You Can Make a Difference - with the products you choose

Personal Products

'30 tonnes of waste are produced for every one tonne of product that reaches us?  And 98% of these products are either consumed or thrown out within six months.  When you include the hidden impact of manufacturing, we each consume our own body weight in materials every two days - so think twice before you buy - ask yourself if you really need it! '  Anne-Maree Huxley, Founder of MOSS (Models of Success & Sustainability, and Convener of the 2006 Corporate Social Responsibility Summit.

Greenpagesaustralia.com.au  and Ecoshop.com.au are great resourses to help you search for eco-friendly products. 

Hairdressers

At last!  Perms & Colours that are non-toxic, environmentally friendly and ammonia free. 100% safe for pregnant women & cancer patients.  My Style on Metro, Cnr Creek Rd & Pine Mountain Rds, Carindale.  3420 3380  

Organic Colours and products are used at Krop Hair on Bennetts Road at Norman Park.

For more info phone 07 3324 8410

Skin Products

So you thought that effective skin products and totally natural, chemical-free skin products were mutually exclusive? Think again! Handmade Naturals, made locally at West End, are absolutely luxurious to use, while being entirely free of chemicals that are harmful both to the skin and to the environment. Plus, they don't cost the Earth (either literally or figuratively) Using products like these is one eco-friendly choice that's easy to make. As well as hair, face and body products, there are non-toxic wall paints in a large range of colours. I recently painted a room in my house with them and was flabbergasted by the complete lack of fumes and the great quality of the paint - the room really does feel new and clean, not new in that toxic-smell, headachy kind of way. Check out Handmade Naturals at 7 Gladstone Rd Highgate Hill or the on-line shop at www.naturals.com.au

Feminine Hygiene

Just like nappies these products contibute to tonnes of landfill waste, there are other options - find which one suits you.

The Natracare range stock biodegradable pads, tampons etc and seem to be widely available.  Found in healthstores, biome and other eco-friendly shops.  The Cottons brand found in most supermarkets do breakdown, but are not recommended for flushing.

We have located a company on the Gold Coast who supply Flushable pads & liners, and they're available at Priceline stores, and coming soon (~Nov 06) to Coles and Big W.  Look out for 'Flushaways', (pink & purple packets - don't be confused by the green natural looking brands that are 'inspired by nature'!).  Flushaways actually breakdown within 28 days in the water treatment system and within 70 days in soil landfill (make sure they're wrapped in bio-degradable bags tho').

For re-usable washable pads see www.moonpads.com.au & www.radpads.com.au, the sites will tell you how much money you'll save, how to use and clean them, and stockists.

More product info to come....