Last month I wrote about Oregon becoming the sixth state to legalize hemp production. This month, we’ve taken another step toward legalizing production of this great plant! Laura Murphy from Bozeman, Montana, has been issued the state’s first license to grow hemp. Montana’s legislature made hemp production legal in 2001, but Murphy was the first to apply for the two-year license. Murphy told the Missoula, Montana, Missoulian that she plans to lease 160 acres of unused ranch land to grow the hemp.

Hemp is a sustainable, versatile plant that could help stimulate the U.S. economy—if it was legal to harvest in the States.  Photo By over the atlas/Courtesy Flickr.  

Federal law bans hemp cultivation because it’s distantly related to marijuana, although it contains low levels of THC, the psychoactive ingredient in marijuana that gets users high. Because of this, Murphy will have to attain a permit from the Drug Enforcement Administration, which she says she has no intention of doing. Hemp became illegal with the Controlled Substances Act of 1970. Since then, all industrial hemp sold and used in the United States has been imported from Canada, China and Europe. Hemp products amounted to $300 million in annual retail sales in North America last year—money that could be going to American farmers.

Six states including, Maine, Montana, New Mexico, Oregon, North Dakota and Vermont have already set up state-regulated programs for growing hemp (pending DEA action), but the federal government doesn’t recognize those laws. In 2002, Montana officials applied to the DEA for recognition of their state’s hemp-growing laws, but the request was denied. A few U.S. hemp-growing operations have received DEA clearance, but only after the growers installed fencing and security to prevent public access to the hemp.

Also this month, six activists protests the hemp-farming ban by planting packets of hemp crunch, toasted (and ungrowable) hemp seeds imported from Canada, on the lawn of the DEA headquarters. The activists included two farmers and other hemp industry leaders including Dr. Bronner’s Magic Soaps president David Bronner, Vote Hemp communications director Adam Eidinger, Hemp Industries Association president Steve Levine and Livity Outernational Hemp Clothing founder Issac Nichelson. The activists were arrested on trespassing charges.

Before you paint your kids’ faces for Halloween, you might want to think twice. A new Campaign for Safe Cosmetics report reveals that some children’s face paints contain heavy metals such as lead, nickel and cobalt that can cause lifelong skin sensitization and contact dermatitis. You won’t find any mention of these metals on the products’ ingredients labels—which might even claim the products are “hypoallergenic” and “FDA compliant.” 

Keep your kids safe this Halloween. Avoid face paints that may contain heavy metals.  Photo By plasticrevovler/Courtesy Flickr .

The Campaign for Safe Cosmetics had an independent lab test 10 children’s face paints for heavy metals. All 10 products contained traces of lead, ranging from 0.05 to 0.65 parts per million. Experts say there’s no safe level of lead exposure for children and have linked early exposure to reduced school performance, delinquent behavior, aggression and even increased risk for Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s diseases. 

Six out of ten face paints also contained nickel, cobalt and chromium, ranging in levels from 1.6 to 120 parts per million. Industry safety recommendations for these materials, which can trigger lifelong skin rashes, is only 1 part per million. 

Scary stuff, but it’s easy enough to avoid this problem. Choose costumes for your children that don’t involve face paint, or create your own face paint using natural ingredients and one of these recipes from the Campaign for Safe Cosmetics.

For years, RugMark International, a nonprofit organization, has been working to prevent child labor in the rug industry through its RugMark certification label, which guarantees that rugs are made only by adult artisans. Now it’s taking that crusade another step forward with a new brand label, GoodWeave.

A Nepalese woman prepares yarn for a rug. Photo Courtesy GoodWeave.

Rugs with a GoodWeave label have been made by companies that follow the International Social and Environmental Accreditation and Labeling Alliance’s (ISEAL) Codes of Good Practice. These standards allow GoodWeave to address not only child labor, but also other future social and environmental issues. It also allows GoodWeave to incorporate other textile products into its certification program in the future. 

To obtain GoodWeave certification, rug-making facilities must agree to let GoodWeave inspectors randomly monitor them for illegal child labor. If GoodWeave inspectors find children in the workplace, it partners with local non-governmental organizations to facilitate their rescue and place the children in schools. 

GoodWeave inspectors monitor rug-making facilities for child labor. Photo Courtesy GoodWeave.

To prevent counterfeiting, each GoodWeave-certified rug comes with a number that can be traced back to the producer. Enter the number online to learn the rug’s origin, the craft process used to create the rug and the community programs that the rug’s purchase will support. 

Purchase a Goodweave-certified rug on the GoodWeave website or find a retailer near you.

A few weeks ago I wrote about how the popularity of palm oil—even certified organic palm oil—is wreaking havoc on rainforests and ecosystems around the world. Despite the Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil’s efforts to make certified sustainable palm oil available, major buyers just weren’t biting.

Until now. 

Last month Seventh Generation announced that it will use only 100 percent certified sustainable palm oil in its products by 2012. Palm oil is a key ingredient in Seventh Generation’s plant-based cleaning products, making the company one of the largest non-food buyers of palm oil. 

Seventh Generation’s goal is twofold: to ensure that its palm oil is certified sustainable and traceable back to the source, and to help transform the palm oil industry. To meet this second goal, Seventh Generation has teamed up with the Rainforest Action Network to protect the world’s rainforests and the rights of the people who live in them. The two organizations have pledged to support strong forest provisions in the U.S. climate legislation and policy and the United Nations Climate Negotiations.

Seventh Generation also hopes to transform the palm oil industry by setting an example. The company will be transparent in its palm oil use and will publicly disclose its suppliers in hopes that other companies will follow suit.

Nearly everything in our homes—from the upholstery to the plywood— is made from or treated with chemicals. That’s scary enough, but get a load of this: Of the 82,000 chemicals currently in commerce in the United States, less than 10 percent have been tested for neurotoxicity. In the past, the Environmental Protection Agency has taken a low profile in this area—largely because it faces challenges in obtaining the information necessary to assess the chemicals’ human health and environmental risks. 

Many pieces of home furniture are made from plywood, which is chemically treated. Photo By dougfelt/Courtesy Flickr.

Great news this week: The EPA is starting to pay attention, and so is Congress. 

The EPA announced it may start regulating chemicals, with an immediate look at those considered most problematic for people’s health. In Congress, a bill that would lower formaldehyde levels in composite woods was introduced. 

Congress is currently working on Essential Principles for Reform of Chemicals Management Legislation, a bill that would give the EPA a much stronger hand in controlling what chemicals are permissible in the United States. The new EPA measures would require all chemicals entering the market to be tested for their impacts on human health and the environment. Manufacturers would be required to absorb the cost of these tests. 

In addition, the U.S. Senate is following California’s lead in taking on formaldehyde. A bill introduced by Senators Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.) and Mike Crapo (R-Idaho) is calling for lower formaldehyde levels in composite woods. 

Formaldehyde is ubiquitous in the modern home; it can be found in pressboard and particleboard, is used to finish fabric and is a component in the glue used in wood veneer. It’s also a known carcinogen, linked to throat cancer, respiratory ailments, watery eyes and depression. Americans were introduced to formaldehyde’s hazards after Hurricane Katrina, when victims parked in FEMA trailers that contained high formaldehyde levels became ill. 

Under the Senate bill, formaldehyde levels would have to meet California’s Air Resources Board (CARB) health standards: 0.09 parts per million (ppm). An average home has a formaldehyde level between 10 and 20 ppm, and the FEMA Katrina trailers had levels of 77 ppm. The bill also requires third-party testing and certification of levels in both domestic and imported products. 

The bill is currently in the committee of environment and public works. The new standards would take effect by January 1, 2012, but most domestic manufacturers are already scrambling to meet them. The Composite Panel Association estimates that 100 percent of American manufacturers already comply with California’s code.

While you’re waiting for the government to act, there’s plenty you can do. Check out these easy ways to keep harmful chemicals out of your home and clean your home with safe, environmentally friendly cleaners.

At the end of last year, our friends at Boulder’s The Fresh Ideas Group (FIG), a PR agency for natural products companies, went out on a limb with some public predictions about how Americans would act in 2009. As the year winds down, let’s see how they did.   

They predicted: We’ll get thrifty.

FIG forecasted that thrift stores, consignment shops, antique stores and sites like eBay and Craigslist would see a boost in sales. 

What happened: They got it partly right. According to Forbes, eBay sales fell by 11 percent in the first quarter, but listings in Craigslist’s barter section were up 100 percent over last year. Consignment and thrift store sales were up, according to USA Today. Goodwill’s sales rose 7.1 percent in the first three months of the year and the Salvation Army saw sales rise 8 percent from October of last year to March 2009. 

They predicted: We’ll take better care of our stuff. 

FIG predicted that in 2009 all types of repair services—from shoe repairs to minor home remodeling (with an emphasis on green remodeling!) would thrive as Americans put off buying new things. 

What happened: Right on. Car repair shops are thriving as Americans put off buying new cars, according to Santa Rosa’s The Press Democrat. A national survey conducted by the Clarus Research Group for AAMCO found that 63 percent of car owners said they would save money by putting off buying a new car and repairing and maintaining their current cars instead. 

They predicted: We’ll stay home and watch TV—online.  

FIG predicted that we’d save green by keeping our entertainment close to home. More of us would join Netflix, but premium cable channels would take a hit.  

What happened: Despite tough economic times, consumers seemed loathe to give up their TV sets. According to a PriceGrabber.com Consumer Behavior Report, 69 percent of responders considered a standard TV set to be a necessity—but 56 percent said they considered cable or satellite TV a luxury. The survey also showed that more people (about 80 percent) were choosing to stay at home for entertainment.  As for Netflix, FIG predicted correctly. Netflix saw a 26 percent growth in subscribers over last year. Almost 10 percent of U.S. households now subscribe. 

They predicted: We’ll use our kitchens.  

FIG said we’d rediscover the benefits (and savings) of cooking at home. 

What happened: The Wall Street Journal reports that Americans are passing up restaurants in favor of the grocery store—and restaurants are chasing them. Sales of California Pizza Kitchen’s frozen pizzas rose 20 percent last year. 

They predicted: We’ll keep buying organic, despite the cost.  

FIG predicted organic food sales would continue to grow for their families. 

What happened: While their prediction was predictable (they do represent these companies, after all), FIG got this right. A study released by the Organic Trade Association in July found that 31 percent of U.S. families said they buy more organic items than they did a year ago.  

They predicted: We’ll hit the bottle—at home. 

FIG believed that our economic anxieties would cause us to drink more at home—but less in restaurants.  

What happened: Not quite. A Wine&Spirits magazine survey found that 62 percent of restaurants claimed alcohol sales remained the same.  

They predicted: We’ll heal ourselves.  

FIG saw consumers with tight budgets trying more natural home remedies to prevent costly doctor’s visits. 

What happened: Yep. Newsweek reported that sales of Emergen-C rose at Wal-Mart, consumers bought more over-the-counter remedies than prescriptions and store pharmacists were being asked more medical questions.

They predicted: We’ll get conscious (at least as consumers).

FIG said we’d show more concern for what our money’s supporting and where our goods originate.

What happened: Correct. While numbers for 2009 fair trade sales aren’t out yet, in 2008 fair trade sales grew by 10 percent in the United States, despite economic woes. In response to the 2008 figures, the Fairtrade Labelling Organizations conducted a study on people’s thoughts on fair trade. Good news: More than three quarters of those surveyed believe that companies should pay workers in developing nations fairly, ensure safe working conditions and contribute to community development, and 81 percent said that seeing the Fair Trade Certified label positively affected their perception of a brand.

They predicted: We’ll be less trashy.

As we consume less, our carbon footprints will get smaller. We’ll buy less, so we’ll waste less packaging.

What happened: According to the Washington Post, landfill waste is down by 30 percent.

When I was a young girl, I remember my favorite toys lasting for years. They had their fair share of dings, scratches and personalized haircuts, but part of why I liked them so much is because they lasted so long—they were a part of my entire childhood. 

Take care of your Legos and they can last a lifetime. NH Archives.

Before buying a toy, the first consideration should be its health. We’ve seen a lot of recent news about unhealthy plastics and paints in inexpensive children’s toys. Making sure any toy you select is healthy should be your number one priority. 

Second, take into account its entire lifecycle. Toys and games such as Lincoln Logs and chess sets can last throughout childhood. Also ask yourself, “Is it recyclable?” Incredibly durable toys can get passed along through thrift stores or family hand-me-downs. Those that do go out the door should be recyclable or biodegradable whenever possible. 

Poppywood Toys and Natural Play offer naturally finished and reclaimed-wood toys. Leather and wool are great alternatives to synthetic dolls and artificial dyes. Toys made of certified organic cotton are better for your children and the environment.

Used in everything from cookies to lipstick, palm oil is a common ingredient in many everyday items. Its use has doubled in the United States over the past four years—mostly because its lack of trans fats makes it easier to label processed foods as “healthy.” Unfortunately its popularity has lead to extensive destruction of tropical forests, which are being cleared to make way for oil palm trees. 

Rainforest may have been chopped down and ecosystems destroyed to make room for the organic palms. Photo By georgegoodman/Courtesy Flickr. 

Choosing organic palm oil is a good step, but that label simply means that chemical fertilizers and pesticides weren’t used on the trees. Rainforest may have been chopped down and ecosystems destroyed to make room for the organic palms.   

To combat this problem, the Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil, (RSPO) an international organization set up to define sustainable palm oil standards, put 1.3 million tons of certified-sustainable palm oil on the market last year. As of May, only 1 percent, or less than 15,000 tons, of that oil had been sold. Most buyers just won’t pay the extra cash for sustainable palm oil.

To encourage buyers, the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) plans to assess the major palm oil buyers, including major supermarkets, cosmetics and food manufacturers, over the next six months and publish a Palm Oil Buyer’s Scorecard ranking them. The WWF also asks that these major global retailers, manufacturers and traders of palm oil commit to using 100 percent certified sustainable palm oil by 2015.

What do you think? Would you give preference to WWF-sanctioned palm oil in your next purchase?

The White House may soon be a “green house” if President Obama has his way. 

President Barack Obama wants the White House to achieve LEED certification. Photo Courtesy Flickr.

The president’s home is well on its way to eco-friendliness with features such as an organic vegetable garden and a swing set made from recycled materials, shredded tires and nontoxic dyes. President Obama, however, wants to take it a step further with the U.S. Green Building Council’s Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certification.

In order to meet LEED standards, a number of major changes would have to take place at the White House, including updates for energy, water and waste systems. The home’s historical status and required security will also make the process more difficult. Christine Glunz, White House Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ) spokesperson, says the CEQ is looking to reduce the White House’s carbon footprint with features such as computerized energy management systems; automatic light sensors that turn off in unoccupied rooms, low-flow water valves and windows that lessen UV rays. Other efforts include using low-VOC paints and sealants and switching to biodegradable cleaners and recycled equipment for the groundskeepers and engineers. Leftover materials from the renovation will go to local reuse organizations. 

The administration has already taken steps to green visitors’ experience at the White House. Recycling is more accessible, and water fountains have been modified to make it easier for visitors to refill their water bottles. 

President Obama isn’t the first president to make energy-saving changes to the White House. In 1979 President Jimmy Carter had a solar water heater installed on the roof of the West Wing (later removed by the Reagan administration), and President George W. Bush installed a small photovoltaic system and two small solar water heating systems. 

These small steps are good, but we believe it’s high time for a full-on green renovation. What do you think? Should the White House aim for LEED certification? Tell me your opinion in the comments section!

When Cash for Clunkers, the government’s automobile trade-in rebate program, ended last month, it removed 690,000 inefficient, gas-guzzling vehicles from the roads. Now, starting in October, consumers can receive rebates for trading in their old, inefficient appliances.for Energy Star-qualified new ones.

What’s up next on the Cash for Clunkers agenda? Natural Home has some ideas. 

Old technology  

Constantly progressing technology makes computers, cell phones, printers and cameras obsolete very quickly, creating electronic waste. This e-waste often ends up in the landfill, putting toxic lead, mercury, cadmium, hexavalent chromium and fire retardant into the environment. 

We don't even want to guess what year these old cell phones came onto the market. Photo By Vaguely Artistic/Courtesy Flickr. 

It’s necessary to properly dispose of e-waste. Government rebates to fund purchases of more eco-friendly technology while recycling the old equipment would be a good next step in the Cash for Clunkers program. 

Land-line telephones  

Trading-in land-line phones for a rebate on eco-friendly cell phones, such as the Motorola Renew phone, would eliminate increasingly obsolete land-line infrastructure. 

Books  

Trading in damaged books, outdated textbooks and old paperbacks for a rebate on an electronic reader, such as the Amazon Kindle, could stop books from ending up in the landfill. We can also donate old books to public libraries or schools and recycle the damaged ones.

TVs  

TVs that are five years old (or older) could be traded in for a rebate on more energy-efficient versions. Energy Star-certified TVs are 30 percent more efficient than conventional models. The specifications require that these TVs be energy-efficient when they are on, off and in standby mode. 

Do you have ideas for the next Cash for Clunkers program? I’d love to hear about it; leave me a comment.