Eco-Friendly Mama: Safe product recommendations with a focus on organic and Made in USA!

For those of you new to my page: I’ve been doing reviews for about a year to fulfill my mission to find the safest products on the market for my family & yours. In that process I have discovered several fabulous lines of products that I’ve happily shared with the page. Many people express interest in trying products from these companies, but then find out how much shipping is for the couple of items they’d like to try & they get discouraged & don’t place that order. The idea is to place infrequent, but large orders with each company as a group. After the November order we’ll be going to quarterly, so the next order won’t be until February. I won’t be selling lines like Earth Mama Angel Baby or Dr. Bronner’s (for example) even though they’re on my safe list, as they’re readily available if not locally, on Vitacost, Amazon, Etc & I can’t come close to competing with the prices they offer. Also, from those companies you have to order by the case, whereas the companies I’m dealing with are small enough that they’re willing to work with our need to purchase eaches (which is crucial to this whole idea!). Getting your friends, family, co-workers, neighbors to go in on an order with you is a great idea, as I can ship it all in one box, and you can divide shipping costs amongst yourselves- so share this idea!!

At this time, there is no discount on product (unless noted). So, what is the advantage of ordering as a group? Consolidated shipping costs! My homemade deodorant is a good example of how expensive it is to ship. I ask $8 for a jar, and it costs $5 to ship via the USPS, they make just about as much as I do. So, many have expressed interest, but then find out shipping doubles the cost & are less interested. Now, you can purchase a jar of my deodorant, a handmade (by me) tie-dyed onesie, dish soap from Poofy Organics, face wash from Fiddlebump’s, toothpaste from Earthpaste, a box of EcoNuts, a bottle of castile soap from MamaSuds, laundry powder from Molly’s Suds, a body scrub from Simply Rustic (for example) & you’ll only pay one shipping fee and receive it all in one box from me to you. I know the USPS rate options well, and flat rate boxes can fit quite a bit of product, so having that box as full as possible saves you money. The idea is that you can order as much as you want, from whichever companies you want, and the more the better.

What I need from you: I need you to be patient, and realize that this is a slow process, but hopefully one that will get products in your hands that you’ve been waiting to try. If you need something immediately, please order it yourself. If you only want items from one company, order it yourself as going through me will not save you any money. The majority of these companies are making these products to order. As none of us have any idea how many of you are going to order it’s possible we could overwhelm a company if, for example, 200 people order dish soap from Poofy Organics (which I hope happens, it’s FABULOUS stuff!!). So, worst case scenario in that situation is Poofy would need to reorder some ingredients to complete the order. I would fill orders in the order they were received, and ship the rest as soon as I get the product in my hands. It may take them a few days to make the orders, then they have to get shipped to me. I turn around & repackage when I have everything, and reship. This whole process could take up to 2 weeks. So, with a deadline to place orders by mid-month, you should have the product in your hands by the end of the month at the latest. I’m sure there are questions I haven’t yet thought of, and situations that will come up. I guarantee I will handle them to the best of my ability, and make sure all parties are happy in the end.

HOW TO ORDER & OTHER IMPORTANT DETAILS:
◾You will email orders to me at: ecofriendlymamausa@gmail.com. Please include your mailing address, and a list of the names of the product you want, and what SIZE, if there is more than one option for that product (2 oz, 4 oz, etc) & what company it is from. Also include the price of the item so I don’t have to look it up. I will start taking orders on the 1st of the month, with the deadline for orders on the 17th of the month (for November). After the November order I will go to a quarterly order, so the next one won’t be until Feb. so stock up in November!!

◾There are no fees to join this ‘club’. But, if you greatly value this service & have a few extra bucks, I’d gladly take a donation in lieu of a memership fee 🙂

◾There is no commitment to ever purchase again.

◾ I’ve decided to ditch the minimum order policy for the buying club (I had requested a $25 min.). I REALLY want to get samples into the hands of those that would like them. You can now get a 10ml sample of my deodorant (~2 weeks worth), MamaSuds just introduced an 8 oz sample of her liquid laundry soap for $4 (2-4 loads), Molly’s Suds offers a 1-2 load sample pack of their powdered laundry detergent for only $2.75, Josiah’s Oils offers a sample of her shampoo (2.5 oz for $2.70), EcoNuts has 10 load samples for $4.50, and Earthpaste (all 4 flavors available to sample, $.25 each, enough for a few brushings). These would all fit nicely into the $5 flat rate envelope- but, that means you’re paying $5 shipping on not a ton of product. If you’re willing to do that, I’m OK with it. BUT, I’d rather see you throw a few other things in that envelope (a tie-dyed onesie/t-shirt or 2 would fit nicely), you could easily add a bottle/jar of this or that from the other offerings of the club too.

◾ I will ship anywhere in the world as you’re paying the shipping from my house to your house. The large flat rate box which will ship anywhere in the US for $12 costs $55 to send to Canada, and $77 anywhere else in the world (this includes $100 of insurance) While I prefer to keep products as local as possible, several of you in Canada & Australia who’ve been on my page for some time express frustration when I come out with reviews for great products, but you don’t have access to them in your country. I’ve mentioned in the past that I’d be happy to put together a package for you, and now that can be a reality!

◾You have 2 options to pay: PayPal, or personal check (many have gone to e-checking, which is fine too). If you don’t already have PayPal, it’s super easy to set up. I’m relatively new to it too, and was hesitant for quite some time, but am very glad I finally set up an account. It can take a few days, so please get one established immediately if you’re going to go that route. The benefit of PayPal is it’s an instantaneous transaction and eco-friendly as no fossil fuels are used to deliver a check across country. Also, it’s extremely convenient when it comes time to ship, as it saves your address & I’ll be able to see a ‘print shipping label’ button next to your name. which will save me manually entering everyone’s address into the USPS system. The other option is you can mail me a check & I’ll drop your package in the mail as soon as I receive it.

◾WI residents must pay 5.5% sales tax.

◾All sales are final. I will fix any errors I make, but if you order the wrong product, or aren’t happy with it, you’re stuck with it…

◾Shipping insurance- USPS includes $100 in insurance using Priority Mail, which I’ll be using. I will split the cost of additional insurance for packages over $100– $100-$200 will cost you an additional $1.60, $200-$300 will cost you an additional $2.55, and the PO informed me you must sign for your package if it’s over $200. I will not split cost of international shipping insurance.

◾You will be charged once your order is ready to ship. I’ll send you a PayPal invoice with the total amount as soon as I have your package ready to go, as soon as I receive payment it’ll go in the mail.

COMPANIES TO ORDER FROM:

I’ve noted a few gift ideas. Of course the personal care product lines all offer many great ideas- who can’t use some great shampoo, lotion, etc? Or if you have someone with eczema in the family, how about an eczema cream from a few different lines (Fiddlebump’s & Poofy both make one) for them to try, as an example.

◾Cold Bee Gone- http://www.buzzagogo.com/. $12.95/bottle. My review: https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=749887745026868&set=a.568349859847325.144572.397517646930548&type=3&theater
◾EcoNuts– http://econutssoap.com/. Everything available, including 10 load sample packs so you can give them a try. Prices as marked on their website: http://econutssoap.com/ My note on soap nuts, in case you’re unfamiliar with them: https://www.facebook.com/notes/eco-friendly-babyfamily-products-made-in-the-usa/truly-natural-laundry-solutions-soap-nuts-wool-dryer-balls/556789574336687

**Gift ideas: reusable bamboo paper towels, samples of the nuts &/or liquid, dryer balls, veggie wash.

◾Fiddlebump’s– everything available, prices as marked: http://fiddlebumps.com/. My review of several products: https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=640223369326640&set=a.568349859847325.144572.397517646930548&type=3&theater

◾H3idiho Designs amber jewelry: https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.755110171171292.1073741831.397517646930548&type=1

◾Jess’s (that’s me) homemade deodorant which has received rave reviews. NEW: 10ml samples (lip balm sized container, enough for ~2 weeks) $2: https://www.facebook.com/notes/eco-friendly-babyfamily-products-made-in-the-usa/jesss-homemade-deodorant-and-body-scrub-are-now-for-sale/645692072113103
◾ Jess’s tie-dyes: https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.723127704369539.1073741830.397517646930548&type=

***All would make great gifts!

◾ Josiah’s Oils LLC– everything available, prices as marked. NEW this time around: samples of shampoo (2.5 oz for $2.70) AND, Order any size of the Germ Fighting concentrated organic essential oils [known as the Thieves Blend] & you may have a FREE 2 OZ made in the USA spray mist bottle to make your own sanitizer or room spray for inhalation or just air freshener. Anyone ordering our Concentrated DIY Household Cleaner essential oil may have a FREE 4 OZ. Spay Bottle also made in the USA to make their own cleaner.: http://www.josiahsoils.com/. My review:https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=678783912137252&set=a.568349859847325.144572.397517646930548&type=3&theater

◾MamaSuds– castile soap for $9/bottle (16 oz.) , and 8 ounce bottles of liquid laundry soap samples (2-4 loads) for $4. The gallon of laundry soap is expensive to ship, and the $20/gallon price directly from her website includes shipping, which is roughly ½ the cost of the product, so there’s no advantage to ordering it from me- you should do so straight from her. I love her castile soap though, and it’s a great alternative to Dr. Bronner’s, so am happy to offer it to the group! Website: http://m.mamasuds.com/. My review: https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=660935610588749&set=a.568349859847325.144572.397517646930548&type=3&theater

◾Molly’s suds– everything available, prices as marked: http://www.mollyssuds.com/ I haven’t used these products yet, but many on the page have tried the powdered laundry soap & have shared great feedback. My review: https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=753873981294911&set=pb.397517646930548.-2207520000.1382562434.&type=3&theater

◾Natulo Ice Teethers made from organic bamboo & organic cotton fabric. http://www.natulo.com/store/index.php?route=product/category&path=61. There will be new colors available for those that bought them during the special offering on my page awhile back. So if you’re looking & seeing just white, check back soon for more options! Prices as marked, and just the teethers available.

◾Poofy Organics: http://www.poofscloset.com/servlet/StoreFront. Everything available, price as marked . My review: https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=657087054306938&set=a.568349859847325.144572.397517646930548&type=3&theater

**gift ideas: nail polish would be a great stocking stuffer, zit zapper kit, and their is a whole page of gift baskets: http://www.poofscloset.com/servlet/the-**HOLIDAY-Gifts-%26-Baskets**/Categories

◾Redmond Trading Company: http://www.redmondtrading.com/. Everything available, prices as marked on everything EXCEPT Earthpaste which I can offer for a bit cheaper $6.00 (it is $7.99 through them, $9.99 on some online sites, $4.59 through Vitacost). NEWLY available, their brand new xylitol-free Spearmint in full size tubes only, no samples are yet available. Also, you can buy a sample of any flavor (except spearmint) Earthpaste for $.25, so it’s a great time to try all flavors!

***Earthpaste sample (10-24 packs) would make nice stocking stuffers, they offer season salt gift boxes, or variety packs of the various salts. Also, the bath salts &/or clay products would be wonderful gifts.

*My review of Earthpaste: https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=677690208913289&set=a.568349859847325.144572.397517646930548&type=3&theater

*Redmond Clay: https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=687531201262523&set=a.568349859847325.144572.397517646930548&type=3&theater

*Real Salt, Season Salt, Bath Salts: https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=691161900899453&set=a.568349859847325.144572.397517646930548&type=3&theater

◾Simply Gum- the only TRULY natural gum in the U.S. $2.99/pack of 12. Here’s my review: https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=759042250778084&set=pb.397517646930548.-2207520000.1383052806.&type=3&theater
◾Simply Rustic: http://www.simplyrustic2011.com/. All products available & prices as marked. My review: https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=568353086513669&set=a.568349859847325.144572.397517646930548&type=3&theater

**She offers different gift boxes & sample packs (you can choose the scents/flavors), many wonderful gift ideas!

◾Smiling Tree Toys– http://www.smilingtreetoys.com/ will be available for a one time order in advance of the Holiday shopping season. The deadline for the club’s 2nd order will be Nov. 17th, but as Smiling Tree is making all these toys by hand, and I anticipate several custom/personalized items, we need to give them a couple of extra weeks to get your items made. I will start taking orders for Smiling Tree Toys on October 27-Nov 3. If you’re not placing an order with the Nov. 17th deadline for the rest of the companies, it makes no sense to order from Smiling Tree through me, do so directly from them. But, if you’d like some items from Smiling Tree, Poofy, EcoNuts, Fiddlebump’s,etc. this will be a great opportunity to get it all shipped in one box, with one shipping fee! Don’t worry, I’ll send out plenty of reminders about this!! PLEASE be very specific when sending me your order, I’d like a list with direct links to each item so we make sure we don’t screw anything up, there’s no returns!

Questions, comments, thoughts, ideas welcome!

I just filed a claim…

The settlement website, NakedJuiceClass.com allows individuals who purchased the products in question between Sept. 27, 2007 and Aug. 19, 2013, including Green Machine, to submit a claim, whether or not they still have proof of purchase. “People who bought Naked Juice and still have a proof of purchase are entitled to a cash payment of up to $75 while those without proof are eligible for up to $45, depending on how much you spent on Naked Juice,” reports ABC News.

Full article: http://www.organicauthority.com/blog/organic/naked-juice-to-pay-customers-75-each-for-selling-mislabeled-gmo-juice/?utm_source=Organic+Authority+Newsletter&utm_campaign=7ad8ee2518-OA_Newsletter_August_31_2013&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_849b3e5b6e-7ad8ee2518-64855337

DEAL ALERT! I just went to order coconut oil from Vitacost, and the 54 oz tub that I normally am thrilled about paying only $21 for, is on sale for $16.99!!! It is USDA organic, unrefined, cold-pressed, extra virgin– all the qualities you want, and I’ve been using it for quite some time happily. Previously I was paying $13 for a 13 oz jar of Nutiva at my food co-op. And, if you order $25 or more of anything Vitacost brand you get free shipping, so I’m ordering 2 jars which will then ship free!!

If you’ve never shopped with Vitacost, I can refer you for a $10 off your 1st order coupon (I get $10 also if you do indeed place an order). Just send me a pm with your email address & I’ll sign you up- even when stuff isn’t on sale, it’s still usually the best deal around!!

What is the ‘safest’ Disposable Baby Wipe?

Unfortunately I cannot recommend any as they all have very questionable ingredients in them and they all make me uncomfortable to put on someone, especially a sensitive, soft skinned babe. Here are a few choices from the EWG that are rated around a 1-2 however, looking closely at the actual ingredient list you can see that they all have toxic substances to them.

My suggestion? If you need something that is disposable for a daycare, grandma’s house, etc….I would home make them with paper towels and a mix of Dr. Bronner’s baby mild and water (or any other homemade recipe you use for your cloth diapers, use on these instead!)

**Below is the break down copied directly from EWG.org/skindeep of a few of disposable wipes that people will commonly think of when trying to find a ‘natural’ baby wipe.**

By Jolene Marty

With so many products out there claiming to be ‘natural’ and ‘safe’, how do we know which are really so? Everything nowadays seems to carry a label promising good and wholesome ingredients for our families however, it is sad to say that many of these are simply advertising ploys to get you to buy their product. Goldfish and sugar cereals have now become ‘natural’ and all baby shampoos are now ‘non-toxic’. Since when? Since the green and healthy living movement became very profitable and the Food and Drug Administration put lax requirements on what can be considered ‘safe’, that’s when. Let’s explore what the requirements are for being natural, non-toxic, etc.
Natural

As of April 2012, the FDA have not developed a description for use of the term natural or its derivatives. On their website they say that they do prefer that a food that contains added color, artificial flavors, and synthetic substances not be labeled as natural. (FDA.gov, 2012) This is obviously not enforced with a closeness as many children’s favorite snacks such as Goldfish Snack Crackers has the label Natural on the front and contains unnatural ingredients such as GMO’s (found in its canola, sunflower, and soybean oils) and MSG (found in its autolyzed yeast). Both of which are toxic for the body. The term ‘natural’ should be second guessed by looking at the label on the side or back of the package. Remember, the FDA does NOT have a regulation for this therefore, anything can quite literally technically have the term natural.

Non-Toxic

This is another common things we see on the backs of products that contain ingredients linked to cancer, endocrine disruptors, and many other horrible effects on the body. Non-Toxic means something will not cause harm to health or the environment….according to the FDA. When seeing the words ‘non-toxic’ it almost always means that it has ingredients that can cause harm to you but are deemed ‘safe’ by the FDA. Here is an example from GreenerChoices.org Consumer Reports:  “CPSC describes tests that can be used to determine acute toxicity in terms of doses lethal to animals. By their definition, if a pint of a substance would be lethal to an average adult, it is considered acutely toxic. If it takes more than this to produce a lethal effect (say a quart), then CPSC would not regard the chemical as toxic. However, a substance that could kill an average adult who drank a quart is certainly not harmless. Such a product could be labeled “non-toxic” and not be in violation of the law.”

This is highly misleading, and letting companies produce toxic products to be sold to the public at ‘less than toxic levels’ so they may TRICK the general public into thinking they are getting a safe, quality item. The truly sick part is that they are profiting majorly from this. Companies will up-charge you for buying their ‘non-toxic’ product over a conventional product even though you are NOT buying a safer item! The Honest Company labels their products as Non-Toxic….here are a few ingredients that they include in some of their products: Cocamidopropyl Betaine (EWG,4), Phenoxyethanol (EWG, 4), and carrageenan (EWG, 3)

Toxin-Free
When something is FREE from any toxins, they can be considered toxin-free. It is not the same thing as being non-toxic. (You will find the rare company that says they are non-toxic and are in fact toxin free). It can be hard to differentiate the difference especially when a company so heavily advertises as being safe but it is something that is solely found by consumer awareness. Many people who have phones or computers can look up the Environmental Working Group’s website (listed at the bottom of this article) and most often the brand is in their database with ingredients broken down as to whether or not they are harmful or not for you. If an item cannot be found, you can search by individual ingredient. A very valuable resources when trying to rid your life of toxic substances.

The Different Tiers of being Organic

There are several levels of being organic and it’s best to know which is what so that you may choose the best option for your family.

100% Organic
According to the USDA’s national organic standards, products labeled as “100 percent organic” must contain only organically produced ingredients. Products containing 100% organic ingredients may display the USDA Organic seal and the certifier’s logo, and must identify the certifying agent.

Organic

To be labeled as “organic,” 95% of the ingredients must be organically grown and the remaining 5% may be non-organic agricultural ingredients or synthetic substances that have been approved for use in organics by the USDA. These products are also allowed to display the USDA organic seal and certifier’s logo, and must identify the certifying agent.
Made with Organic Ingredients

Food products labeled as “made with organic ingredients” must be made with at least 70% organic ingredients. The remaining 30% may be agricultural products that are not produced according to the organic standards, and the ingredients list must clearly specify which products are organic and which are conventional. Non-organically produced agricultural ingredients may be processed with synthetics, but any non-agricultural ingredients appearing in the ingredients list of a “made with organic ingredients” product must be approved for use in organics by the USDA. These products must identify the certifying agent and may display the certifier’s logo on the back panel, but may not display the USDA organic seal.

Wait! There’s A Loophole!

All products using the USDA organic seal (food, personal care products, clothing, etc.) are held to the same standards (a manufacturer using the USDA organic seal on a product that does not qualify would be in violation of federal law, and could be subject to civil penalties). Unfortunately, the USDA does not have authority over the use of the term “organic” in a brand name, and some companies are taking advantage of this loophole. (greenerchoices.org, 2013). This is why when people think they are eating wholesome food or buying safe products they aren’t. Companies that do this should be ashamed.

Other Things to Look For

There are many other ways that companies try to deceive you by way of advertisement, into thinking their product is completely safe for you and your family. Below are listed a few common things to look for when looking for items that are truly safe, so to not get caught up in judging a product by first glance.

The ‘NO’s’ List

Companies like to lure you in by showing you what harmful things they do NOT contain. NO sulfates, NO artificial dye, NO paraben, NO MSG, and NO formaldehyde – which is great! They even put this on the front of the package in large, bold letters to catch your eye and not make you think twice about reading the back label. What you will often find on the back label are things like those nasty little preservatives they like to sneak in there under your nose, or fragrances, or in food autolyzed yeast which actually IS MSG (which is a common ingredient to find in ‘MSG free’ foods-scary right?)

Nature Pictures & Color
When people think of natural, they tend to think of nature…leaves, trees, green, brown, etc. Advertisers know this and try to make things they are trying to sell off as natural, have nature-like packaging. I see this in baby wipes very often. It will have a bunch of leaves on it, the package will be green and have a little bee on the front (and hey it even says Fragrance-free and hypoallergenic) and you think you have found something natural. Sometimes it even will say Natural on the front. Unfortunately upon taking a closer look, you will find things that are horrible for your body and health. These are the items that are general marked up in price because you are buying something ‘natural’ even though it is really far from the truth.

Catch Phrases
The last common thing I see on packaging on either food or products, are catch-phrases that companies make people think they are buying something natural and safe when in fact it is advertisement at its best. A few catch phrases to look out for: Free & Clear (does not mean its free and clear from all toxins), Green (doesn’t mean it’s good for you or the environment), Hypoallergenic (a lot of people are still allergic to these items because of other bad for you ingredients present in them), and sadly the term eco-friendly often gets misused and I find it most often on a bad for you product that happens to be in a made from recycled products package.

I know this was a long article but there are some very common things people should be aware of in order to be informed buyers. There are many, many companies out there that do not care for the well-being of its consumers, only the profit they seek to make by tricking people into thinking they are doing better for their families. Fortunately for us, there are a lot of really great companies that are not greenwashers, they are bonafide, hardworking, honest companies that give forth a toxic free (often organic and handmade) product. Remember, you vote with your dollar and when you know better, you do better.

A few websites with great information:
greenerchoices.org (offer report cards, breaks down FDA laws)
fda.gov (if you are interested in what the law actually says about naming products)
http://www.ams.usda.gov/nop (talks about being organic and the breakdown of such)
And as always if you ever are in need of a great resource that lists the greenwashers AND the safe companies go here: https://ecofriendlyusa.wordpress.com/product-reviews/personal-carecleaning-master-list/

Written by Jolene Marty, Published July 2013.

Most of us are aware of The Dirty Dozen/Clean 15, but what about foods not on there? Things such as almonds for instance, how important is it to buy those organic or not? I LOVE this resource: What’s On My Food: http://www.whatsonmyfood.org/