Hidden Dangers of Potted Plants

There are many benefits of having house plants. For those without a backyard, it's pleasant to have a part of nature inside your home. Not only do they add aesthetic value, house plants are known to improve air quality. However, recent studies at University of Georgia's Department of Horticulture shows otherwise.

Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs), such as methane, and fomaldehyde, have adverse short and long term health effects on animals and humans. While many house plants have the ability to remove VOCs, studies showed that some indoor plants actually release VOCs into the environment.

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Corn a La Plastic - The Mistruth Of Biodegradable PLA

So you think you’re doing your part, purchasing your salad in a clear clamshell made with corn based plastic (PLA or Polylactic Acid).  Proponents of PLA say that they are a good alternative to petroleum based plastics because they (a) biodegrade and thus won’t last forever like normal plastic, and (b) are made from corn which is a renewable resource.


What the masses are not told is that corn based plastic requires an Industrial Composting Facility to heat the bioplastic to a high enough temperature in order for it to break down. Corn-based plastic will take just as long as regular plastic to break down in the landfills (very few things break down in landfills actually....) or on the curb of your sidewalk. Furthermore, since they look just like conventional plastic, they are often times thrown in with other recyclables, thus contaminating the recycling process and reducing its market value.

This recycling contamination issue has actually led to the banning of biodegradable plastic bags by the City of Toronto, which has plans to ban all biodegradable plastics in the future. 

So what should we do in the mean time?  Use a reusable container or bag, reduce wherever possible, and avoid any type of plastic would be my best bet.

Guilt-Free Back to School Shopping Spree

One of the biggest expenses this time of the year for parents are back to school clothes for their little ones. As always, it seems like the kids are growing faster than your wallet could afford.

With the effects of recession all around us, here are some tips on how you can cut back on costs and send your kids off with confidence and style!

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Sunscreen Review (Part 2): Putting 4 EWG Recommended Sunscreens To The Test!

Congratulations!  You did your homework, looked at the Environmental Working Group’s 2009 Sunscreen Guide, and found a great list of sunscreens that protect you from the sun’s harmful rays (UVA & UVB), and is non-toxic for your body. (See what you should avoid in our PART 1 discussion).

Now here comes the tricky part.  Out of the long list, which one should you get?  To help you out with your decision, I’ve decided to do my own “review” of 4 recommended sunscreens.

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Do you DIG your SIGG?

Two years ago, I purchased my first SIGG bottle, and absolutely adored it. Since then, I took it almost everywhere I went, and gifted it for friends on various occasions.

A growing number of concerned consumers, especially new parents began to turn away from plastic bottles and products that contain BPA, and replace them with stainless steel bottles that were BPA Free. BPA is a chemical with the ability to mimic hormones and several studies have linked BPA to weight gain, abnormalities that can lead to breast and prostate cancer, brain damage, abnormal organ development, and hyperactivity.

SIGG was a popular and recognized brand of safe BPA-free bottles. Or so it seemed, until a letter from SIGG's own Steve Wasik stated that their bottles contained BPA lining. This news came as a shock for all SIGG fans, including myself. Apparently, SIGG was never marketed as a "BPA-free" product but rather a product free from leaching. Wasik apologized in a letter for the lack of clarity about the original SIGG liner.

SIGG Company had known about ways their bottles were being perceived and marketed. They knew the increased in the demand of their products came from a false belief that they were BPA-free. However, they watched as the sales rocketed and did nothing to correct the misconception. SIGG had fooled us all.

SIGG is countering their greenwashing image by offering a voluntary exchange program. Your old SIGG bottles can be exchanged for their newly improved bottles with new EcoCare liner. To exchange, SIGG bottle owners must print out shipping label and return form available online, and bear the cost of shipping to a Brampton address.

This is a huge disappointment for consumers. it's difficult to say when the consumer confidence will recover but the exchange program is a good start. Even better if they had covered the shipping costs.

While I'm getting ready to exchange all 3 SIGG bottles at home, I can't see myself purchasing a SIGG product anytime soon. The damage is done....