The May Roundup

May 27, 2021

A few helpful resources/tips for making better choices for our health, homes, and planet.

Health: BPA in Aluminum Cans

Did you know that aluminum cans have a plastic lining on the inside? This is added to protect the aluminum from the beverage - a Coke would degrade a can in less than 3 days without it - as well as, to protect the beverage from the aluminum.

Some important info to know:

This plastic lining is put into both soda and food cans.
While many companies have stopped using bisphenol A (BPA) to line cans, many still do and some have switched to other toxic alternatives. Do your research on companies you regularly purchase, or limit your exposure to canned foods.
BPA is a chemical that disrupts normal hormone function. It is linked to several diseases, including breast cancer, diabetes, early menopause, low sperm count, and prostate cancer. In California, look for Prop 65 warnings on food to indicate the possible presence of BPA.
Even with the plastic lining, aluminum cans are still recyclable.

Here is a great article by the Environmental Working Group about BPA in canned food : BPA Update: Tracking the Canned Food Phaseout

Home: 3 Reasons You Should Ditch Paraffin Wax Candles

1. They are toxic.

Paraffin wax releases toxic compounds into the air, including acetone, benzene, and toluene (all known carcinogens linked to asthma and lung cancer 😬).

NON-TOXIC ALTERNATIVE: 100% coconut or soy wax candles
ECO-TIP: If it says "soy candle" but doesn't explicitly say "100% soy," they are most likely a mixture of soy and paraffin. The price will usually give it away. Paraffin is much cheaper than soy or coconut wax.

2. They are scented with "fragrance" (read: chemicals).

"Fragrance" is used by companies as a way to hide over 3,000 synthetic ingredients they don't want us to know are in their product. They do this by claiming the fragrance is a "trade secret". Of the 3,000+ ingredients/chemicals allowed under the name "fragrance," 5% are rated as being high hazards and 17% are rated as moderate hazards.

NON-TOXIC ALTERNATIVE: candles scented with dried herbs, flowers, and essential oils
ECO-TIP: Skip products that refuse to tell you exactly what is in them.

3. They have a shorter burn time and don't have a "clean" burn.

Both soy and coconut wax candles burn twice as long as paraffin ones, and produce little to no soot.

Planet: The Environmental Impact of Milk

If you don't have dietary restrictions when choosing 'milks,' soy and oat milk are environmentally the most sustainable in terms of carbon emissions, land use and water. Here is a graph comparing the environmental impact of one glass of different milks:

Milk Alternatives Environmental Impact