Author: Mollie Bloudoff-Indelicato

Please read the following post for important information on how I’ve chosen my recommendations:

TLDR: There’s no such thing as sustainable, healthy/safe-for-you honey. Buy vegan honey. It tastes the same.

Why you should care: Honestly, collecting honey on a commercial scale isn’t good for bees. Small honey purveyors don’t pasteurize their honey, which means you’re at a higher risk for illness and there’s nobody regulating their practices. BUT, not everyone cares about bees or pasteurization. So then the best reason NOT to eat honey is because most honey is polluted with nasty chemicals.

What you should buy: https://mellodyfoods.com (Mellody is my fav! But there are cheaper options: https://www.walmart.com/ip/Wholesome-Yum-Zero-Sugar-Honey-Substitute-with-Monk-Fruit-Allulose-Sugar-Free-Honey-Alternative-11-oz/) Or you can make your own: https://milkandpop.com/vegan-honey-made-with-apples-and-chamomile/#ingredients (It really does taste just like honey!)

I eat a lot of honey—and I mean a LOT. It’s one of my guilty pleasures. I love it in my tea every day and drizzled on top of my cereal. Of course, it’s a staple of my PB&H sandwiches. So when I started doing research on honey, I figured I’d get something more sustainable. You know, switch to glass jars or whatever, and then call it a day. NOPE.

It turns out that this is WAY more complicated than I thought. There are four different types of honey (that I know of!). https://www.leaf.tv/articles/what-are-the-differences-between-raw-pure-natural-honey/ If a label says “natural honey” it means there are no artificial additives, but some companies still add non-artificial stuff like sugar, etc. “Pure honey” on a label means there are no additives at all, even natural ones. “Raw honey” means the honey hasn’t been pasteurized and has no additives. And “organic honey” means the honey has supposedly followed organic regulations. But here’s the kicker: the organic regulations are based on the specific country the honey comes from. And only about a quarter of all US honey comes from the US. That means the word “organic” is essentially meaningless (unless you happen to know about organic certifications all around the world).

Actually, ALL these labels are meaningless. That’s because the FDA has recommendations for labeling but no specific requirements. So companies can use whatever words they want and the onus is on the consumer to figure out what they actually mean. WILD! https://www.fda.gov/regulatory-information/search-fda-guidance-documents/guidance-industry-proper-labeling-honey-and-honey-products 

But, for the sake of argument, let’s pretend all these companies are abiding by the “rules” I listed above. What’s the deal with raw honey? Why don’t we pasteurize it?

People like raw honey because they think it has more health benefits. This hasn’t been proven in any studies large enough to actually mean anything. https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/324966#how-to-find and https://www.healthline.com/health/allergies/honey-remedy#research and https://www.healthline.com/health/botulism-honey

Honey is pasteurized for the same reason we pasteurize stuff like milk. It has bacteria in it that’s harmful to our health such as botulism. We all know that infants can’t have honey because of botulism, which is present throughout the entire honey making process: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/16689729/ But can adults get sick because of it? Some researchers say yes and others say no. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S107599642200124X?via%3Dihub

It seems to me that if you have any health issues or a history of stomach/intestinal issues, then you should steer clear of raw honey. I tend to be super cautious about what I put in my body so I like my honey pasteurized and bacteria-free.

OK, so you need to choose a type of honey AND THEN you can just buy it, right? NOPE. That’s because most honey is contaminated with a weed killer chemical called glyphosate. And government agencies don’t regularly check for it. https://www.huffpost.com/entry/fda-finds-monsantos-weed_b_12008680 

Beeswax, which is used in lots of cosmetics, also contains harmful chemicals.
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0278691523002089 and https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0048969719353045 

The research just isn’t there to determine if ingesting glyphosate is a huge, red light problem. But after reading some studies, I personally feel like the health risks just aren’t worth it. Common sense tells me that ingesting part of a weed killer is a bad idea: https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/roundup-glyphosate-and-health#TOC_TITLE_HDR_3 and https://www.texasorganicresearchcenter.org/organic-research-page/List-of-Products-and-Foods-that-Tested-Positive-for-Glyphosate_vq13490.htm 

In this case, it’s actually not the beekeeper’s fault. They can offer their bees an organic field of flowers but if the bees fly over to a neighboring field that uses weed killer OR if some of that weed killer gets in the breeze and onto the beekeeper’s field… basically it’s a nightmare to track.

Then there’s bee safety. Beekeepers are only supposed to harvest excess honey, since bees rely on the stuff they make. Some beekeepers are good about it, others probably aren’t. There’s really no way to tell.

The majority of bees that make sellable honey are not native and they compete with native bees for pollen. This can starve out native bees, which pollinate a lot of our local crops, flowers and gardens and can lead to big ecological issues. https://nsojournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/oik.08915 

In conclusion, it’s a huge mess, and you really shouldn’t be eating honey of any type. Instead, go for vegan honey, which is made of plants. https://www.bonappetit.com/story/vegan-honey 

More stuff I read:
https://www.ethicalconsumer.org/food-drink/shopping-guide/honey (if you live in the UK)
https://yoursustainableguide.com/glyphosate-free-honey-brands/
https://www.thehonestconsumer.com/blog/organic-honey
https://detoxproject.org/certification/glyphosate-residue-free/certified-products
https://mellodyfoods.com/pages/faq
https://www.bonappetit.com/story/vegan-honey
https://www.organicauthority.com/buzz-news/american-honey-tainted-with-twice-the-legal-eu-limit-of-glyphosate-fda-documents-show
https://usrtk.org/pesticides/fda-finds-monsanto-glyphosate-in-honey/
https://usrtk.org/pesticides/more-bad-news-for-honey-as-u-s-seeks-to-get-handle-on-glyphosate-residues-in-foods/
https://www.greenchoicenow.com/v/organic-honey
https://usrtk.org/pesticides/glyphosate-health-concerns/
https://www.huffpost.com/entry/more-bad-news-for-honey-a_b_12769698
https://thebeet.com/bee-keepers-love-bees-a-beekeeper-sets-the-record-straight-about-honey/
https://www.keepingbackyardbees.com/overharvesting-honey/ 
https://www.beeawarebrisbane.org/native-bees-vs-honeybees-key-differences-explained/
https://americanbeejournal.com/when-do-honey-bees-compete-with-native-wild-bees/ 

Photo Credit: featured image: Heather Barnes, honey drip: Benyamin Bohlouli, bee flower: Aaron Burden

Please read the following post for important information on how I’ve chosen my recommendations:

TLDR: A lot of essential oils are adulterated because stores can’t test every batch. This means that if you’re buying essential oils at big box stores, you’re probably putting unidentified stuff on your body. https://link.springer.com/chapter/10.1007/978-3-030-16546-8_9 

Why you should care: It’s scary to let something absorb into your body when you’re not sure what’s actually in it.

What you should buy: https://www.aromatics.com/ 

I liked Aromatics International for the rigorous testing process and their sustainability. Because a lot of this stuff isn’t sustainable: https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2017/10/09/how-essential-oils-became-the-cure-for-our-age-of-anxiety and https://sustainabilitynook.com/are-essential-oils-ruining-environment/ 

NOTE: Make sure you read up on how to properly use essential oils. Because they’re so concentrated, you generally shouldn’t put them directly on your skin without diluting them first. And because they don’t have preservatives, they often need to be stored in the fridge.

You should definitely read up on the science before choosing to treat health conditions with essential oils. https://www.discovermagazine.com/health/what-science-says-about-the-healing-potential-of-essential-oils and https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC7309671/ 

Additional Reading:
https://www.consumersadvocate.org/essential-oils

Photo Credit: Towfiqu barbhuiya

Please read the following post for important information on how I’ve chosen my recommendations:

TLDR: Store-bought dishwashing soap is a waste of water and money.

Why you should care: Check the ingredients of your dishwashing soap. It’s mostly water! All that water means a bigger carbon footprint when shipping. Plus, it’s a waste of plastic, which takes resources to make and then lives in our landfills and oceans. Gross. 

What you should buy: https://www.shopetee.com/search?q=dishwashing 

I like Etee dishwashing soap for SO many reasons. They’re based in Canada so they’re not too far away. They donate to good causes. They don’t do plastic. They don’t test on animals, and use safe materials. They care about their workers and supply chain. Their soap doesn’t have a strong scent, which is great if you have smell sensitivities. And it works for cleaning dishes.

I have not yet tried to compost their bag. Most bags that say they’re compostable, actually aren’t. Take that into account.

Photo Credit: Gustavo Fring

Please read the following post for important information on how I’ve chosen my recommendations:

TLDR: Toothpaste tubes are unnecessary waste. It’s super easy to adopt better options.

Why you should care: Toothpaste tubes make enough plastic waste to circle the globe TWICE EVERY YEAR! 

What you should buy: Etee toothpaste tablets! https://www.shopetee.com/collections/smile-care/products/fluoride-chewpaste-3-month-supply

OK, can we all just agree that toothpaste tubes are annoying and inconvenient? Forgetting to put the cap back on the right way… Toothpaste exploding in my carry on luggage… Trying to get the LAST bit of toothpaste out of the tube… YUCK. Plus, who had the childhood experience of squeezing out ALL of the toothpaste and then your dad made you keep it in a jar and use it until it was gone? BLAH.

I like Etee toothpaste for SO many reasons. They’re based in Canada so they’re not too far away. They donate to good causes. They don’t do plastic. They don’t test on animals and use safe materials. They care about their workers and supply chain. Their toothpaste tastes great. It has fluoride, which dentists recommend. https://www.nidcr.nih.gov/health-info/fluoride/ask-expert-why-fluoride-good-dental-health  They also have a no-fluoride option if you really need it: https://www.shopetee.com/pages/fluoride-chewpaste It’s also great for little ones who have trouble squeezing the right amount! And you don’t have to worry about taking it on a plane!

Photo Credit: zoomar

Please read the following post for important information on how I’ve chosen my recommendations:

TLDR: Face wipes and makeup wipes are convenient but they’re bad for your skin and the environment

Why you should care: Experts say they’re not actually good for your face or skin health. Plus, they contain plastic and take a century to decompose in the landfill, leaving behind microplastics. https://www.proquest.com/openview/9d58febe5e1c637f87f152d2aaa0dbf8/1?pq-origsite=gscholar&cbl=5038271 

What you should buy: https://www.costco.com/turkish-towel—gentle-planet-12-piece-washcloth-set.product.100686737.html and https://www.aromatics.com/products/witch-hazel-hydrosol 

I asked a friend to buy these washcloths for me from Costco (I don’t have a membership) because they were on sale and they’re Oeko-Tex certified. I keep a pile of them in the bathroom. I got an aluminum spray bottle and filled it with a few drops of witch hazel and lots of distilled (or boiled) water. I use that to clean my face. Lots of people avoid witch hazel because it dries out the skin, BUT that’s only the witch hazel you get at big box stores, which is full of alcohol. The ALCOHOL is what dries your skin. Pure witch hazel doesn’t.

Note: Store the remaining witch hazel in the fridge.

Photo Credit: Towfiqu Barbhuiya

Please read the following post for important information on how I’ve chosen my recommendations:

Tampons/Pads/Feminine Hygiene Products

TLDR: Disposable feminine hygiene products contain up to 90% plastic, which is bad for the environment. Plus, studies show all those chemicals could be dangerous for your body. Get a menstrual cup if you can.

Why you should care: “While in a landfill, disposable pads are estimated to take 500 to 800 years to break down, and materials such as plastic never truly biodegrade. This is of major concern given that each menstruator will use and dispose of between 5,000 and 15,000 pads and tampons in their lifetime.” https://obgyn.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1002/ijgo.14311 Plus, studies show all those chemicals could be dangerous for your body. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9876534/ 

What you should buy: https://www.nytimes.com/wirecutter/reviews/best-menstrual-cup/ 

My personal favorite is the MeLuna, but everyone’s body is different. It’s worth it to try out a few different products until you find the best fit. It’s an upfront cost, but the cups will last for years and cost much less than disposable pads/tampons.

What if you don’t have a period? If you don’t menstruate, consider donating menstrual cups to people in need! Or talking about them with your kids, neighbors, friends, etc. An educated menstruator can advocate for themselves and for others.

NOTE: Here’s how to clean your menstrual cup.

Photo Credit: Reproductive Health Supplies Coalition

Please read the following post for important information on how I’ve chosen my recommendations:

TLDR: There’s no reason to use disposable razors on the regular. Buy a sustainable option now and you never need to buy one again.

Why you should care: More than 2 BILLION (yes, you read that correctly) disposable razors end up in landfills every year—in the United States ALONE. https://www.cbsnews.com/miami/news/looking-for-a-sustainable-option-more-people-are-ditching-their-plastic-razors/ 

What you should buy: https://www.amazon.com/MERKUR-Classic-MK-34C-2-Piece-Double/dp/B002A8JO1Q

I usually don’t recommend buying products on Amazon, but it was out of stock on the brand website. I chose Merkur because of the good reviews, its sustainability and the fact that it works for both men/women. (Price discrimination is ridiculous!! https://www.inc.com/sonia-thompson/women-are-charged-100000-more-for-same-products-as-men-heres-what-you-can-do-to-stop-it.html) Please note that Merkur has differently sized handles. I chose a short handle because it was less expensive, easier for me to control and took up less space in my toiletry bag. 

I bought a Merkur because it takes generic razor blades that you can buy at any store. Many of the other options require you to use their special razor blades, and the idea of 1) paying for shipping 2) remembering to order them in the first place 3) adding to my carbon footprint… well, it just seemed silly and impractical. 

I also liked that it was a heavier razor, which means it does the work for you, and there’s no need to press down. It’s cool that it only has one blade. Contrary to what you might think, one blade is better because multiples can cause ingrown hairs. Go figure! https://www.menshealth.com/style/a19526899/single-blade-razor-shave/ 

Don’t forget that you can drop your used razors off at any Whole Foods stores that run a razor recycling program called Gimme5. Or you can save them in a tin can and recycle them that way.

Store your razor outside of the shower to reduce the risk of rusting. This is supposed to last you for ages!

Please note that some TSA agents might give you a hard time about safety razor if you keep it in your carry on. This 2018 blog posts suggests you pack them in your luggage: https://www.tsa.gov/blog/2018/08/07/top-five-items-people-ask-about-razors-batteries-makeup-shampoo-deodorant 

UPDATE: I’ve been using the razor for a few months now and have yet to cut myself! It even works well on your bathing suit area, and I got ZERO razor burn. I’ve recommended it to all my girl and guy friends!

Resources:
https://bettergoods.org/best-eco-friendly-razors/ and https://theroundup.org/eco-friendly-razors/  

Runners up: 
https://albatrossdesigns.it/collections/albatross-shaves-the-world-from-plastic and https://begoodearth.com/products/silkedge-single-blade-safety-razor and https://heyhanni.com/products/razor?sscid=b1k8_ytwm6& 

Photo Credit: Stephanie Klepacki

Please read the following post for important information on how I’ve chosen my recommendations:

TLDR: Bidets are better for the environment, more sanitary than TP, cheaper in the long-term AND easy to install.

Why you should care: We cut down trees to wipe our butts. Trees are saving the world from climate change. WE CUT THEM DOWN for our BUTTS. In Canada alone, loggers clear cut more than a million acres of forest—mostly to feed US demand for toilet paper. (Only read this citation article if you want to be super sad https://www.nrdc.org/bio/jennifer-skene/toilet-paper-driving-climate-crisis-every-flush )

What you should buy: Rinseworks hand held bidet https://rinseworks.com/shop/aquaus-360-hand-held-bidet-sprayer-for-toilet/

I read a LOT of reviews about bidets. Some of them were fairly expensive and had bells and whistles that I was pretty sure I didn’t need. Some people complained about the aim of the water or suggested sitting a certain way to make sure they actually got clean. I didn’t want to deal with any of those shenanigans.

I decided to get a handheld bidet so I could aim where I pleased. This has the added benefit of being able to use it to clean the sink, a dirty cloth diaper or water a nearby houseplant. 

I also opted to get a non-heated option. It’s the middle of a snowstorm as I type this, and I have no regrets. You don’t really notice the temperature of the water, honestly. Plus, a heated bidet would just require you to run the water in your sink for longer until it heats up, and I don’t have time for that ish. 

I wanted a handle made of brass. Brass works better than normal handles or handles coated with “antimicrobial” film because it kills bacteria within minutes by messing up its DNA. That’s great because messed up DNA means the bacteria can’t mutate and cause a superbug. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC3067274/ 

The bidet I recommended comes with this part, but in case you get a different type, please note: “‘Bidet attachments draw water from the same water supply that supplies your faucets. Each bidet attachment should come with a minimum of a one-way check valve to allow water to enter the bidet, but not allow it to go back to your water supply and possibly contaminate it.’ 

If your device doesn’t come with one, Diciolla said you can, and should, add one for sanitary purposes.” https://www.bhg.com/bathroom/remodeling/planning/best-bidet-attachments/#toc-best-handheld-brondell-cleanspa-luxury-handheld-bidet 

But a bidet uses water! So isn’t TP better? Nope, TP actually wastes more water than a bidet. https://betterhomepursuits.com/bidet-vs-toilet-paper/ 

Additional Reading:
https://www.nytimes.com/wirecutter/blog/bidets-better-than-toilet-paper/ 

Photo Credit: Michael Bryant