Phthalates: Versatile Chemicals Found in Thousands of Products

Manufacturers use a group of chemicals known as phthalates in a wide variety of everyday products. They make products more durable, flexible, and weather resistant, but they are also the subject of ongoing health controversy.  They are so common that a majority of people tested by the CDC were found to have phthalate metabolites in …

Recycling Plastic & Climate Change

Recycling is a powerful tool that can help mitigate the effects of climate change, especially when recycling plastics. In this article, we’re going to break down the relationship between recycling plastic and climate change.  How does plastic contribute to climate change? Plastics are derived from fossil fuels. The plastic polymers are refined from petroleum and …

Certifications & Eco Labels for Seafood

Seafood certifications are designed to help end-buyers have more transparency into the quality and sustainability of their seafood. While these seafood eco-labels fall well short of providing the full sustainability picture, they do provide some valuable information to consumers about the products available to them and can help them choose more sustainable alternatives.  Here are …

Protections for Consumers: Food Processing Standards & Certifications

The Safe Quality Food certification is in place to help protect consumers. Here’s what it is and how it works. From the very beginning of the food supply chain to the end, Global Food Safety Initiative (GFSI) program certifications make sure products make it into consumer hands safely. This is the primary goal of the …

An Eco Friendly Hobby: Wood Carving

If you’re looking for an eco friendly hobby, consider wood carving. This article will walk you through the basics so you can see if this hobby might be right for you. What is wood carving? Wood carving is the process of cutting or carving wood into an ornamental object or art piece with a sharp …

Micro / Nano-plastics and Human Health (Research Summary)

Type of Publication: Summary of Research Source: Marine Anthropogenic Litter (Book); Chapter 13 Author: Tamra S. Galloway Summary This paper is a review and summary of studies up to year 2015 about what research shows about micro and nano plastics and how they impact human health.  As stated in the introduction: “This review considers the …

The Plastic Problem: Pollution

Jacques Cousteau, the renowned underwater researcher and pioneering marine conservationist, once said, “Water and air, the two essential fluids on which all life depends, have become global garbage cans.” Sadly, he was right. Unsightly plastic waste litters our oceans and shorelines, spoiling our enjoyment of swimming, surfing, or simply spending some leisure time at the …

Cleaning Up Plastic Pollution

Walking down the street, or on a beach, or even merely from point A to point B, it’s impossible not to notice some form of trash scattered about. I’m talking about the 8 million tons of plastic in our oceans, the 1.5 million Layson Albatrosses with plastic in their digestive system, the 127,000 nurdles found on beaches, and the 189 …