Eco-Friendly Back to School: Kids Konserve Discount for Non-Toxic Kids Readers!

I've just heard from Christy over at Kids Konserve, who is offering Non-Toxic Kids readers 15 percent off through September! Kids Konserve offers an updated no waste lunch kit with a new insulated lunch bag made from 100% recycled water bottles. The nesting trio are stainless steel containers that are all the right sizes. And to keep everything colder, the no-sweat ice pack fits perfectly in the bags.

Just use this code at check out to get your Non-Toxic Kids discount: nontoxic

Thanks, Kids Konserve!

Eco-Friendly Back To School Guide 2009 (part two)

There are so many great green products out there for this fall. And thankfully, the Center for Environmental Health and Justice has just released their Back to School Guide to PVC Free Back to School Supplies. This comprehensive list with links, sorts back to school supplies by category and offers many options that are PVC free (lots of backpacks, folders, binders, pencils and pens-- the list is extensive). Why care about PVC, or vinyl?

It's toxic. To the manufacturers, to the citizens who live near the plants where it is made, to the user (and it usually carries lead or phthalates), and ultimately in the landfill.

According to CHEJ, "Many children's school supplies, such as lunchboxes, backpacks and binders, are often made out of PVC-a toxic plastic that is dangerous to our health and the environment. PVC is unique among plastics because it contains dangerous chemical additives. These harmful chemicals include phthalates, lead, cadmium, and/or organotins, which can be toxic to your child's health. What's worse is the danger these chemicals pose- phthalates and other toxic additives can leach out or evaporate into the air over time posing unnecessary dangers to children. Over 90% of all phthalates are used to soften or plasticize PVC products - that's over 5 million tons a year! Children are at risk from even small exposures to these toxic chemicals. That's why it's important to purchase PVC-free school supplies."

And they've made it easier for us! Here is a smaller, pocket version for us to take with us while shopping. Thanks, CHEJ!

To support a mama owned business, and to buy eco-friendly and safe back to school supplies, visit The Soft Landing. This online shop is a fantastic resource for PVC, BPA, and phthalate free sippy cups, feeding gear, toys, pacifiers, and much, much more baby gear.

**Here are The Soft Landing's picks for greener lunch kits, stainless steel food containers, and kid's water bottles.

**Here are some organic cotton, washable lunch sacks at 16 bucks each in cool kids friendly designs, if you have the eco-friendly parts already.

**Laptop Lunches: These kits are plastic, BUT (according to their website):

"I have heard that some plastics can cause health problems. Should I be concerned about that?

At Obentec, Inc. we are extremely concerned about toxins in our food and in the environment. Thus we take great care to ensure that we use the safest materials available. For this reason we manufacture our lunch containers here in California using plastics (polypropylene and polyethylene) that are FDA-approved for food use. None of our products contain phthalates, bisphenol A (BPA), or lead.

Most parents currently pack lunches in plastic wrap, plastic bags, and single-serve plastic packages, including PET water bottles, which are considered far less stable than their reusable counterparts. Plastic may not be the perfect solution, but it does offer a stylish, affordable, non-breakable alternative for families wishing to move from a disposable to a reusable system."

So the laptop system may be a good place for a parent to start, or if you are wanting a plastic option.

Whew! Green companies, please send me an email if you have a product you think would be good for this list, or add your links in the comments.

Eco-Friendly Back to School Guide 2009 (part one)

I've been noticing LOTS of traffic on this site about finding eco-friendly back to school supplies. Many kids head back to school in August, and you organized parents are trying to green up for this year (bravo!) and find what you need.

I'm glad to report there are lots of option for eco-friendly back to school supplies, and the amount out there is growing steadily. Here are the categories of supplies, and my favorite sites for finding them. Readers, please add your favorites in the comments.

No Waste Lunches: This is a growing category, thankfully.

*Kids Conserve Waste Free Lunch Kits : These are really cute and functional. I love the color cloth bags, the small snack sized containers and the matching napkins. This is a mom on a green mission, which I love to see!

*Citizenpip Reusuable Lunch Kits: Another mom powered business with kits that are better and different because--

"Everything in one kit: It comes with everything you need to pack a reusable lunch - an insulated lunch bag, water bottle, insulated food jar, BPA-free food containers, fork+spoon, and napkins.

Flexible: It has the convenience of coordinated items with the flexibility to work with other types of containers.

Muck-free: All products have been tested by a CPSIA accredited lab to be lead-free, phthalate-free and BPA-free."

(I like that last one very much!)


Eco-Friendly Backpacks:

*Ecozoo Backpacks: These are adorable, eco-friendly backpacks for preschoolers under 50 bucks. LOVE the puppy one we got for my daughter, and will get another one when my youngest heads off to preschool.

*Eco-gear has a full line of eco-packs for older kids, too!

Green School Supplies:

Here's a post I did about green school supplies. They are more expensive, but if you are only buying for one child or two, it would hopefully be manageable. Also , at Staples and other big box stores, you can find more and more green supplies if you look closely at the labels for recycled content.

Eco-Jot: This environmentally responsible company has the most beautiful prints on notebooks, agenda books, folders and sketchbooks made from 100 percent post consumer recycled paper. There are many fun, funky, and inspirational designs for kids of all ages.

Please add to this list in the comments. I will also be adding a part two to this guide with some new resources that are coming available in the next few days, so stay tuned. I can't believe I am already writing a back to school post. Enjoy what remains of an all too fleeting summer!

Washington Post Reports: Swine Flu Vaccine will have Thimerosal

I've been offline enjoying some long sought after sunny days. There haven't been many this summer in Vermont, so it has been nice to just get outside, all day, with my girls.

So I missed this story that many of the Swine Flu Vaccines that will be available this fall will contain thimerosal.

Remember, thimerosal contains mercury, a known neurotoxin. There has been lots of scientific evidence that says thimerosal in vaccines does not cause autism, but it can't be good for kids.

But obviously, neither is an awful flu, particularly in young children. And the CDC predicts that 40 percent of Americans will be affected by the Swine Flu (including caregivers who stay home with a sick family member).

Here is what the Washington Post says about "some" vaccines containing thimerosal:

"Some of the vaccine will be stored in multi-dose vials containing thimerosal, an antibacterial additive that contains mercury. But there will also be single-dose syringes without thimerosal, a substance that some assert is harmful to children."

Cate Nelson, an intrepid environmental health blogger at Eco-Child's Play, notes the comment that saying thimerosal (which contains mercury) is a substance "some" people assert is harmful. Ummm, isn't mercury what we are avoiding, she wisely points out, when we are pregnant and eating fish? Aren't we taught to be careful when we shake those old thermometers?

Here's the priority list for who will be encouraged to get the vaccine, from NPR and the CDC (my bolds):

--Pregnant women, for two reasons. First, because the evidence suggests they're more likely than other adults to develop serious complications or die when infected with swine flu (or seasonal flu). And second, because they pass their immunity on to the fetus, which health officials hope will also help protect the infants after birth.

-- Household contacts and caregivers of children under six months. Infants that young can't be vaccinated, so immunizing their family members and others who care for them is the best way to keep the babies under six-months-old safe.

-- The 14 million health care and emergency service workers in the United States. That's because they could spread the illness to vulnerable populations, and also because high absenteeism among health care workers could bring down the health care system.

-- All children, adolescents, and young adults age six months to 24 years. A number of reasons for this. Epidemiological data gathered so far suggest that the youngest in this group have a higher-than-average risk of getting so sick with the new H1N1 flu that they need hospitalization. And older kids, teens and young adults tend to quickly spread flu through schools. Plus, there's a domino effect through the economy when parents have to stay home to care for sick kids.

-- Adults age 25 through 64 who have underlying medical conditions, such as heart or respiratory illness, diabetes, or other conditions that suppress their immune systems. Swine flu is likely to hit them harder than healthy adults.

This list certainly got my attention. Especially the risks to pregnant women and children. I am not happy that these vaccines will contain mercury-- and not pleased that the companies that created these vaccines are immune to any legal action concerning the health problems that could stem from the vaccines-- but I am downright worried about bringing this flu home to my two young daughters. I will be asking my doctor for the thimerosal free vaccines. I hope these are widely available for families.

What are you planning to do, readers?