One of the things that I’ve observed of my current workplace and which I like is that they seem to “walk the talk”.

Aside from the usual revenue generation and customer service goals like many other organizations, one distinguishing initiative that this organization embarks on is their Deep Green initiative.

And they don’t just give lip service to being green, unlike my previous organization. So far, I have seen green initiatives being put in action throughout the office, such as :

1. Recycle bins are available within the office as well as in the parking lots.
2. The lights are switched off during lunch hour.
3. The cafeteria provides paper bags instead of plastic bags for people who wish to take away kuihs and such.
4. Staff who carpool are entitled to park their vehicles in the covered carpark, thus encouraging people to carpool.
5. Almost every week, there is a lunch screening of video(s) on a ‘green’ subject or on human impact to the earth.
6. The buildings (existing and in construction) have ’green’ components built-in.

Read more here.

Before I can consider bringing a child into this world, I feel that as potential parents, we need to do all we can to minimize our carbon footprint so that the planet that we leave them is in good shape for them to live their lives to their fullest.

Sadly, I don’t think this is happening. At least, not in the majority of people. I know of only one friend who is actively practicing earth-saving habits such as using cloth diapers for her child and recycling her trash. I know of people who have the mindset that if they don’t have to pay for a resource or only pay the nominal fee (such as water or gas), they are likely to use it indiscriminately and end up wasting more than they use.

As for me, I think there’s more that I can do aside from my usual recycling habits and usage of biodegradable products (household cleaners, detergent, personal care products, and such).

Until I can safely say that me and husband are doing everything in our capacity to preserve the earth (which we are currently not), I don’t wish to bring a child into this world becaue I can’t look my kid in the eye and tell them that Mom and Dad are giving her/him the best we can.

Oh yah… not forgetting my quest to go as green as I can too.

I managed to wean myself off using talcum powder, after years and years of using it

It wasn’t as difficult as I expected.

This morning while in the shower, I just thought I’d compare the 2 types of shampoo that’s currently in my bathroom :

1. Aubrey’s Glycogen Protein Balancing Shampoo
2. Wellson’s Art Shampoo for Long & Dry Hair

There are tons of articles out there surrounding the whole topic of going green — harmful effects of chemicals in household and personal care products, what is happening to the environment due to our daily actions, etc.

We just need to make the decision if we are ready and prepared to be informed about all this. It’s not going to be pretty and we can get confused at times, with some of the conflicting studies and reports.

But I personally believe that as long as we keep our ultimate goal in mind, i.e. why are we doing this, we should be able to make the appropriate decisions to cater for all of our different needs.

Obviously, there will be skeptics. And if I didn’t care about the environment, I couldn’t care less whether the person standing beside me in the train or at the supermarket cashier was making a ‘green’ effort.

But I do care about the environment. A lot. And I do care that the people I care about are safe from harmful toxins. Obviously I’m not saying that we should all just dump everything and go live in the jungle and catch our own food or something like that.

It’s a matter of being aware, learning and researching more about the subject, to equip ourselves with the proper tools to make sound decisions for ourselves and our loved ones because let’s face it, we are surrounded by all sorts of chemicals and pollutants these days. Living in denial is not going to make the problem go away. So, the most logical thing to do is to read, learn and research as much as we can to make informed decisions.

Here are only a few of the many synthetic chemicals found in household and consumer products and their effects (Sources : Gorgeously Green, EWG) :

Coal tar : Found in dandruff shampoos and anti-itch creams, it is a known carcinogen.

Triclosan :Used in almost all antibacterial products such as soap, toothpaste and cosmetics. Can weaken immune system, decrease fertility, and cause birth defects. An animal study indicates triclosan may be a potent disruptor of the thyroid system at low levels. This is extra important to me because of my thyroid problem. My problem is likely to be genetic but I don’t discard the fact that environmental factors such as this chemical could have exacerbated it.

Sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS) :  Commonly used in soaps, shampoos, detergents, and toothpaste as foaming agents. In its final report on the safety of SLS, the Journal of the American College of Toxicology notes that this ingredient has a “degenerative effect on the cell membranes because of its protein denaturing properties” and “high levels of skin penetration may occur at even low use concentration.” 

Phtalates : A group of industrial chemicals used to make plastics and as solvents, found in, among other things, toys, food packaging, hoses, raincoats, shower curtains, vinyl flooring, wall coverings, lubricants, adhesives, detergents, nail polish, hair spray and shampoo.  Have been found to disrupt the endocrine system. Several phthalate compounds have caused reduced sperm counts, testicular atrophy and structural abnormalities in the reproductive systems of male test animals, and some studies also link phthalates to liver cancer, according to the U.S. Center for Disease Control’s 2005 National Report on Human Exposure to Environmental Chemicals.

I remember a couple of times I used one of the cleaning products to clean HIS bathroom, and the fumes were so overwhelming that I ended up getting a headache each time I used it. Gawd knows what toxins I inhaled!

Some information that I found while researching :

Here’s a lengthy study on the “Long Term Effects of Chemicals in the Environment“, carried out by the Royal Commission on Environmental Pollution. I have not read the report in full yet, but I think it’s something useful to read when I have the time.

A study on Science Daily : “Antibacterial Chemical Disrupts Hormone Activities”

A report on the Environmental Working Group : “Toxic Chemicals Found in Kids’ Bath Products”

Going green by reducing/eliminating synthetic chemicals is not just about the impact to our health. By reducing/eliminating our use of chemicals, we can reduce/eliminate the chemical residue (from our showers, bath, washing, etc.) that will eventually end up in our rivers and oceans. In addition, some brands of ‘green’ products are committed to supporting fair trade and by purchasing these products, we are indirectly supporting as well.

Naturally, we can’t avoid every single synthetic chemical that’s out there. What is important is making an informed choice on what chemicals we can live with and what we should avoid.

Personally, I believe it is a choice we make. That is, we either choose to ignore the issue or we choose to empower ourselves by finding out more. It saddens me when my friends go “Oh no, not that environmental crap again”. Sure, it takes some effort to affect some change now but are they not concerned about the state of the planet for the sake of their children, grandchildren, and other future generations?

I, for one, choose to embrace the issue and learn as much as I can. I will not sit back and wait to be spoonfed with information that may or may not fall into my lap. At least, I will be living up to my own expectations of trying to live responsibly.

In my quest to be more green and reduce the chemicals I use on myself and around my home, my first start would be to switch my skincare, cosmetics, and haircare to 100% natural products.

I have already switched from my regular J&J baby bath to 100% organic bar soap, which you can find at Country Farm Organics. They also carry a brand of natural skincare and haircare products called Aubrey Organics. I used their shampoo and though it took a bit of getting used to (coz it doesn’t lather like normal shampoos – the chemical that creates the lather is sodium lauryl sulfate) but my hair did feel squeaky clean after using it.

I think one of my challenges would be to find a 100% natural cosmetics range because even a small pot of concealer contains tons of chemicals. But, as luck would have it, my natural cosmetics range was generously sponsored by my sis in the form of an early birthday present Thanks, che! It’s called Bare Escentuals and it’s supposed to be 100% pure bareMinerals with no additives and zero irritants whatsoever.

Here are some reviews on the product. Naturally, different people react differently to different products so I would expect both negative and positive feedback. Try at your own risk, that’s what I say But I did notice that there was a strong metallic smell after the makeup person put it on me. Maybe she used a lot of it, hopefully it won’t smell as strong if I were to use less. Hopefully, my skin won’t react the same way as some of those people who wrote in the reviews.

Anyhow, changing personal care products and cosmetics is always a trial and error thing. Some products work well, some don’t. But you won’t know until you try

I’m in the midst of reading Gorgeously Green and another potential brand I might check out is Suki. I don’t think it’s carried in Malaysia but it’s in Singapore, so I will try to check it out the next time I head south of the border.

I know we all eventually will die so some may think this ‘green’ movement is a waste of time and effort. But going green is more than just for oneself; it is also to preserve the planet for the good of our future generations. For example, I will not bring a child into this world without doing my best to ensure I leave him/her a cleaner and more sustainable planet. And also I think I would die more peacefully knowing that I contributed a little to a greener Earth.

So that’s my plan : a step-by-step transformation to a greener me and a greener planet.

Next Step : To change my toothpaste and anti-perspirant :)