KV Organics

seeking restoration of sustainable life... personally, professionally, & spiritually

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Replacing Parabens

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Parabens have pretty much been black-listed in the public’s mind at this point.  But what are companies doing to get rid of them?  What alternatives have they chosen?  Have you noticed?  What do you see on your labels?

Some companies insist that paraben concerns are unproven, hype-based fears, and they continue to use this family of synthetic preservatives in their formulations.  Methyl, ethyl, propyl, and butyl paraben.

Some companies are removing parabens not for the sake of human health, but rather brand health.  The mounting evidence against these ingredients hasn’t convinced them – they just want their products to keep selling, and they know that parabens are a pox on their products that will lead to declining sales and brand death if not addressed.

Still other companies have carefully considered the growing research (see Breast Cancer Fund for a brief summary) and have responsibly chosen to remove parabens from their formulations.

But what are they doing differently instead of using parabens?  Are they finding ways to create quality, shelf-stable products without the use of synthetic preservatives?

Sadly, in most cases, the answer is no.  The vast majority of companies who have removed parabens from their formulations, and now proudly display “paraben free” in their marketing, have simply chosen to replace them with other synthetic preservatives.

Read your labels.  The most popular paraben replacement that I am seeing on labels these days is phenoxyethanol.  But check out the MSDS on this synthetic chemical preservative.

 

Do you see that?  Extremely hazardous to the eyes.  Very hazardous to the skin, lungs (when inhaled), and digestive system (when ingested).  Toxic to kidneys, nervous system, and liver.  And note the words “not available” next to carcinogenic, mutagenic, teratogenic, and developmental effects.  Do you know what that means?  It means that this data is not available.  The studies haven’t been done.  Like 89% of the 10,000+ synthetic chemicals used in the personal care industry, phenoxyethanol has not been fully evaluated for safety yet.  (For the full MSDS, click here).

To be fair, the MSDS is typically for the folks working with a chemical in large batches at a lab.  However, is not daily use, often multiple times a day, also “repeated and prolonged exposure” to an ingredient?  As they do with most synthetic chemicals, many formulators will claim that because phenoxyethanol is used in such small amounts in their products, it must be safe.  But that’s what they said for decades about parabens, too.  Is history going to repeat itself on this issue?

Nowadays we know better.  We know that chemicals can have cumulative effects in the body from minute daily exposures over time.  We also know that chemicals act on the body in different ways when combined with other chemicals.  Even if phenoxyethanol were proven completely safe in isolated studies, research would still need to be done on its combined effects with the other chemical ingredients in the products you use daily.  But a quick glance at the current MSDS already shows us that it’s a hazardous material.

I used to believe that synthetic preservatives were necessary for product stability.  And for years, it was a trade off I was willing to accept as a customer because naturally occurring molds and rancidity are certainly not safe for my family either.  Most truly natural options I had seen, including DIY (do it yourself), were prone to going funky halfway through the jar or bottle.  And if it were still the case today that there was really no way to have a shelf-stable, quality product without synthetic chemical preservatives, I’d probably say to myself, “Well, OK, if this is the best option, I guess I’m not going to obsess and worry about it.”

But the truth is, thanks to advances in ‘green’ chemistry, today there are options out there that are completely free of synthetic preservatives and still have a great shelf-life.  And there have been for years now, it is just taking time for this information to get out there and combat the chemical fairy we’ve been listening to and trusting for decades.  The educational and product development efforts of Miessence first opened my eyes to this fact, and a relative handful of other companies are now following their lead to move in this totally different direction, swimming upstream against the masses who are simply looking for a more socially-acceptable (because we don’t yet recognize the ingredient names), quick-fix, synthetic ingredient swap.

Instead of choosing products that have merely swapped one hazardous, synthetic ingredient for another, look for the brands that have gone above and beyond the use of synthetic chemical ingredients.  If other effective, truly natural choices now exist, the precautionary principle would ask, “Why risk it?”

 

Downward Mobility

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I always want to be very careful about how I say this, and I hope you’ll hear me out, but I believe that the recession has been one of the biggest blessings that our country needed.  OK, before you think I’m totally crazy, let me explain…

I do not in any way wish to downplay the real hardships that people are facing right now.  They are significant and at times overwhelming, no doubt.  However, have you noticed the good that is coming out of all this?  There is so much good happening.  Here are just a handful in no particular order other than as they come to my mind.

1- People are walking away from the pursuit of stuff.
2- People are reconnecting with God’s green earth and its provision for us.
3- People are realizing the unsustainability of our consumer-crazy culture.
4- People are more carefully evaluating their spending, focusing on quality not quantity.
5- People are reducing and reusing more, instead of just recycling and throwing away.
6- People are becoming more conscious of negative environmental impacts on their health.
7- People are plugging back into to community and sharing more.
8- People are returning to entrepreneurship.
9- People are regaining time with family.
10- People are turning back to their faith.

In our household, we are on an intentional journey of what we like to call “downward mobility.”  Do we own a home-based business?  Yes.  Do we desire to grow that business as large as the Lord allows?  Yes.  Do we do it for our own gain?  Only partly.  Our take on business and entrepreneurship is this: it is a way for God to meet our needs and then bless others through us.  At the same time as we are growing a business, we are seeking to reduce what we consider to be our needs.  By intentionally learning to live with less and less, we are finding a deeper connection to God, family, community, and the earth, and we are creating space for God to pour out even greater blessing to others through us.  Instead of focusing on wanting more and striving in our business to attain those new heights of material living, we are focusing on wanting: less stuff, more meaningful connections with people, and for God to grow our business to the extent that He wants to position us to be a blessing to others in the future.

And we are so thankful for how God has used this perspective to put up a strong shield around our hearts and minds during a recession.












Mompreneurs

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The article below brings up so many great points, and not just for moms.  Are we in a recession?  Are millions of people jobless and hurting financially right now?  Are there all sorts of depressing statistics today to get us down in the dumps?  Yes, yes, and yes.  And I do not wish at all to trivialize or downplay the very real hardships people are facing.

But there is so much good going on too, if you know where to look for it.  As I see it, we are in a major time of transition.  And although transitions are rarely comfortable, they have the potential to be major turning points for the better.  We can either kick and scream in opposition to the painful change, deciding to remain negative, or we can have faith and look for all sorts of positive opportunities in the change.

I believe the recession is helping the US to begin turning away from our rampant consumerism and unhealthy, unsustainable lifestyle.  The lifestyle that constantly tells us we’d be happier if only we had x, y, z.  The lifestyle that keeps people trapped in jobs they don’t enjoy because they have to pay the bills, and in many cases pay down their consumer debt.  The lifestyle built around instant gratification, quick fixes, and a throw away culture.  The lifestyle obsessed with cheaper, better, bigger, faster at any cost.  The lifestyle that is contributing to rising rates of disease.  The lifestyle that uses more of the planet’s resources than is sustainable for the long term.  And I could go on…

Along with this cultural shift comes not only great challenges, but also great opportunities.  The article below highlights some of the entrepreneurial opportunities that, in this case moms have tapped into, in industries that are currently growing despite the recession.  People are still spending, but they doing so more mindfully and more in line with their basic needs and core values.  Whether you’re a mom, dad, or not a parent at all, if you’re looking for work, or more fulfilling work, consider the entrepreneurial options in front of you based on the growing need- and value-based trends out there.  Not everyone will hit a big ‘home run’ like the companies highlighted in this article, but there are plenty of other options out there for those willing to try something new.  If you have never done anything entrepreneurial in your life before, find a solid business coach to help you through your ideas, or get started with an entrepreneurial option that will help you to gain independent business skills through solid, professional, skill-based training within the supportive framework of an already established and healthily growing company.

For insights into entrepreneurial work-from-home options, including important points to consider to help you avoid disappointment, hype, and scams, check out my work from home page with a free report.

For the article on Mompreneurs that inspired this post, click here.






















Buying Local

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Buying local is a hot – and very important – topic.  From what I can tell, people generally want to buy local for one of two primary reasons: environmental or economical.  They either want to decrease the environmental burden placed on the earth due to business operations such as manufacturing, warehousing, long distance shipping, and consumer activity, or they want to support their local and national economies.  Or better yet, both.

I wholeheartedly agree that buying local is important, particularly when it comes to the health benefits of locally grown organic foods.  But interestingly, did you know that it is actually possible, albeit perhaps rather uncommon, for companies halfway around the world to be even more beneficial to both the planet and local economies?  Seems odd, doesn’t it?  Whether they are a local, national, or international enterprise, take the time to ask deeper questions about any company’s environmental and business practices, and you just may be surprised by what you discover.

What is the best example I’ve personally seen and can offer you of this seemingly backwards phenomenon?

When I first stumbled upon the company whose personal care products I have chosen for my family based on a great deal of research (and for whom I now also do consulting work), their location in another country across the globe was a concern to me.  But when I did more digging to verify their environmental and business practices with third-party sources, I was shocked to find that the seriousness with which this company takes its environmental and social responsibilities as a global organization could actually make their products a better choice even from so far away.

As just two quick environmental examples: green manufacturing and green transport.  Miessence runs their manufacturing and warehousing facilities on wind power for zero emissions, and they work with a non-profit reforestation organization to plant trees in excess of what they would need to plant to merely offset their own global shipping burden.  In effect, they are doing more than their share, thus helping offset the excess impact from the many companies who do little or nothing to offset their eco-footprints.  In addition to being the first brand in the world to achieve personal care products certified organic to food grade standards, which supports organic farmers around the globe, they were also the first personal care and wellness company to achieve carbon negative business operations.  This really impressed me.  When I go to a local store to make a purchase of any kind, how often is the total ecological footprint – including the manufacturing, warehousing, and shipping of goods to retail stores, plus the impact of my own drive to the store – actually offset in its entirety and then some?

And what about economically speaking?  There are two parts to this in the case of Miessence, and you can apply similar principles and questions to any company whose goods, of any kind, you are considering.  First, Miessence bolsters the global economy by supporting national economies all over the world via the ethical, fair-trade sourcing of their certified organic ingredients.  From my perspective as a US citizen, therefore, I was glad to learn that many of the ingredients they use, particularly in their superfood products, are sourced from the US, thereby supporting our farmers who are committed to organic, sustainable agriculture.  (And of course, this is actually a double benefit to both the economy and environment.)

Secondly, let’s talk about job creation.  Are there companies from whom you could choose to buy online with little or no benefit to your local economy, and who contribute a limited number of jobs often in only one location?  Sure.  But there are also socially progressive companies structured in such a way as to bring business empowerment and work opportunities onto the ground in whatever country or state they operate.  In my opinion, this was another huge benefit of Miessence – they have the potential to provide hundreds or even thousands of meaningful work opportunities, part or full time, for people in regions all across the country and globe.  And now more than ever, with US unemployment at record highs, every new opportunity for fulfilling work created here in our country, states, and neighborhoods, whether from a local or international company, is a significant benefit.