Safetek International's Ecocentric Blog
Here you will find Ecocentric news
PVC plants are disproportionately located in low-income communities and communities of color, making the production of PVC a major environmental justice concern for neighboring residents. PVC manufacturing facilities have poisoned workers and fenceline neighbors, polluted the air, contaminated drinking water supplies, and even wiped entire neighborhoods off the map. Consider some of the following brief examples of these very real threats: → Read more
Some things about recycling you probably did not know but likely are not surprised by:
–Glass can be recycled over and over without ever losing its purity
–70% less energy is used to manufacture recycled paper
–The energy conserved from recycling one bottle can power a light bulb for one hour
–One recycled can of aluminum contains enough energy to power a Sony TV for three hours.
Sending Fax and Cutting of Trees in US
In US, around 17 million tress worth of paper are used to send faxes and on an average a US company uses 4 tress worth of paper every year. In terms of industrial emitter of carbon dioxide, the paper industry stands at a third position whereas it is the largest industrial consumer of water.
Rainforest Destruction for Palm Oil:
Rainforests filters huge amount of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and acts as hotspots of biodiversity. But due to increased palm oil plantations and the usage of palm oil in various types of products like soaps , cosmetics and detergents the rainforests are destructed which is leading to large amount of carbon pollution, species extinction and community conflict. → Read more
Did you know it is believed that 2 million people die because they suffocate from an illness which is enhanced by the bad quality of indoor air? 60% of all residential and working places are not safe to inhabit and are sick due to indoor allergens like dusts, mites, etc. AC’s and Air filters are very cause of bad indoor air. → Read more
Air pollution causes the following health hazards in humans: respiration problems, heart problems, reproductive disorders, premature death, lung redness, chronic infection, cancer, coughing and wheezing, etc. → Read more
Plastic bags can be found everywhere and its their convenience that makes people use them. It may seem like we can’t do without them, but plastic bags are most often unnecessary and avoidable.You should be aware of the adverse effects associated with the use of plastic bags and how much damage they cause to our environment. → Read more
Back to the Future:
Plastics Made from Plants Instead of Toxic Chemicals
Did you know that before the chemical revolution, our society was based on materials made from plants, such as corn, soy and sugar beets? Plants, not oil, used to be the primary raw material used to produce chemicals, paints, construction materials, clothing, and other household materials. In fact, the first plastic ever developed was a “plant based plastic,” a cotton-derived product designed to replace ivory. Henry Ford was a proponent of plant based plastics and he developed a demonstration vehicle in 1941 whose seat covers, dashboard, wheel, and tires were made from plant based materials. Unfortunately, this all changed when the chemical industry hijacked the plastics market and introduced low-cost toxic plastics made from oil. → Read more
In 1987, a law was finally passed restricting the dumping of plastics into the ocean. The Marine Plastic Pollution Research and Control Act (MARPOL) went into effect on December 31, 1988, making it illegal for any U.S. vessel or land-based operation to dispose of plastics at sea. It is part of an international treaty, where countries representing at least half of the shipping fleet tonnage in the world agreed to Annex V of the treaty, preventing “pollution by garbage from ships.” It prohibits the dumping of plastics anywhere in the ocean, and the dumping of other materials, such as paper, glass, metal, and crockery, closer to shore. → Read more
When we use chemicals to clean our home, they linger in the air and we breathe them in. Researchers in the U.S.identified 133 unique volatile organic compounds (VOCs) emitted from a small sample of consumer products, including six cleaning products. Each product tested emitted between one and eight chemicals classified as toxic or hazardous under U.S. federal laws.
Chemicals in cleaning products can also enter our bodies by absorption through the skin or through ingestion of household dust and chemical residues left on dishes and cutlery. And when cleaning products are flushed down the drain, they can have a serious impact on aquatic ecosystems. → Read more
One of the most serious threats to our oceans is plastics pollution. Plastic constitutes approximately 90% of all trash floating on the ocean’s surface, with 46,000 pieces of plastic per square mile. Why is there so much plastic in the ocean? → Read more
Bio+Green Crystals™ are the world’s first doctor endorsed, nutraceutical grade cleaner specifically made for people (meaning it is food-grade safe!). → Read more
The Story of Cosmetics, released on July 21, 2010 at storyofcosmetics.org, examines the pervasive use of toxic chemicals in our everyday personal care products, from lipstick to baby shampoo. → Read more
The Center for Health, Environment, & Justice has released its Back to School Guide to PVC-Free School Supplies. It’s a free downloadable guide to all the products kids might need for school, from binders and notebooks to clothes, electronics, lunch boxes, and a host of other products. It includes a comprehensive guide to suppliers as well as general rules to keep in mind. → Read more
PVC (polyvinyl chloride) products are everywhere and are dangerous to our health and environment from start to finish – in the factory, at home, and in the trash – releasing poisonous chemicals linked to cancer and birth defects. The good news is that safe, cost-effective, alternatives to PVC are readily available and responsible companies are phasing it out. Watch this video, and our friend Sam Suds will give you a detailed explanation on the dangers of PVC: → Read more
How to Read the Organic Label
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has developed four categories of organic labels, based on the percentage of organic content in a product. → Read more
USDA Organic Standards
Compared to natural and conventional products, organic products offer you and your family the unique opportunity to demand more of the products you buy by demanding less of the ingredients you don’t want. → Read more
USDA Organic Label
It’s simple to feel overwhelmed as you walk the aisles of the market in search of merchandise that are sensible for you, your family, and also the planet. To simplify your shopping experience and make sure that you’re shopping for merchandise that match with your values, seek for merchandise with the USDA organic label. → Read more