Now that the green movement is seriously underway, consumers can find most anything they need made of organic materials. Understanding that organic means of or derived from living material, shoppers can make a shopping list containing household items and furnishings, clothing, cosmetics and toys that are totally green. A bit of savvy, access to the web to check out ingredients, and, unfortunately, lots of money (this organic stuff is expensive), can net the conscientious shopper good-for-'em items and a clear conscience. Some questions, however, arise now and then as to what is actually organic. Here, the shopper needs to do some research, ask a bunch of questions and be armed with tips concerning what to look for.
Furnishings
Even if the textile covering the sofa is pure and organic, the wood frame may not be so pure. If it is made of pressed woods or particleboard, it will be prepared with substances like formaldehyde. Check with the furniture store or look it up online to see if the wood frame is pure and un-treated. "Natural rubber" in the natural latex mattress must not be mixed with anything else or it is not pure nor organic. "Natural" lies in how the rubber is treated when harvested from the tree, such as baking or freezing the rubber before making it into a mattress. They are usually covered with organic wools and cottons. Corn is used to make pillows. Carpets and area rugs are made of organic wool, cotton, hemp and jute, the last two of which are plant-based (http://www.organicandhealthy.com).
Kitchen, Bath, Home Accents
Bamboo cutting boards, acacia wood salad bowls and tongs, rootwood serving plates, mango wood breadbaskets, divided trays and gravy boats are organic and would look exquisite in any kitchen (http://www.turninglife.com/home-accents). Driftwood made into candle holders or tea light holders, bamboo fountains and rootwood vases can be used around the house as accents to the decor and all organic. Recycled material making up backpacks, laptop bags and totes are all natural and give the consumer something in which to carry other natural products, such as organic cotton bathrobes and towel sets.
Clothing
JCPenney, Sears, Target, Walmart, Kmart and many other retail clothing stores carry lines of 100% organic cotton clothing, including infant and children's clothing. Beware mixtures of spandex with the cotton clothing, for example, because that means it's not pure organic. A simple look at the tag in the clothing will net the shopper pure organic clothing. While the idea of green shoes might be laughable to some, to those serious about the condition of the planet the idea is laudable. To that end, Patagonia makes a shoe eco-friendly, with no harsh chemicals to glue the shoes together, but stitches the recycled materials together. They can be found at Orvis. Skechers makes an organic sneaker for women which can be found at most retailers or on Amazon. Look for the USDA label on all organic items, as producers of organic things must comply with USDA guidelines.
Foods
The Mayo Clinic, writing in an article for the FDA, says to check the label when considering organic foods. Not all foods are organic. Single foods such as eggs, apples, carrots and such are, of course, considered organic. Mixed foods, such as cereals, may be considered natural but only organic if each component of the cereal was organically grown. Meats, dairy products and produce can only be labeled organic by growers who used no chemicals or growth hormones in the production of the foods. In the article, the Mayo Clinic wrote that ordinary foods had no measurable difference in nutrients from organically grown foods. They wrote that since taste is a matter for each individual, consumers should decide for themselves if conventionally grown foods taste better or not than organically grown foods. Also be aware when shopping for organic foods things like pesticide use and wash foods carefully before consumption. The high price of organics come from growers who use alternative methods of pest and weed removal, which can be expensive.
It is possible, if at some cost, to live organically which is good not only for people but for the planet. Research and questions will net the consumer a healthier lifestyle.