 Cosmetics contain many toxic synthetic chemicals that are absorbed into your body, while cotton uses a lot of synthetic chemical pesticides. Avoid these synthetic chemicals by switching to natural bodycare and organic cotton or hemp clothes.
body facts
- More than 1000 synthetic chemicals are used in bodycare products.
- Australians spend $60 billion a year on personal care and $14 billion on clothes.
- Australian women use 1.38 billion disposable sanitary products per year.
- It takes 150g of pesticides to produce a cotton T-shirt.
body: key steps
- Buy fewer new clothes. Buy second-hand, learn to sew to repair clothes, swap with friends, invest in quality that will last, dye faded white clothes to give them a new lease of life, get shoes resoled, etc. Learn to distinguish style, which endures, from passing fashion.
- Buy organic cotton or hemp clothes. Globally, cotton uses 10 per cent of all pesticide and a quarter of all insecticide.
- Use fewer cosmetics. Healthy skin comes from exercise, fresh air, eating well, getting enough sleep and good fluid intake. Many cosmetics are even counter-productive, blocking your body's natural cleansing mechanisms.
- Switch to natural bodycare. Look for bodycare brands that are free from synthetic chemicals. Or make your own natural bodycare recipes (see Natural Living Basics).
- Use unbleached organic cotton tampons or resuable menstrual products.
want to do more?
- Buy razors with replaceable blades, and toothbrushes with replaceable heads.
- Use recycled toilet paper.
- Give unwanted clothes to second-hand shops.
- Buy fairtrade clothes.
- Grow natural remedies. Try aloe vera for bites and burns, or peppermint or rosemary tea for headaches.
- Recycle used plastic shampoo bottles and other containers where possible (call the National Recycling Hotline 1300 733 712).
© Mark Mann / EcoDirectory
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