The Green List
Less toxic, natural, organic, better for the environment, this is a list of products I have swapped out over a year for more eco-conscious choices.
“It’s not easy being green.”
These are the “green” products I have swapped out over a year for more eco-responsible options. I haven’t included links for all of them due to time but I know my community of eco-warriors love to do their own research. You can use this list as a starting point. Please share some of your favorite eco-friendly products in the comment section below.
The Kitchen
Nikken PiMAG Waterfall. This was my first big switch. Nikken really did their research and I love their company philosophy. Nikken considered fundamental aspects for its water systems including application of the types of plastics used for water filtration and storage to provide clean healthy water free of pollutants found in bottled water. Read more here: Environmentally Responsible Water Filtration Systems.
SF Bay Compostable Coffee Pods. One of my favorite Christmas gifts is still my Keurig Kcafe. It covers all of my coffee needs in minutes, but I was really concerned about the K-cup pods. San Francisco Bay coffee pods are delicious, ethically sourced, and commercially compostable.
Blueland Kitchen Clean Kit + Dish Detergent + Dishwasher Pods. The Blueland Mission is to make it easy to be eco with innovative products in reusable packaging that are convenient, effective, and affordable. They live up to their mission. I have all of their products and one of their stylish soap dispensers in every bathroom and in the kitchen.
Luffa elves Natural sponges. I can’t remember what prompted me to seek these out but natural loofah for scrubbing pots just makes sense to me. I found mine on Amazon.
Swedish Dishcloth Cellulose Sponge Cloths. Eco-friendly just throw them in the washer and reuse clothes. Another Amazon find.
Shark Steam Mop with reusable mop pad. Fill with water and the mop cleans with high-pressure steam. When you are done just throw the pad in the washer and use it again when clean.
WFH Office and Living Space
KenkoAir Purifier. Clean indoor air is always paramount but it feels even more necessary given current conditions. The KenkoAir Purifier is Energy Star qualified: 35% more efficient than standard models and saves a minimum of 215 kilowatt-hours per year. It uses a re-usable prefilter for a reduced carbon footprint and features replaceable filters.
Refillable Fountain Pen. This isn’t perfect but there is less waste when you refill a pen instead of throwing it out. I also buy my ink refills in bulk for less packaging.
Furniture Polish. ECOS Non-Toxic 22 Oz Bottle by Earth Friendly Products, Furniture Polish With Olive Oil. I like the polish but they need to work on their packaging. The good thing is you order 2 at a time reducing packaging. Furniture Polish with Olive Oil is made in the USA using thoughtfully sourced global ingredients. Sustainably produced in California, Washington, Illinois, and New Jersey facilities that are carbon neutral, water neutral, and zero waste.
80% of plastic bottles never get recycled and can take up to 700 years to degrade.
Plastic Pens can take up to 700 years to degrade and the ink can be harmful to the environment.
The Bedroom
Kenko Naturest Bedding. The Naturest bedding is made of Chitocotton and contains chitosan. A magnetic layer completes the cocoon effect with far infrared fibers that help to release heat and maintain a comfortable temperature. Comes in biodegradable packaging.
KenkoAir Purifier. Clean indoor air is always paramount but it feels even more necessary given current conditions. The KenkoAir Purifier is Energy Star qualified: 35% more efficient than standard models and saves a minimum of 215 kilowatt-hours per year. It uses a re-usable prefilter for a reduced carbon footprint and features replaceable filters.
Natural bedding materials can reduce allergens.
Save and reuse your product containers in new ways.
Bamboo is non-toxic, sustainable, natural, and organic. It grows at an accelerated rate.
Bathroom
True Elements Skincare Line. This line balanced my skin for the first time since my teen years. The seaweed species in True Elements are harvested off the coast of Brittany in northwest France, and the harvesting method ensures that the seaweed yields are sustainable.
These skin care preparations are natural, organic, and free from parabens, GMOs, mineral oils, phthalates, phenoxyethanol, PEG, EDTA, synthetic colorings, and fragrances. For men and women, True Elements Skin Care is a complete line of products that cleanse, tone, and moisturize — to enhance, protect and care for your skin using nature’s own secrets.
I make my own soap and body lotion. This was a decision I made to reduce packaging, to know what goes into my skincare, and I like doing it.
Blueland Bathroom Cleaner & Glass/Mirror Cleaner. In the past, eco-conscious cleaners have traditionally not performed as well as toxic cleaners but that is not the case with the Blueland products.
Bamboo Toothbrush and Charcoal floss in a glass bottle. This just makes sense. It is estimated that plastic toothbrushes create 50 million pounds of waste annually. A bamboo toothbrush solves that problem and is just as inexpensive.
Bamboo Reusable Makeup Rounds. These babies reduce waste. Just throw them in the washer and reuse them.
Billie Razor Blade Subscription Purchase. This reduces the handle waste because you only replace the blade. Billie’s packaging for the refills is evolving. I think it is important to work with companies in an effort to reduce, recycle, and find sustainable energy sources.
Beauty
BeautyCounter. What I like about the company BeautyCounter is their effort to regulate the beauty community, their transparency, and their efforts to update their packaging.
DIY Lip Balm. I make this myself to reduce waste and because I can know what goes into it. I buy in bulk organic ingredients for all of my DIY skincare products. I found some refillable natural bamboo lip balm tubes on Amazon.
Wegreeco Bamboo Reusable Sanitary Pads (Stylish Pattern). Just wash and reuse. One of my favorite new products. I found mine on Amazon.
Kjaer Weis Refillable lipsticks. I was attracted to this company because they have led the charge in sustainability since 2010. Here is a quote from company founder Kirsten, "Combining ingredient integrity with innovative packaging, we are committed to sustainability - a key pillar of Kjaer Weis. Our brand celebrates beauty in all of its expressions, including kindness, inclusivity, and the connection to our unique self."
Travel
PiMAG Sport Bottle. I never leave home without it. Mine has been around the world and I never worry about water. Nikken considered fundamental aspects for its water systems including application of the types of plastics used for water filtration and storage to provide clean healthy water free of pollutants found in bottled water. Read more here: https://www.selfcarehub.com/blog/environmentally-responsible
Reusable Straws. Disposable straws like toothbrushes compound to make a very negative environmental impact. There are several reusable options.
In just the U.S. alone, one estimate suggests 500 million straws are used every single day. One study published earlier this year estimated as many as 8.3 billion plastic straws pollute the world's beaches.
National Geographic
A clean environment begins at home. Every small change you make greatly reduces your carbon footprint. Indeed, when I decided to compile this list I did not understand how ambitious this project would be. We are all in this together while we travel on this Spaceship Earth.
Be Healthy by Choice!
About Heather N. Abbott:
Heather is the COO at “Self Care Awakening.” Heather is an IIN Certified Health Coach. "I create a sacred space for you to become your best self."
Use the Contact/Book an Appointment page to schedule a free consult.
Heather is a founding member of Ladies Leading Ladies a group dedicated to training and empowering current and future Wellness business leaders.
I am an Nikken Independent Consultant. I work with a team of consultants. I nurture client relationships. I love building new relationships. Let’s connect. I enjoy working from home.
Let's Socialize: @LadySelfCare
Your Wellness WFH Space
What have you learned after working for almost a year from home? How has your at-home classroom transformed in this time? Has your home transformed from a place where you rest your head at night to your sanctuary? What have we learned from this transformation? Perhaps that we all want our homes to be as healthy as they can be? Our WFH office space and makeshift classrooms to be our daily wellness spaces? What would they look like? How would they feel? I hope to paint a picture for you in 7 easy steps.
“My home is my ‘wellness’ castle.”
What have you learned after working for almost a year from home? How has your at-home classroom transformed in this time? Has your home transformed from a place where you rest your head at night to your sanctuary? What have we learned from this transformation? Perhaps that we all want our homes to be as healthy as they can be? Our WFH office space and makeshift classrooms to be our daily wellness spaces? What would they look like? How would they feel? I hope to paint a picture for you in 7 easy steps.
Breathe of Fresh Air
Air quality is one, if not, the major pathway that toxic chemicals and particulates enter our bodies to cause innumerable health concerns. This is why when we go out we are mandated to wear a mask in public. What about the air quality in our WFH office or classrooms? This is a problematic issue as many times we feel ineffective in helping or improving the problem overall.
One simple solution is air-purifying houseplants. These plants promote air quality as well as beautify your space. Don’t have a green thumb? Try a Golden Pothos or a Snake Plant. These plants are very hardy and easy to propagate.
KenkoAir from Nikken
An air purifying system is an investment in your home and your health that will serve you for years especially when dealing with allergens. Even further, “Cleaning up the air we breathe prevents non-communicable diseases as well as reduces disease risks among women and vulnerable groups, including children and the elderly...”, says Dr. Flavia Bustreo, WHO Assistant Director-General Family, Women, and Children’s Health.
My recommendation is the Kenko Air Purifier from Nikken. The KenkoAir® Purifier is designed to combat allergy and harmful causing particles and enhance the negative ion content of the air we breathe. The KenkoAir® Purifier utilizes an H3 multi-stage Hepa filtration process that eliminates 99.9% of air particles as small as 0.3 microns. The negative ion generator does not produce ozone as seen with many other air filtration systems on the market. The KenkoAir® Purifier and the replacement filters are recyclable making this a sustainable, conscious choice.
Missing the Water Cooler Chats?
PiMAG Waterfall from Nikken
Think of it this way… sitting for an extended period of time has negative effects on our health. Standing up and taking a quick stroll for a glass of water has innumerable health benefits not just physically but also offer a much-needed mental break.
This is a good time to check in with friends, family, or yourself and of course hydrate. Water is vital for the functioning of all of your organs, and it’s a huge part of keeping your immune system functioning at an optimal level,” says Dr. Jyothi Tirumalasetty, assistant professor of medicine at UCLA Health Department of Clinical Immunology and Allergies.
Good quality water is also imperative. I recommend the PiMAG Waterfall from Nikken for several reasons.
· You can enjoy clean, filtered, and enhanced drinking water for a fraction of what bottled water costs.
· The PiMAG Waterfall works without electricity or plumbing, it can be used in any location.
· The PiMAG Waterfall is 3rd Party Validated
· The PiMAG Waterfall is constructed of sustainably sourced materials that are 100% recyclable.
Stay Grounded
KenkoGround from Nikken
As I compose this post I can look out my window at the beautiful, sunny, somewhat blustery Northern California day, however, the central and now east coast of the U.S. are being pelted by a huge winter storm so naturally, we are all spending more time indoors losing our connection to Mother Nature. A simple solution is to get outside, barefoot, or at least touch nature in some way, every day to take in vitamin D, detox EMFs, and increase our overall sense of well-being.
When this is impractical the KenkoGround from Nikken serves as an indoor and portable way to reconnect with Mother Nature. Simply plug it into a grounded outlet (does not use electricity) and use it under your feet while working, I use mine on my desk under my bare wrists, on your mattress while you sleep, or even draped around your shoulders. Direct contact with the skin is recommended for the best results.
Stand and Deliver
Bad back, weight gain, incorrect posture … are some of the things we can eliminate by standing up. I recently heard this thing called the 52:17 rule. You work on a project for 52 minutes then take a 17-minute break. I have been trying this since the new year and love it. I bang away at the keyboard for 52 minutes then I spend 17 on my feet. I unload the dishwasher, dust, clean the floors… just walk. Anything that takes me away from the desk and gets’s me mobile.
Feeling Blue? Block it.
While research on blue light blocking glasses is very new and inconclusive I find that they help me greatly reduce eye fatigue. These glasses work if you are wearing contacts and work for precious little peepers attending virtual class. I picked mine up on Amazon for around $50. At that price, they are worth a shot.
Level Up Your Tidiness
I am one of those people that have a place for everything and everything must be in its place otherwise I am less productive. For years I worked with a very untidy person (at least by my standards) but it worked for her. Everything had a pile and that pile made sense to her. Tidiness is bio-individual but necessary for productivity. I use those 17 minutes I mentioned earlier to tidy my WFH office and living space. I also find unique accents that are pretty, novel, travel souvenirs, create a unique workspace that is mindful and meaningful to me.
De-Stress
KenkoTouch from Nikken
De-stress your muscles and ease tension with an effective at-home deep-tissue massage. Massage is an effective way to ease aching muscles. A deep-tissue massage can help loosen tight muscles, ease discomfort and relieve stress. A good massage can produce positive results even for those who enjoy excellent health. The KenkoTouch® is a unique advanced pulsating, system that gives you a heightened magnetic massage experience that you can use on your body in your home.
Respiration, hydration, grounding, movement, protection, organization, and relaxation the bare necessities of a wellness WFH office or classroom. Be Healthy by Choice.
What are your favorite wellness WFH tips or products? Please share in the comments below.
.
Earth Day 2020
One of the things that fill me with an appreciation for our Nikken Global Wellness Community is our contribution to our communities and planet earth every day. For example…
Every day should be Earth Day!
Happy Earth Day. This is the 50th Earth Day and every year we are reminded to be stewards of our beautiful and amazing planet. One of the things that fill me with an appreciation for our Nikken Global Wellness Community is our contribution to our communities and planet earth every day.
To illustrate this point I posed this question to our Global Wellness Community via a What’s App group.
“Let’s list ten ways that Nikken is committed to sustaining planet earth on a daily basis”.
Here are the responses I received in less than an hour.
Ten Ways Nikken helps protect Planet Earth
1. Nikken products are made from sustainable resources.
Gary Lindner, Lodi, CA
2. Nikken uses recyclable packaging.
Maggie McKee, Vancouver, British Columbia
3. Nikken promotes a reduced carbon footprint.
Sue Gruber, Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio
4. Nikken sources and utilizes certified organic products whenever possible for our consumable product line. Reducing toxic chemical uses. True Elements, Nikken’s skincare line, is safe for the coral reefs. It is made from sustainable seaweed.
Heather Abbott, Lodi, CA
5. Nikken products are made of biodegradable materials, whenever, possible.
Marianne Kelchner, Torrance, CA
6. Nikken products reduce and eliminate single-use plastics.
Michael DiMuccio, Toronto, Ontario
7. Nikken teaches/inspires a Global Community to teach others to reduce the use of plastics.
Sheri Danzig, Atlanta, Georgia
8. Most of the Nikken products are durable and last a long time so we are not adding to throw-away consumerism.
Maggie McKee, Vancouver, British Columbia
9. Less water waste with the Nikken Waterfall over reverse osmosis filtration. Increased consciousness, lifestyle practices, and sharing of the Nikken Purpose and Mission as a “movement” by Global Community members to create a “shift” in the positive direction of the trajectory of not only sustaining but improving Planet Earth.
Madeline Zaworski, Lorain. Ohio
10. Nikken sources and works with companies that use alternative sources of power. Green power like wind, water.
Heather Abbott, Lodi, CA
So there are ten ways that Nikken does its part for a healthier planet. I could have added many more. Let me give one good example for clarification. Our PiMag Waterfall and the PiMag Sports bottle are made from biodegradable materials. Nikken’s water filtration products provide healthy water at a one to one ratio, thus conserving water.
Drink Filtered Water to Reduce Bottled Water Use for Earth Wellness
How we recycle and reuse products directly impacts the environment. For example, about 1500 single-use plastic bottles end up in landfills or our ocean every second. Wow, there just went 1550 bottles. By using water filtration devices such as the PiMag Waterfall® and reusable drinking bottles such as the PiMag® Sport Bottle, this contemptible number can be reduced to help sustain our resources and the environment.
For more information on the Nikken Pimag water products please view two recent recordings of our Healthy by Choice Master Class.
The Great Bottled Water Debate
These are a few ways that Nikken and our Global Wellness Community are committed to helping anyone and our planet Be Healthy by Choice.
Next week’s Healthy by Choice class will be discussing the science of grounding. Given social distancing and self-isolation currently, it is an opportune time to see how to MAKE EARTH DAY, EVERY DAY in your Nikken Wellness Home. Staying home does not mean sacrificing Self Care.
Please join us and invite guests for our next Master Class, Grounding Matters on Tuesday, April 28th at 9 pm Eastern, 6 pm Pacific. Together we can all help anyone Be Healthy by Choice. To Join the broadcast click this link and follow the prompts www.theroyalalliance.com/live see you on Tuesday.