to buy in bulk. Fragrance free candles help set the mood without making your home smell like a bowl of pouporie. They illuminate the room with warmth and naturally eliminate odours in your home.

 Don’t lather on the cologne or perfume; there are other ways to connect with your Valentine. Offer your partner a Valentines day massage using unscented body lotion. Using unscented body lotion means you are applying less synthetic chemicals onto your skin. In turn it is less likely to irritate your skin or cause any side affects. Green Cricket offers a great line of unscented body products crafted with essential oils.  This body lotion is an excellent moisturizer without the added fragrance.

Do you use your favourite skin treatment every day? Don’t forget that beautiful skin starts on the inside! Feed your skin the correct balance of nutrients to stay soft, supple and blemish-free; and definitely make a difference in how your skin looks.

YES, some people have great genes, by it’s just a starting point. You too can have beautiful skin, no matter what your genetic make-up is. Just add these food to make your diet a bit more skin conscious.

Water

The number one thing you can put into your body if you want great-looking skin is water. The more water you drink, the more you flush all of the other stuff out of your body and the healthier your skin is going to look Drink plenty of water to rehydrate your skin - aim for eight glasses a day. Tea, coffee and juices do count, but for really great skin stick to plain water.

Dark chocolate

Though people tend to avoid chocolate because of the fear of getting fat, dark chocolate contains high levels of flavonols, a potent type of antioxidants that reduce roughness in the skin and provide sun protection.

Walnut

Walnuts contain omega-3 essential fatty acids, which can improve skin’s elasticity and texture. The nuts are also loaded with copper, a mineral that boosts collagen production.

Cooked tomatoes

Cooked Tomatoes contains high levels of Lycopene. Lycopene, a phytochemical that is responsible for the red colour of tomatoes helps eliminate skin-aging free radicals caused by ultraviolet rays and protects against sun damage.

Carrots

This vegetable is orange due to high levels of beta carotene, which is a precursor to vitamin A. Carrots contain vitamin A, an antioxidant which prevents overproduction of cells in the skin’s outer layer, decrease the skin’s oil production and good for clearing up breakouts. Vitamin A also reduces the development of skin-cancer cell.

Salmon

Salmon has beauty benefits for your skin. Our bodies don’t have the ability to produce some essential fatty acids, so including them in your diet helps reinforce your skin’s barrier and keeps moisture in and irritants out. Omega-3 fatty acids present in salmon can help decrease inflammation and it is a great choice for those who suffer from rosacea or eczema.

Spinach

The folate in these veggies helps maintain and repair DNA, reducing the likelihood of skin cancer-cell growth. This food doesn’t just make you strong like Popeye; it’s also rich in the same Vitamin A properties that are good for your skin.

Broccoli

If you were to eat only one vegetable, make it broccoli. This is a great vegetable that has many different health benefits It contains vitamin A, that is great at skin renewal; vitamin C, which is a fantastic antioxidant that supports collagen production which strengthens the capillaries that feed the skin and vitamin K, which speeds bruise healing and may even help improve dark under-eye circles.

Adding these foods to your diet should go a long way towards improving the healthfulness of your skin. You are what you eat? Maybe not, but you do look the way you eat. Putting your best face forward starts with putting the right ingredients in your mouth. The same foods that are good for your health are good for your skin.

REFERENCES

10 best foods for good skin

www.fitnessmagazine.com › … › Healthy Eating › Superfoods

Tips for glowing gorgeous skin

www.webmd.com/healthy-beauty/features/tips-for-gorgeous-skin

20 foods that are great for your skin

kathrynvercillo.hubpages.com › … › Skin Ailments and Aging

9 best foods for your skin

allwomenstalk.com/9-best-foods-for-your-skin/ - United States

Foods that are good for your skin

health.yahoo.net/experts/skintype/photos/foods-younger-looking-skin

Read the rest of this entry »

We all know that germs are surrounding us.  It’s pretty scary knowing that e-coli, Norwalk virus or H1N1 virus could be on any surface you touch. Of course you want to keep your hands clean. Before you run to the store to buy a years supply anti-bacterial soap, remember that protecting yourself may not need harsh chemicals or fancy technology. In a guest blog on Scientific American, author Rob Dunn explains that antimicrobial products may not be as effective as you think.

Good Bacteria

Remember not all bacteria are bad. Living right on your skin is good bacteria that protects your body from harmful elements in the environment. They also live and grow in the same spaces where bad bacteria, or pathogens, can live. While it may seem like a good idea to kill all of the bacteria on your skin, you are also killing this essential protective barrier.  Losing both their natural protection and  creating an environment where the bad bacteria can thrive.

Susceptibility to Disease

Your immune system is powerful, but it needs to be primed to be effective.  Being exposed to low quantities and diverse populations of bacteria may force your immune system to fight those bacteria off and be more ready for attacks by more harmful bacteria later.

Resistant Microorganisms (Superbugs)

When you overuse antimicrobial products, you are strengthening bacterial resistance.   Over treatment effectively acts as its own form of natural selection.  It creates an environment where only bacteria that are resistant to these chemical agents survive and pass on their resistant traits to future generations.  On top of overuse, most people don’t follow the directions on their products correctly.  By doing so, more bacteria survive and pass on their antimicrobial resistance.

Harmful Ingredients

The most widely used ingredient is triclosan.  Health Canada, in a March 2012, said that it is safe for humans but it may not be safe for the environment. They explain that human exposure is minimal through the rinse off products triclosan is used in, whereas it enters our waterways and may negatively affect aquatic life when it enters their system.

So, why did Environmental Defense find nine out of the ten human subjects with triclosan in their system?  How can we be sure that it is not damaging humans?

As for hand sanitizers, Health Canada states that it “does not replace a proper hand washing technique. It should be used sparingly and only when soap and water are unavailable.”  The alcohol contained in hand sanitizers pull moisture away from both bacteria and your skin cells. So, not only does it harm bacteria but it can also damage your skin by drying it out.

With all the recent controversy that led to  Dalton McGuinty’s removal, I felt it was important to appreciate the great work he did for the environment. He was the most environmentally progressive premier I have seen.   After I saw Mike Harris’ gutting of environmental laws and  the seeming disregard of the federal government for the environment, through both Conservative and Liberal Prime Ministers,  Mr. McGuinty’s tenure was a refreshing medicine. So, let me remind you of  the good he did for the environment.

Green Energy & Green Economy Act

In 2009 he introduced this act that allows residents and companies to sell the electricity they make back into the grid.  It has been a resounding success, so popular that project applications has outstripped the electricity grid’s capacity while leading to the closing of several of the provinces dirtiest coal fired electricity generators.

Clean Water Act

This legislation has forced the local municipalities to incorporate protecting water into their planning process and helps Ontario residents fund their own water conservation projects.

Toxics Reduction Act

This act is an important first step towards eliminating many toxic substances used in Ontario.  Large manufacturing facilities have to track and plan to reduce all toxic substances used or generated in their plant.  Hopefully, it will promote ‘greener’ chemistry throughout Ontario.

Water Opportunities Act

Water is our most important resource and protecting it is becoming more important worldwide.  Many of the new and innovative water technologies have arisen because of this act and has put Ontario at the cutting edge of the water technology industry. It’s truly an example of the green movement pushing the new economy in Ontario.

Lake Simcoe Protection Act

Lake Simcoe has been strongly impacted by our activity. The Lake Simcoe Protection act is the first of its kind.  It has allowed the province to build and implement a plan to protect this lake.  That way both humans and wildlife can continue to enjoy the services the lake provides. 

Cosmetic Pesticides Ban – Amendment to the Pesticides Act

Thankfully, people can stop ridiculously toxifying our water and soil simply for aesthetic purposes.  Mr. Guinty’s government listened to the municipalities and implemented the local bans province wide.

Proposed Great Lakes Protection Act

The Great Lakes are a crucial artery for citizens, businesses and the ecosystem in North American. This proposed new act will set the structure to do a better job of protecting  this important waterway.

Mr. McGuinty’s government’s work has made some extremely important advancements towards a sustainable Ontario.   Even environmental advocacy groups, such as Environmental Defence, are applauding Mr. McGuinty’s work on the environment while he was in office. Hopefully, our next premier will continue his hard work towards building Ontario’s sustainable future.

Did you know that in North America, food ingredients travel an average of 2,400 km from the farm to your plate? That’s the equivalent of driving from Charlottetown to Winnipeg! And along this journey, your food is injected with preservatives, additives and pesticides. Doesn’t sound yummy, does it? A tastier and ‘eco-friendly’ alternative to the consumption of food is right in your backyard.

Eating locally grown food is a far more sustainable (and not to mention more nutritious) meal option for foodies. Locally grown products often taste fresher and better. The Province of Ontario has a successful campaign called “Foodland Ontario” which encourages local farmers to maximize their market and consumers to purchase their products. With the slogan, “Good things grow in Ontario” their main objective for consumers is to purchase 80% of their food items from Ontario.

If you are really passionate about eating locally, try becoming a “locavore”. There is an emerging movement of people, known as “locavores” who restrict their eating habits within a certain range. It could be 50km or 100km. The distance is up to you.

Eating locally doesn’t just mean buying locally, it also means growing locally. By growing your own produce you avoid the use of harmful pesticides and petrochemical-based fertilizers, which contribute to greenhouse gas emissions. Furthermore, you reduce packaging, save money and reconnect with Mother Nature.

Growing your Own Facts:

- A single apple tree can produce up to 500 apples per season for 20 years

- Fruit trees absorb Carbon Dioxide as they grow

- Home grown products can be eaten minutes after being picked – when it’s at its most nutritious

If you don’t have a green thumb, see if there is a community garden in your neighbourhood. Tending to a patch of land can be easier than growing a garden.  Herb gardens and window boxes are other small scale ideas that will change the way you eat.

Locally purchased foods and home grown produce reduce the environmental impacts of transportation. They require less energy; offer more varieties; support local growers and brings money into the local economy.

So savour the flavour of seasonable foods and produce. Attend local food fairs or cook up some tasty sustainable dishes. The web offers a cornucopia of websites dedicated to seasonable recipes for the wannabe chefs inside us, including:

Foodland Ontario http://www.foodland.gov.on.ca/english/recipes.html

Culinarium http://www.culinarium.ca/index.php?page=recipes

Whether you buy your groceries at the local farmer’s market, stop at a roadside stand, or grow your own fruits and vegetables, you will be reducing your food kilometres to food metres!

[Blog written by student guest blogger Janice Powell]

You may hear people talking about them as they walk through the meat aisle in your store.  Healthy eating calls for avoiding these “noxious chemicals” at all costs. The controversy, highlighted by CBC’s Marketplace, about nitrite preservatives in “Natural Selections” products caused some headaches for Maple Leaf.  These chemicals can form a cancer causing agent, nitrosamines, when they react with the proteins in your meats. …So, how do you avoid these ingredients?  In food, it is much easier.  Eat fresh and unprocessed foods whenever possible and you’ve taken a great first step to avoiding preservatives and choosing a healthier lifestyle.

Ever look at the back of an ingredient label and try to see what’s inside the product you intend to buy? Most people who try it come out more confused than when they start.  While there may be a long list of ingredients,  remember that just because something has a long chemical name, does not mean it is harmful.

So, governments are trying to help consumers with some of this confusion by offering protection from hazardous ingredients.  Programs such as Health Canada’s  Cosmetic Ingredient Hotlist and the EU Cosmetics Directive list of ingredients that are banned or restricted in cosmetic products.   In California, Proposition 65 requires notification to Californians, such as warnings or labels, on all products that contain significant levels of any of their listed ingredients known to cause cancer or reproductive toxicity.  At Green Cricket, we compare each listing to our product catalogue to confirm that our products do not contain any of the harmful ingredients prohibited by some of the toughest cosmetic regulations in Europe and North America.

Each law draws much of its information from scientific reviews of the safety of ingredients. The most common sources of these review are the Cosmetic Ingredient Review (U.S.) and the Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety (EU).   The government also uses on their own studies and other scientific studies for information on personal care product ingredients.

So, what about the ingredients without overwhelming evidence to support a ban?  At Green Cricket, we err on the side of caution when it comes to our ingredients.  We use the Skin Deep Cosmetics Database (http://www.ewg.org/skindeep) to initially screen our products.  Then we conduct a deeper analysis of scientific studies and government reports to understand and address any identified concerns.  Often, we will request testing or written confirmation that there are no harmful contaminants from our suppliers or we will reformulate the product if the ingredient concerns cannot be adequately addressed.

Be sure to look out for products that are not only good for the environment but also safe for your health!

Personal care products contain a lot of ingredients to soften your skin, moisturize, and condition your hair.  So what exactly gives your shampoos, body washes and other personal care products the properties you want?  One of the most prominent ingredients that provide these properties is surfactants. They make your products mix smoothly, foam nicely, grab dirt and keep them from separating.

How do they work?

Surfactants are molecules that have two distinct sections.  One that likes water and mixes easily with water, the other that dislikes water and mixes easily with other ingredients that don’t like water.

Usually, two liquids with very different characteristics don’t mix because similar particles stay and are held together.  Personal care products contain a wide range of ingredient, some of which have very different properties. That’s where surfactants come in. Many molecules of these surfactants act to make it easier for different substances to mix by arranging its water hating end with ingredients that dislike water and its water liking end with the water liking ingredients.  That way, it acts as a bridge between water hating and water loving ingredients.  These characteristics allow surfactants to serve roles like:

Emulsifiers that arrange around different oils to form droplets that can be mixed and they will stay in suspension (mixed) more easily.

Solubilizing agents can take small quantities of liquids that don’t mix and mix them, in a similar matter as emulsifiers, with water into a clear solution

Sudsing agents work by aligning the surfactant along the surface of water and air so that the thin layer of water that surrounds the air in a bubble is more stable.  That way the suds and bubbles in soaps and shampoos last longer.

Detergents mix with dirt and grease, arranging around them so they are more soluble in water.  Water can now pull the dirt away from your clothing and carry it away.

Conditioning agents work slightly differently by having an oily portion that helps your skin feel healthy and a portion that will allow the surfactant to stay on your skin.

Surfactants: Good or Bad?

So you may ask, what effect do these chemicals have on you?  Well, it depends on the surfactant being used.  Many of the most prevalent surfactants strip the skin of its own oils.  As a result they irritate the skin and they also may be toxic to humans and the natural environment.  Their production method may introduce harmful contaminants into your household products. Whereas, some other surfactants, often derived from natural oils, are much softer on you and the environment.

Here are some examples of surfactants that you should avoid:

-Polyethylene glycols (PEG)

-Diethanolamides  (DEA)

-Sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS)

What Can I do?

Currently cosmetic chemists are working to create greener and safer naturally derived surfactants. However, there are still many harmful surfactants used in personal care products.  Take a look the label and review the ingredients in many of your personal care products at the Skin Deep Cosmetic Database to see how safe they are.  If a product is not on the database, then you can use their “Build Your Own Report” function to fully assess the risk of that product.

At Green Cricket, one component of our product evaluation system is an evaluation of its ingredients. We use the Skin Deep Cosmetic Database, along with other tools to ensure that our products have the qualities you need while being safe for you and the world around you.