Say No to Q-tips®

Single Use Is the Enemy

 When it comes to going zero waste, single use anything is the enemy, and Q-Tips are a prime example of a product that's wasteful by nature! 

You can use multiple in one sitting, and you really can't use them again because that's not at all sanitary.

If you haven't seen the reality check of a photo that's been all over the internet recently here it is. Wildlife photographer Justin Hofman (@Justinhofman) posted it to Instagram this September:

---

It's a photo that I wish didn't exist but now that it does I want everyone to see it. What started as an opportunity to photograph a cute little sea horse turned into one of frustration and sadness as the incoming tide brought with it countless pieces of trash and sewage. This sea horse drifts long with the trash day in and day out as it rides the currents that flow along the Indonesian archipelago. This photo serves as an allegory for the current and future state of our oceans. What sort of future are we creating? How can your actions shape our planet? . thanks to @eyosexpeditions for getting me there and to @nhm_wpy and @sea_legacy for getting this photo in front of as many eyes as possible. Go to @sea_legacy to see how you can make a difference. . #plastic #seahorse #wpy53 #wildlifephotography #conservation @nhm_wpy @noaadebris #switchthestick

27.6k Likes, 1,659 Comments - Justin Hofman (@justinhofman) on Instagram: "It's a photo that I wish didn't exist but now that it does I want everyone to see it. What started..."

---

So you shouldn't use Q-tips because they are generally terrible.

But even if you're not motivated by conscience, why else should you move away from these little buggers?

Q-Tips are actually terrible at removing wax

Yup. Q-Tips over time push wax further into your ear, eventually blocking your hearing. This can lead to needing treatments where you actually need to get the wax vacumed out of your ear! Ya, that doesn't sound to pleasant to me either...

They can cause infection

The American Hearing Research Foundation recommends against using cotton tipped applicators (such as Q-tips), not only do you run the risk of breaking your ear drum and jamming wax deeper inside your ear, but they also also increase the risk of bacterial infection of the external canal, commonly called swimmer’s ear (Nussinovitch et al 2004).

Alternatives

NOTE: If you have something weird going on with your ears, like ear pain, abnormal discharge, tubes, or a potentially ruptured ear drum, stop reading blogs and talk yo your doctor, you may need medical attention.

1. HYDROGEN PEROXIDE

For a deeper clean, you really need to soften the wax in the canal and let it pour out itself.

Lie down on your side and squeeze a few drops of hydrogen peroxide into your sky-facing ear. Don’t let the fizzing and popping noises freak you out—that means it’s working. Let it sit for 10 to 15 minutes, then tilt your head into the sink or a bowl to drain the remaining solution and the wax it dislodged out of your ear.

2. OLIVE OIL.

 The American Hearing Research Foundation recommends adding two to three drops of olive oil into your ear, then letting it drain out, on a regular basis. They suggest doing this once per week in each ear to help soften ear wax so that it can work its way out. 

3. Ear-picks

Consider these Q-tips of the past, and potentially the future.  They have been recorded in medieval and Roman periods, the Viking-age and at 9th century Anglo-saxon sites. 

Ear picks do the job that Q-tips fail at, removing the wax from the outer ear. So don't stick this sucker all the way into your ear, that's how you pop ear drums. Simply use the small hooked end to remove wax from the area just before your ear canal. 

I would use this as a supplemental method to the ones listed above.

I got my metal ear pick from the Zero Market in Denver. You can find wood ear picks on Etsy, and metal ones like mine on Amazon. Be sure to clean using hydrogen peroxide in between uses!

Note: Many sources recommend not putting anything small into your ear, including ear picks. However this is generally because if you place them too far into your ear (into the inner canal) you run the risk of rupturing your ear drum and jamming wax deeper inside your ear. So only use ear picks to clean the outer portions of your ear, no deeper! As a guideline:  try placing your pinky finger gently into your ear (no shoving!), do not use the ear pick any further than your pinky finger can go!

4. GO TO THE DOCTOR.

If you're reading this post because things are so backed up in your ear that you're having trouble hearing or experiencing pain of any kind, you need to go to the doctor. Call your General Practitioner, or get a referral for an Ear, Nose and Throat doctor (ENT) who can give you a safe, heavy duty cleaning.

5. GO natural

If you are a die-hard Q-tip user and just are not willing to give them up, then I recommend buying 100% organic cotton Q-Tips. These are compostable and are less chemically laden than traditional Q-tips.

Choosing Between doTERRA and Young Living Essential Oils

a little disclaimer:

When I first started looking into this, it felt like such a charged subject. I saw a lot of hateful things being said about both companies and their founders; much of it baseless speculation and assumption.

So if you're looking for a breakdown w/o any emotional charge, you're in the right place!

This is just how I made my own personal choice between these two companies. Both brands offer incredibly high quality oils, unlike those that you find at most health and grocery stores. I think they are both excellent choices if you are interested in making essential oils a regular part of your wellness routine!

Why does this decision feel so confusing?

My answer: lack of third party testing and certifications. 

As ethical consumers, we rely on third party testing to know that the companies we buy from are operating correctly. However, neither YL nor dT is Fair Trade Certified, FDA Certified Organic, or a B-Corporation. 

What this means is that we as consumers need to put a lot of trust into these companies that they are doing what they claim, which is not necessarily a position I like being in. 

My Breakdown:

I started to feel overwhelmed with all of the information, both negative and positive, I was hearing and reading about both brands. It's challenging to get objective data since both companies rely on their customers as sellers. I am really hoping that in years to come one (or both!) of them will apply to become B Corps. But until then, I'm going to have to rely on my own investigative abilities.

 So I took a page out of my grandfathers book and made a spreadsheet to break down the data that could be verified.

---

	Young Living	doTerra
General
Price of Equivalent enrollment kits	- $160 (plus tax & shipping) : Premium Starter Kit: Diffuser, 55 mL oils ($2.90/mL)	- $150 (plus tax & shipping) : AromaTouch® Diffused Kit: Diffuser, 40 ml oils ($3.75/mL) - $275 (plus tax & shipping) : Home Essentials Kit: Diffuser, 140 mL oils ($1.96/mL) doTERRA has many more starter kit options than YL Note: I ended up paying $220 (plus tax & shipping) for doTERRA's Home Essentials Kit whcih comes to $1.57/mL
Product Testing	- Uses owned and third party labs for testing. - Self-regulated - Limited transparency, no release of GC-MS tests - Issues with adulterated oils	- Uses third party labs for Gas Chromatography and Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS) testing - Self regulated - CPTG Certified Pure Therapeutic Grade® - Extrememly transparent - Worked directly with FDA to develop standards
Environement
Environmental Reporting:	- As of Aug 2017, working with SCS Global Services to advance and improve their Seed to Seal® promise	- Source to You ® - No third party reporting
Distillation Methods	- Steam distillation - Cold pressing (citrises) - Resin Tapping (Frankinsense, Myhrr, copaiba) - Solvent / Chemical Extraction (Jasime, neroli)	- Steam distillation - Cold pressing (citrises) Note: Frankinsense is harvested via resin tapping but distilled via low temp steam distillation
Habitats & Resources:
People:
Human/ Workers Rights:	- Little transparency of workers locations and conditions, some OSHA violations	- Co-Impact Souring, not 3rd party regulated - No OSHA violations
Supply Chain Management:	- Has a company code of eithics and claims to follow DSA Code of Ethics - Seed to Seal ® (recent violations are problematic for this) - Following a Lacey compliance program (b/c of previous violations)	- Co-Impact Sourcing - not third party regulated - No OSHA violations
Irresponsible Marketing:	- Seed to Seal not necessarily guaruntee (see legal actions) - Gary Young is not a Doctor though advertised he was at some point (not confirmed w/ reliable source)	None that I could find
Giving Back	D. Gary Young Foundation	Healing Hands Foundation
Politics:
Company Ethos	- Some illegal actions in sourcing (rosewood) - OSHA Violations (only a few incidences) - One worker death (accident, not related to bad working conditions)	- No OSHA Violations - No Criminal Activity - Co-Impact Sourcing (not 3rd party certified)
Legal Actions	- illegal harvesting and importing of Rosewood (voluntarily reported) - Violation of Lacey, Puruvian law, and CITES	- As of June 2017, All charges against doTERRA and its defendants by YL have been dismissed
Organic Product	- Stringint product testing, meets organic standards, though not as transparent	- CPTG Certified Pure Therapeutic Grade® meets organic standards
Certified Fair Trade	No	No
Certified B-Corp	No	No

---

my final choice

In the end / for now, I chose doTERRA. Here's why:

1. Recent Legal Actions
   • The fact that YL recently was found to have been illegally sourcing Rosewood was a really big deal to me. And it's hard for me to believe that this is a one time incident. If nothing else, it shows that there are cracks in their Seed to Seal promise.
   • doTERRA also recently won the lawsuit that YL had taken against it.  This shows me that doTERRA did not do anything illegal when their founders broke away from YL to start the company.  
2. Sourcing
   • This was a hard thing to judge simply because neither company is Fair Trade Certified. I'm really hoping doTERRA will have a third party certification soon. 
3. Third Party GC-MS testing and reporting
   • YL does not release their GC-MS tests, and there shouldn't be any reason not to. I read a piece written by a long time YL user who had her oils tested only to find that they were indeed adulterated with synthetics (read her post here).
   • DT does use third party testing and reporting when it comes to GC-MS testing, and this means you can rest assured that your oils have not been adulterated with any synthetics

Honestly, if I had made this decision even 6 months ago it might have been different. But the recent releases about Young Living nudged me in doTERRAs direction.

Sources

1. https://static.youngliving.com/en-US/PDFS/yl_stringent_unyielding_quality.pdf
2. https://www.doterra.com/US/en/cptg-testing-process
3. http://holisticessentials.ca/the-day-young-living-broke-my-heart/
4. https://us1.campaign-archive.com/?u=15eeb032645db017198d0931b&id=97addd555b&e=1c4ef13115
5. https://www.youngliving.com/en_US/opportunity/products/starter-kits
6. https://www.doterra.com/US/en/pl/enrollment-kits
7. https://www.scsglobalservices.com/young-living-essential-oils-takes-sustainability-commitment-to-next-level
8. https://sourcetoyou.com/
9. http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0959652604000654
10. https://www.doterra.com/US/en/brochures-magazines-living-winter-2013-2014-distilling-essential-oils
11. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0Z6Yp9AfufI
12. https://www.forbes.com/sites/devinthorpe/2016/05/25/doterra-reinvents-supply-chain-for-impact-on-poverty/#240927a85c43
13. https://www.doterra.com/US/en/difference-co-impact-sourcing
14. "https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/essential-oils-company-sentenced-lacey-act-and-endangered-species-act-violations-pay-760000
15. https://www.osha.gov/pls/imis/establishment.inspection_detail?id=303609242"
16. https://www.doterra.com/US/en/about-fact-sheet
17. https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/essential-oils-company-sentenced-lacey-act-and-endangered-species-act-violations-pay-760000
18. https://www.osha.gov/pls/imis/establishment.inspection_detail?id=303609242

The Search for a Natural Mattress

Why is Mattress shopping so confusing

1. Misleading reviews - it turns out there is a rather cozy tie between many mattress companies and their online reviewers. Colorado Public Radio did an awesome piece on this pretty bizzare sector here.
2. Green-washing - this is really prevalent in pretty much every product area, and mattresses are no exception, I honestly think I even fell for a bit of green-washing in my own mattress purchase!
3. Price - mattresses are a big purchase, they're expensive, and if you get a high quality one they should be with you for the next 10-20 years. So it can definitely feel like a high pressure situation!

Given all of that, it's hard to know what to trust, from reviewers and mattress companies alike. 

I found it incredibly challenging to balance finding a high quality mattress, that was plant based, ideally organic, and also affordable. 

Why should I buy a Natural Mattress?

I know this is a cliche, but its a valid one, you spend so much time on your mattress. If your spending 1/3 of your 24 hr day on a mattress heavily laden with chemicals for 15+ years, how could it not affect you in some capacity?

What Chemicals are in traditional mattresses?

Well, firstly, its hard to know because mattress manufacturers are not legally required to disclose the chemicals used in their beds. Ya. So that does make this whole process significantly more challenging.

However, we do know that most traditional mattresses can (and most often do) contain:

1. Polyurethane foam
2. Synthetic latex
3. Flame retardants (HFRs, PBDEs, Boric Acid, Vinyl, Antimony, TDCPP or TCEP, Decabromodiphenyl Oxide, & Antimony)
4. Chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) - Ozone depletors 
5. Mercury, lead and other heavy metals
6. Formaldehyde
7. Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs)

So how do I know my mattress is safe?

Third part certifications are the best way to know whats in your mattress.  Here are a few you should look for:

1. CertiPUR-US®
   • No CFCs
   • No PBDEs, TDCPP or TCEP flame retardants 
   • No mercury, lead, or other heavy metals
   • No formaldehyde
   • no phthalates
   • Low VOC emissions
2. GOTS (Global Organic Textiles Standard)
   1. Textile products that contain a minimum of 70% organic fibers
   2. All chemical inputs must meet certain environmental and toxicological criteria
   3. A functional waste water treatment plant is mandatory for any wet-processing units
3. GOLS (Global Organic Latex Standard)
   •  Latex must contain more than 95% of certified organic raw material
4. GREENGUARD Gold®
   •  Offers stricter certification criteria, considers safety factors to account for sensitive individuals (such as children and the elderly)
5. STANDARD 100 by OEKO-TEK®
   1. No Azo colourants, formaldehyde, pentachlorophenol, cadmium, nickel, etc.
   2. Regulates many other harmful chemicals, even if they are not yet legally regulated
   3. Meets CPSIA (US Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act) lead requirements
6. EuroLatex ECO-Standard
   • No Heavy metals
   • No Nitrosamines
   • No Pesticides
   • Low Volatile organic components

What I Looked For

1. In my budget - our new bed needed to be affordable, but mattresses are expensive, no matter how you slice it.
2. Plant based - I wanted everything to be plant based when it came to my mattress. For everything to be eventually compostable was the dream, but as long as petroleum wasn't involved, I was willing to give it a shot.
3. Ideally organic - I was willing to compromise on the organic part, just knowing that my mattress was minimally plant based was the biggest thing I cared about
4. Ideally Local - I was also willing to compromise on finding a local mattress company, but I was really hoping I'd be able to do so!

Who I bought From

My boyfriend and I bought our most recent mattress from Sleep Nation, a local Denver Company. 

The reasons we did so were:

1. Budget: we were able to get a model with organic latex within our budget
2. Local: The mattresses are made in Denver
3. Plant Based: 7" of plant based memory foam sits underneath 3" of latex
   1. Letex is certified by GOLS
   2. Plant based memory foam is 50% plant oils 50% petro mix
   3. Covering is made of organic cotton 
4. Certifications: CertiPUR-US®, GOLS Latex, GOTS mattress cover
5. 15 year warranty, and free recycling of your old mattress, will accept your mattress back for recycling when it's run its course.

My boyfriend and I were able to get a Broadway Model on clearance, so it was a steal. if I had to pay full price I definitely would have gone in a different direction. 

Also, our new bed is outrageously comfortable! We've been referring to it as "the cloud" and we both feel as though we've been sleeping better since switching from the traditional spring mattress we were on before.

What I wish i knew earlier

I had never heard of plant-based memory foam when I walked into Sleep Nation, but I did notice that it was less expensive than I expected.

I now know that most plant based memory foam mattresses are not 100% plant based. Most are actually closer to 20% plant derived. Pretty much anything advertised as "memory foam" is at least 50% petroleum. So while plant based is definitely a step in the right direction, it's not plastic / petroleum free.

I wish I would have know this earlier, I may have made a different decision.

However, even though my mattress is not completely biodegradable, it is still recyclable, and is supposed to last at least 15 years! So, while we maybe could have made a better choice, I'm still ok with our purchase.

how to cut costs

Buying all natural in the mattress department can be expensive, so how can you make it more affordable?

Ditch your boxspring.

I stopped using boxspring when I moved out of my parents house. I move so often (I haven't lived in the same place for over 9 months since I was 18) that lugging a box spring around seemed pretty freaking useless.

Platforms are where it's at. I've switched to a simple mattress frame made by Zinus (link) that folds and travels easily in my car. It also gives tons of storage room under the bed! 

So when we decided to upgrade to a queen, I was on the prowl on craigslist. I found a high quality, barely used, queen Zinus frame for $100 (normally $130). It was so close I just walked to pick it up! Second hand winning.

What I did with our old mattress

We gave it away! 

We could have offset the cost of our new bed by selling our old mattress and frame on craigslist. However, I decided to give it to my brother and his fiance who are working on furnishing a guest room! 

^ The real reason we needed a bigger mattress

Recommended Mattress Companies

Note: I am not receiving anything from any of these companies in exchange for these recommendations, they are based purely on my own research and opinions.

100% NATURAL:

1. The Futon Shop
   • Certifications: GOLS & GOTS
     • CertiPUR-US® is a certification for foams, since the Futon Shop doesn't use synthetic foams they don't have / need this certification
   • The Futon Shop offers mattresses that will eventually biodegrade! They are made of latex and wool, which is about as good as it gets. Depending on your price point, I would keep an eye out and wait for a sale!
   • The main reason I didn't buy from the Futon Shop was that we were ready to make our purchase, and I didn't have the time to wait for a sale (and they do occasionally have rather large sales!) If the purchase could have waited, I probably would have bought from these guys.
   • Also, another purchase coming up for us is a replacement futon pad, and I am definitely going to buy from the Futon Shop for that!
   • Made in San Francisco!
2. Sleep On Latex
   • Certifications: Oeko-Tex and eco-Institut Latex, GOTS-Certified Organic Cotton and GOTS-Certified Organic New Zealand Wool,
   • Made of 100% Natural Latex Foam, GOTS-Certified Organic Cotton and GOTS-Certified Organic New Zealand Wool, this mattress marks a new standard in Latex Mattresses. Our design team carefully crafted this natural latex mattress for comfort, beauty, durability and ease of use! Each mattress is hand sewn, assembled and packaged in the USA by our highly skilled production team.
   • Made in Chicago!

MIXED NATURAL / PETRO

1. Essentia
   • Certifications: GOLS, GOTS, EuroLatex ECO-Standard, STANDARD 100 by OEKO-TEK®, Green America Gold
   • Essentia mattresses look awesome to me, they're just out of my price range. 
   • Made in Montreal, Canada!
2. Sleep Nation
   • Certifications: CertiPUR-US®, GOLS, GOTS
   • I think Sleep Nation is an awesome "split the difference" option. Their plant based memory foam isn't 100% plant based, but it's still a step up from the traditional stuff. They also do use 100% natural latex, and their beds are certified to last 15 years.
   • Note: Sleep Nations website is pretty terrible. I was able to walk into their store, see their mattresses, and negotiate price. I would highly recommend either calling or going to a store as opposed to ordering online.
   • Made in Denver!

PETRO, BUT CERTIFIED TO BE NON-TOXIC

1. Tuft and Needle
   • Certifications:  CertiPUR-US®, GREENGUARD GOLD®,STANDARD 100 by OEKO-TEK®
   • As far as price goes, it's hard to beat Tuft & Needle. They offer incredibly competitive prices on all their mattress 
   • Tuft and needle, though the mattresses could be considered non-toxic, are made with petroleum. The bottom layer is a high-density polyurethane foam and the top layer is  Tuft & Needle Adaptive Foam, which is also petroleum based. Both foam are certified by CertiPUR-US®.
   • Made in the US, mostly in South Carolina!