From Green to Greenest

jchatraw — Fri, 25 Apr 2008 00:00:00 -0400

I'm sure we all have friends who just aren't quite there with the green lifestyle. Maybe just convincing them to recycle is like trying to persuade the Pope to become a protestant--it's a waste of your breath. Or maybe you have friends who have waded into the kiddie pool but aren't sure just how deep they want to go with this eco-lifestyle thing.

Well, here comes Lori Bongiorno's new book Green, Greener, Greenest: A practical guide to making eco-smart choices a part of your life to save the day. In the book, Bongiorno takes everyday products and consumer choices and shows you ways that you can be green, greener or greenest. It's non-threatening and isn't in the least bit condescending--definitely a breath of fresh air among some of the green brow beatings going on in the book realm. Everyone can feel good about taking a step forward and becoming more green.

Here's a green nugget from her book:

Most of us are aware of the dangers of overexposure to the sun, and it's pretty common knowledge that we need to seek out "broadspectrum" sunscreen—products that protect us from both the ultraviolet B (UVB) and ultraviolet A (UVA) radiation. However, a 2007 study by the Environmental Working Group says we may not be getting all the protection we need, even if we use sunscreens with high sun protection factor (SPF) ratings. That's not the only concerning news that came out of the EWG report. The bottom line: only 16 percent of the products on the market today are both safe and effective, meaning that they block both UVA and UVB radiation, remain stable in sunlight, and contain few if any ingredients with significant known or suspected health hazards. ...

Green
Use the best sunscreen to fit your needs. Because there are so many factors to consider when purchasing sunscreen and the stakes are high, the best thing you can do to find the safest and most effective products is to visit www.cosmeticsdatabase.com.

Greener
Don't rely only on sunscreen. Follow this advice from the American Cancer Society:
* Limit exposure to direct sunlight from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. when the sun's ultraviolet rays are most intense. The sun's rays are strongest if your shadow is shorter than you are. UV radiation can also pass through water and reflects off of sand and snow.
* Wear a hat with at least a two- to three-inch brim all around or shade caps, which look like baseball caps with a long piece of material draping down the sides and back. ...

Greenest
Urge the FDA, www.fda.gov, to set mandatory sunscreen safety standards, develop UVA standards, and approve new effective and safe sunscreens in the United States.

green consumer choices

From Green to Greenest