Well, this week has been a doozey! Busy, busy, busy! I’ve had a couple of hoops thrown at me the past 7 days in the way of green living.
FIRST!… Please join me in Boycotting Tom’s of Maine products. They have recently STOPPED using aluminum tubes for their toothpaste. This was one of the few prepared products that I actually purchase for my household, I loved that it was originally from New England, it was eco-friendly and I felt good about doing business with my buddy, Tom. However; Colgate is the actual owner of this company, since 2006, and I believe they have stepped in to increase their bottom line and try to pull the GREEN WOOL over our eyes. Here is what Tom’s website says about their “new and improved packaging…” that cannot be recycled like the old packaging…but they hope it can be recycled in the future….*rolling eyes*
- Plastic Laminate tubes outperform aluminum tubes in both ease of use and our Stewardship Model beliefs;
- Current Tom’s of Maine toothpaste users — and potential users — participating in testing significantly preferred plastic laminate tubes over aluminum tubes;
- The lighter plastic laminate material reduced tube weight by nearly half — which saves energy when shipping tubes.
- Manufacturing plastic laminate tubes requires less energy than the manufacture of aluminum tubes.
If you’d care to read the explanation in its entirely, kindly click here. So basically, its another “green” company falling prey to corporate America and putting MORE harmful plastic in our lives and our personal care items.
I SCOURED the toothpaste section of my favorite health food store, Henry’s Market. They had NOOOOOOOO toothpaste in metal. I had a lengthy discussion with 2 employees in the bodycare section. We discussed Tom’s of Maine and how they just stopped using aluminum. I told them that I was on a mission and I’d find toothpaste in eco-friendly packaging if it killed me! So friends, please meet Uncle Harry! I ordered two containers of toothpaste from this company…it comes packaged….IN GLASS!!!!!!!! WOOT, WOOT!!! The lid appears to be plastic. However; I will REUSE this container many times over as storage for dried goods. The company has a facebook page and you can check it out here. Sorry, Tom, there’s a new man in my toothpaste drawer…hehehe…we’ve MOVED ON!
credit to sustainablescoop.com
Secondly! Eco-Challenge: CTWW…Change the World Wednesday from Reduce Footprints REALLY tough eco-task for me this week... SAVE WATER.
We’re going to revisit our original challenge which is designed to save water. If you’ve been with us from the beginning and have already accomplished this challenge, feel free to “up the ante” on the rest of us. Here you go:
This week take only showers and limit them to no more than 5 minutes each.
Or …
If this is something you already do, please share other water saving ideas with us.
UP THE ANTE: Argentum Vulgaris challenges us to take a 3-minute shower and further save water by peeing in the shower. Oh My Goodness!!
“CALL” THE ANTE AND RAISE IT ONE: Brian challenges us as follows: “When you take a shower do so with the coldest water you can stand. This will save you money because your water heater will not run as much plus it is better for the environment because…well, your water heater will not run as much.” WhooHoo … it is ON!
I really like to go above and beyond with the eco-challenges, lets see how I did. So…I barely get to shower…lol…with 2 little kids, so my water usage didn’t seem out of control in the first place. I decided to share baths with the baby instead (which I do from time to time when a shower seems days away). The kids like baths, it keeps them busy for a little while and while baths do use more water than showers, at least there is always 2 people in the tub, either both kids or myself and the baby…rub a dub dub, its a family in the tub! In looking at where else I waste water I really had to cringe…I run the dishwasher every other day, I do laundry constantly, I wash diapers at home, with an extra rinse cycle and my washing machine is not high efficiency. This gave me major green guilt. So I saved the bath water from the kids bath yesterday and watered the plants…I don’t use soap on them, just coconut oil, so they will not be poisoned! In hindsight I guess I did pretty well…certainly didn’t pee in the shower, like the “upped ante” suggested…lol…but I don’t flush every time, much to the chagrin of my husband and older son!
How do you save water in your home?
Last but certainly not least. I have a guest post up tomorrow, Tuesday the 26th over at IthoughtIknewMama about why I chose traditional Pre-School for Nathan. Not sure what time it will be published, I’ll update with the URL once its live. If you have a moment, please check it out!
5 Reasons Preschool Works for this Attachment Parenting Family
As usual, have a great week and live greenly…remember boycott Tom’s!!!
Have you come upon any eco-quandaries this week? How did you solve your green dilemma?
10 comments
ithoughtiknewmama says:
July 25, 2011 at 7:35 am (UTC -7)
Your guest post runs tomorrow on 7/26! Sorry if I confused you!
I am SO sad to hear this about Tom's because we love it! I'm going to look into Henry's – Thank you for the suggestion!!
Awesome water conservation on your part! We are getting a rain barrel and that will help us conserve.
My recent post The Top 5 Books That My One Year Old Loves Right Now
Jessica_Lang says:
July 25, 2011 at 8:07 am (UTC -7)
Charise, you didn't confuse me…lol…I thought today was the 26th…ha…that's okay, I won't be updating again until Thursday or Friday, so I'll just amend the post to say I'm guest posting tomorrow.
ithoughtiknewmama says:
July 25, 2011 at 8:15 am (UTC -7)
Ok, perfect
Small Footprints says:
July 25, 2011 at 8:06 am (UTC -7)
Erghhh … Hate it when a good company goes bad (or sells out). So much for their "green" initiatives. Have you tried making your own toothpaste? I haven't tried it yet but I'm considering it. Our friend, Argentum Vulgaris, posted a recipe that looks pretty easy. Here's the link: http://eco-crap.blogspot.com/2011/05/baking-soda….
Have a great week!!
My recent post Change The World Wednesday
Jessica_Lang says:
July 25, 2011 at 8:14 am (UTC -7)
Thanks for the link!! I would love to try the recipe. My hubby wants to stick with traditional prepared toothpaste…lol…but I would be very excited to make my own.
Julia says:
July 25, 2011 at 8:12 am (UTC -7)
Bummer about Tom's
The server seems to be down for Uncle Harry's site..
Jessica_Lang says:
July 25, 2011 at 8:13 am (UTC -7)
I know…Harry, get your site back up…we're trying to support you!!!!
Kelly says:
July 25, 2011 at 9:12 am (UTC -7)
Tom`s toothpaste also has SLS :p I have been fortunate to find Green Beaver here, which is awesome, but I keep meaning to make my own toothpaste…
My recent post It’s A Sunday Surf!
Jessica_Lang says:
July 25, 2011 at 11:27 am (UTC -7)
I think I remember you posting something about Green Beaver. I was unhappy with the SLS in Tom's anyway, so this packaging thing just solidified my decision to boycott and move on. I'm not a fan of GREENWASHING!
Gaby @ Tmuffin says:
July 25, 2011 at 7:09 pm (UTC -7)
We're doing the take shorter showers challenge too. But then again, you have to actually take showers to take shorter ones. Like you said, hard to do with little ones around. Luckily, my toddler is in a no-bath kick and only wants to shower with us.
To save extra water (because we do a lot of laundry too), if I have to wash a lot of salad greens from the farmer's market, I go outside and water the plants with each batch of water leftover in the salad spinner (the stuff I used to soak the lettuce). It's a little tedious, but makes me feel better. And if my clothes are stained, I put them out in the sun before washing them to avoid having to wash them twice. That usually gets the stains out!