STEP #43

Learn to Identify Products Made from Oil

Oil-derived products are everywhere; in fact, most people don’t know just how common they really are.

From paper cups to candles, a number of ordinary goods on the market make it virtually impossible to kick the oil habit if you continue to use them. Fortunately, knowing which products contain oil will help you make wiser choices for the future of the environment.

Paper cups that are waterproof, for instance, are coated with plastic or polyolefin wax, which is typically made from oil or natural gas.

Many types ofcandles, too, are made from polyolefin wax, which is a polymer derived from oil or natural gas. Luckily, a growing number of beeswax and soy candles offer smarter choices when it comes to being eco-friendly.

Ifyou like fruits and vegetables, keep in mind that the wax coating on store-bought produce is made from petroleum. So shopping at your local farmer’s market, or buying certified organic, are much wiser choices for your personal health and the health ofthe environment.

Speaking of shopping, did you know that many reusable shopping bags on the market today are made from oil-derived materials? Typically made from non-woven polypropylene, these bags are in fact recyclable, but there’s a much wiser choice: canvas bags made from recycled fabrics or organic cotton. Not only are they heavy duty, they will last longer.

When it comes to washing dishes and doing laundry, keep in mind that most commercially-made detergents contain petroleum-based surfactants, which pull out grease and oil. So shop for nontoxic, green products made by manufacturers like Seventh Generation and Nature’s Source.

Do you wear polyester? If so, you are likely wearing oil-derived clothing, because polyester is derived from PET plastic, a thermoplastic polymer resin of the polyester family that’s used in synthetic fibers. The better choice: clothing made from hemp or organic cotton.

PET is also insidiously found in foil packaging, such as vacuum-packed coffee, snack and chip bags with a thin metal coating. Little do consumers know that this coating is made out of Mylar, which is thinly stretched PET plastic coated with aluminum, and sometimes finished off with a polyethylene laminate.

Most cosmetics, too, are made with petrochemicals, which are chemical products made from raw materials of petroleum. Fortunately, there are a growing number of natural, organic and nontoxic cosmetics on the market today.

Whenever you wash clothes, buy makeup or select your favorite produce, take extra steps to avoid ubiquitous oil-based products and blaze a trail to a healthy future.