How can we try to limit our exposure?

• Say NO to receipts
  Thermal paper is often coated with Bisphenol A (BPA) and has been found to travel from receipts to skin and can penetrate the skin to such a depth that it cannot be washed off. It can also travel from receipts onto our fingers and then onto food we touch or our face and mouth. Frequent exposures to relatively large amounts of BPA in receipts are an obvious concern to every shopper, but even more so to the thousands of people who staff cash registers and bag groceries handling hundreds of receipts day.
  
  
• Avoid BPA, BPS & Polycarbonate
  BPA is a chemical produced in large quantities for use primarily in the production of polycarbonate plastics and epoxy resins. Polycarbonate plastics have many applications including use in some food and drink packaging and epoxy resins are used as lacquers… BPA and any plastics marked “PC” for polycarbonate are best avoided. In addition, due to the rise in awareness surrounding BPA, Bisphenol S (BPS) came in its replacement and is also an endocrine disruptor best avoided.
  Don’t forget to avoid plastic children’s toys!!!
  
  
• Get a reusable water bottle
  Stop using single use plastic bottles and invest in a reusable or glass bottle that you LOVE
  
  
• Filtered water
  Ensure you are drinking clean and fresh water without all the nasties! Buy a water filter to remove or reduce chemicals from your tap water or purchase local spring water
  
  
• Coffee cup
  They look great, are easy to clean, good for the environment and more and more cafes are starting to offer discounts when you rock up with your own non-toxic cup!
  
  
• Grocery bags
  Plastic bags are incredibly dangerous for our environment and wildlife as they are easily ingested by animals. The easy solution… bring your OWN reusable bag to the grocery store. Yes, sometimes we forget to take them with you but a little tip is to leave some in the back of your car.
  
  
• Rubbish bags
  If using rubbish bags or bags to line your bin, opt for certified compostable and biodegradable bags or simply wash out your bin regularly and avoid all bags!
  
  
• Glass jars
  Never heat food in the can or plastic – transfer to a glass container! Plastic leaches into your food when heated which is something to avoid.
  
  
• Avoid cans
  Substitute canned food for fresh goods. Cans are lined with BPA and phthalates which more often than not leech in and contaminate the food
  
  
• Keep cutlery nearby
  We all love to eat a good meal – sometimes we are out and about ordering takeaway and in the need for cutlery… keep a good quality re-usable set in your car to whip out when necessary. Often we can’t avoid the plastic take away packaging but we can certainly do our best to limit plastic usage.
  
  
• Cling foil
  We’ve all been there and done that. Cling foil a single-use plastic film that isn’t recyclable or biodegradable. In a world of convenience, it is easy to turn to something like cling foil, however there are some excellent alternatives! Beeswax wraps or food grade silicon are excellent.
  
  
• Read ingredient labels
  Avoid products that list phthalates as an ingredient as well as those that list “fragrance”
  
  
• Fragrance
  We all love to smell great and perfumes are one of those luxurious items we find tricky to part with. But I’m here to tell you that you don’t… there are several companies out there that offer organic/natural and non-toxic perfumes and colognes without all the nasties. Of course you can also use essential oils or create a mixture yourself!
  
  
• Buy in bulk!
  Not only a costly alternative but also sustainable and eco-friendly. Find a local bulk store where you can re-fill your glass jars or containers with nuts, seeds, grains, oils, granola, flour… it’s also a great place to find cooking inspiration!
  
  
• Buy organic produce
  Avoid all the pesticides, herbicides and chemicals sprayed onto your fruits and vegetables! Instead try to buy as much as possible local at your farmer’s markets.
  
  
• In the kitchen
  Use metal and wooden eating and cooking utensils instead of plastic! Do not use nonstick pans and kitchen utensils that are manufactures with PFAS chemicals
  
  
• Stay away from VOCs
  Skip those treatments on carpets and furniture. Many of these treatments are made with endocrine disturbing chemicals. In addition, ensure you are selecting a good quality mattress as you spend presumably 8 hours each day. This is really important as both furniture, carpets and mattresses are “off-gassing” chemicals and can be dangerous for our health.
  
  
• Cleaning products
  There are countless brands all over the world that produce healthy nontoxic, chemical and fragrance free cleaning products/detergents. Ensuring that your clothing and bedsheets aren’t washed with a highly perfumed chemical product which you wear on your skin. And not to mention, your plates and kitchen utensils.
  
  
• Menstrual products
  The first step is swapping out your pads and tampons for “organic” cotton tampons/pads – we certainly don’t want chemicals down there! The next step is a menstrual cup – these are organic reusable cups made from medical grade silicone or period undies to further aid in eco-friendly sustainability.