Top 10 Household Products to Avoid - First part

Small steps can make a big difference when it comes to saving the Earth. If you are ready to start going green, take a look at this list of 10 items you should avoid buying and using in your home. Some of these items not only hurt the Earth, they could also be harmful to your family! We suggest alternative choices to help make these eco-friendly changes a bit easier.

1. Styrofoam cups


Styrofoam is not biodegradable, which means it's here forever. Next time, get your coffee to go in a reusable coffee mug or thermos. Skip the fast food, and use glass and metal storage containers whenever possible.





2. Paper products and plastic utensils


Properly managed, paper is a renewable resource. But many of us tend to use more paper products than necessary. Paper towels and napkins are particularly wasteful of forest resources, landfill space, and your money. If you do purchase paper towels or napkins, make sure you buy an eco-friendly variety. A better alternative is to use cloth napkins at meals, and rags, sponges, or towels to clean up messes.

Like paper products, plastic utensils rate high on the waste scale. Most disposable plastic utensils are used once and thrown away, rather than recycled. Since they are not biodegradable, they will live on forever in the environment. Consider washing and reusing plastic utensils, or stick to regular cutlery or portable metal mess kits.

3. Bleached coffee filters


Dioxins are chemicals formed during the chlorine bleaching process. Dioxins contaminate groundwater and air, and have been linked to cancer in both humans and animals. If you are a coffee drinker, make sure you buy eco-friendly unbleached filters, which are healthier for both you and the environment.

4. Overpackaged food and products


How often do you buy products that are wrapped in layers of heavy plastic, bubble wrap, or mounds of packing peanuts? Excess packaging wastes resources and costs you more money. A large portion of the trash in American households comes from packaging, which contributes to our overflowing landfills. Whenever possible, buy products in bulk, without excess packaging. If you must buy smaller sizes, look for products that are packaged in recycled or recyclable materials. Take a stand and let companies know that you will not buy their overpackaged products. And when you pack your own parcels for shipment at the post office, do so sparingly.

5. Tropical hardwoods


Teak and mahogany are beautiful, long-lasting woods. Demand for these woods has increased their harvesting from tropical rainforests, where over half of the planet's plant and animal species reside. Help protect the rainforests. Next time you are in the market for wood furniture, make sure it's manufactured through certified forestry programs. Even better, consider purchasing products made from bamboo, a highly renewable resource that causes less damage to the environment.


NOTE: These are the first five products out of ten to avoid. The other five products will be posted here very soon.

TO BE CONTINUE....

Source: Family Education