pvc

Ask An Organic Mom

Just What Are Calico Critters Made From?

October 13, 2008 at 9:01AM By Alexandra Zissu | comment

Like most parents these days, I'm very concerned about the toys I bring into my home, and even more concerned about the toys other people bring us as well-intentioned gifts. We don't actually have very many toys (less is more...) but I try to mainly buy wood, largely unpainted, and from small companies that disclose where they manufacture their goods. If I'm in the market for something only available from a new-to-us brand, I always research it on HealthyToys.org as well as Consumer Reports before I shop. And I never, ever go into a toy store with an I-want-it-all-now toddler. If I happen to have her with me when I'm toy shopping, I explain very carefully that we're only in there for something specific, usually a gift for someone else. But, as with all of my best laid plans, they're just plans. We live in the world. Not everything is controllable.

The fact that my daughter has fallen madly in love with Calico Critters falls squarely in this realm. ...

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tags: parenting, health, toys, pvc, phthalates, greenwashing, safe toys, calico critters

How to Choose Safe Shower Curtains

July 31, 2008 at 10:24AM By Deirdre Dolan | comment

It’s been a hot, moist summer here in NYC, and I ended up recycling my PEVA shower curtain and replacing it with a polyester one a few weeks ago because I couldn’t wash the mold out of the bottom of it. A soon-to-be-pregnant reader on the hunt for a safer shower curtain wrote to us wondering about a new shower curtain material she keeps seeing, PEVA:

In our quest to get pregnant this summer, my husband and I (ok, mostly me) have become more and more conscientious about the toxins, etc. around us - thanks largely to your book and blogs! While on the lookout for vinyl, I’ve recently noticed some products (shower curtains, lined baby bibs) labeled 100% PEVA. What is PEVA, and is it a safe alternative to PVC? I’m sure organic cotton is the best choice for many of these types of products, but when my options are vinyl, PEVA, or polyester, what’s a girl to do?

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tags: alternatives, toxic, pvc, PEVA, shower curtain

Why You Should Avoid Nylon Rugs

June 23, 2008 at 9:38AM By Lexy Zissu | comment

I’m taking a break from blogging about potty training (!) to answer reader questions.

Hi,

Know anything about nylon rugs? I am trying to buy a rug for my son’s room and not spend too much, seems there are many nylon ones. Are they safe? I thought you'd probably know...

thanks,

Gillian

I do know! But before I tell you I’d like to start by saying that my approach to anything I’m bringing into my home is to first decide if I really need it. Whatever you bring into the home has the potential to also drag in unwanted chemicals, so this is a first step I force myself to take whenever I get a shopping urge. This is a legitimate question when it comes to rugs.

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tags: wool, cotton, rugs, chemicals, pvc, nylon

Just What Is a Croc Made Of, Anyway? (And How Safe Is It?)

May 19, 2008 at 9:12AM By Lexy Zissu | comment

Warm weather means warm-weather gear. I’m currently fielding questions about and eyeing the least toxic/most natural alternatives for everything from beach toys to charcoal to bug sprays to weatherproof outdoor furniture. One thing I’m currently having some trouble finding the right alternative for is shoes, specifically shoes that can go from sidewalk into playground sprinkler to beach and back to sidewalk. I want them to hold up in water and I don’t want them to degrade when sun/sea/sand particles start to beat them up so that they’ll be leaching whatever material or dyes they’re made of onto (blistered, sometimes scraped) little baby toes.

There’s one big contender in this category and it’s one most parents seem to choose. When the weather heats up, all little feet seem to be sporting Crocs. But what are these colorful cushy things made of? Good question. The company didn’t email me back with an answer when I inquired. Which is never a good sign. Maybe my credentials aren’t fancy enough to write back to? Maybe they’re made from something they’d rather not share?

In the absence of direct response, I resorted to research. Their site says: “Think Crocs are made of rubber? Your friend is adamant they're plastic? You're both wrong. Crocs are made of PCCR, a closed-cell material that virtually eliminates odour. No one will clear a room with smelly feet if they are wearing a pair of Crocs. The material also discourages sweating, making Crocs even more comfortable.” A quick Google reveals nothing, as PCCR is some sort of “proprietary” blend Crocs makes, likely a petroleum-derived foam. ...

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