GreenYour.com

Fear not furry, eco-sensitive shavers: although a substantial amount of waste and toxic substances come into play each time you lather up and apply that blade to your face, legs, and whatnot, there are ways you can go green without going the full-on hirsute route. Read on for more on how shaving and hair removal—a growing market worth $3.2 billion in 2004 in the US alone[1]—can be the best the earth can get (without ruining your love life). And before steaming up the bathroom mirrors, keep in mind that turning off the tap while shaving can save 4 gallons of water a minute.[2]

Razor waste

Although they may seem an innocuous staple of personal grooming, the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) projects that an estimated 2 billion disposable razors enter US landfills each year—approximately 9 razors for each US resident over 19 years old.[3][4] The typical American shaver—male and female—spends an average of $100 annually on blade cartridges alone, not including razor handles and shaving accessories such as creams, gels, and aftershaves.[5] Over 70 percent of the global wet-shaving market is controlled by Proctor & Gamble-owned industry Goliath Global Gillette, maker of the popular Mach3 Turbo line.[6] Schick, another industry heavyweight and maker of the Quattro razor, has long been a rival of Gillette. Together, the two companies dominate the entire US razor market. Both companies have strong ties to the $2.5 billion per year battery market: Gillette owns Duracell while Schick was purchased by Energizer Holdings, Inc. in 2003.[7]

Although it may increase energy consumption in your home, dry shaving with an electric razor will not only reign in the amount of waste you contribute to landfills, but it will cut back on the amount of hot water and chemical-laden shaving products that you use. There are also traditional, non-electric razors available that are reusable and/or recycled for wet shavers minding the amount of waste that they generate in the bathroom.

Shaving cream

A heady brew of eco-unfriendly chemicals go into shaving creams and gels in order to give you a soft, supple shave. Some of these chems include triethanolamine (also used in nitrogen mustard gas), isobutane, isopentane, sorbitol, and stearic acid.[8] Like other beauty and skincare products such as lipstick, sunscreen, and body lotion, many shaving creams contain mineral oil, a petroleum-based substance.[9] The production of the petrochemicals used in shaving products pollutes the environment by releasing hazardous chemicals into the air and water.[10] Mineral oil-based shaving cream supports the hazards of the petroleum industry, which include about 2.6 million gallons of oil spilled every month during transportation and about 71 million pounds of toxins released into the air and water during refinement.[11]

Supplementary preservatives in many shaving creams include BHA, which has a negative impact on aquatic ecosystems and bioaccumulates in the tissues of organisms,[12][13] and parabens, known endocrine disrupters that are not only detrimental to human health, but also destructive to animal hormones and development. Additionally, the potent synthetic antimicrobial agent triclosan used in some shaving creams and other personal care products has been found in 55 percent of streams examined in 2002 at levels high enough to disrupt the natural life cycle of frogs.[14][15] Another common synthetic to look out for in shaving cream is diethanolamine (DEA), a foaming detergent.[16]

As with any personal care or cosmetic product, it's important to read the label carefully. Because the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) spends only a tiny portion of its budget investigating the chemical composition and toxins in skin care products,[17] shaving creams can tout their use of organic ingredients and still have up to 30 percent synthetic materials, even the ones labeled "organic" or "made with organic ingredients."[18] Fortunately, the guidelines for labeling a shaving cream as "100% Organic" are strict. The USDA Organic Seal carried on the label guarantees that every ingredient is organically produced as defined by the National Organics Standards Board, which bans the use of harmful pesticides, synthetic fertilizers, and genetic engineering.[19]

Aerosol shaving cream cans do not contain chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs), an ozone-depleting propellant once found in consumer aerosol products until banned by the EPA in 1978. Aerosol cans—containing around 25 percent recycled content—can be recycled in many communities after being completely emptied.[20]

Waxing and depilatories

Waxes used for hair removal contain many of the same chemicals found in shaving creams, including petro-based mineral oils.[21] In addition to the wax itself, waxers generate additional waste due to the applicators and strips used to apply and remove the wax to and from the target areas. Depilatory creams—such as Nair and Veet—offering a more short-term, often less painful hair removal remedy than waxing contain chemicals like sodium calcium, titanium dioxide, and calcium thioglycolate that actually melt unwanted hair away from your skin by dissolving the protein structure of hair.[22][23] Some depilatory creams contain chemicals that are thought to be carcinogenic; these chemicals can easily be absorbed into the body with the aid of absorption enhancers also found in depilatory creams.[24] Depilatories, if used incorrectly, can cause irritation or even second- or third-degree chemical burns.[23]

Body sugaring has emerged (although the technique can be traced back to ancient Egypt) as an effective, chemical-free alternative to waxing, shaving, and depilatories. Sugaring kits can either be purchased or made at home using simple household ingredients such as sugar and lemon juice.[25] Additionally, various spas and waxing salons, such as Get Waxed in Venice, California, offer natural waxing treatments for squeamish, shaky-handed waxers who would prefer a trained aesthetician to do the downy deed. Other treatments such as laser hair removal—the second most popular nonsurgical cosmetic procedure in the US—offer a more permanent solution for those who find they are wasting time, money, and resources by waxing and shaving. There are, however, health risks associated with going under the laser.[26]

Green claims

With the race to be the first to offer eco-friendly products, especially in the personal care industry, companies are touting their products' green attributes with claims that at times can be confusing and misleading. Making sense of environmentally friendly standards is an important part of being a wise consumer.

What does “organic” really mean?

One murky area is the term “organic.” While the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) maintains clearcut standards for organic food, the same can’t be said for body care products. The industry is in turmoil trying to agree upon a set of standards. Some companies use the USDA certified organic food standard, which requires 95 percent of the ingredients to be organic. Others use the less stringent California state standard for organic cosmetic products, which requires at least 70 percent organically produced ingredients. And still others label their products organic without meeting any external criterion.

In the meantime, a nonprofit standard-setting group called NSF International has released a draft set of rules for organic personal care products and a group of 30 cosmetic companies recently devised their own set of specifications called Organic and Sustainable Industry Standards (OASIS). How it all washes out remains to be seen.

Watching out for all creatures great and small

While you're contemplating green attributes, you may also wish to join the cruelty-free movement. Just keep in mind: a company may claim that they don’t employ animal testing for their products, but without third-party verification, it’s hard to know whether these statements are in fact completely true. So stick to those products certified as cruelty-free by looking for products with the Leaping Bunny Logo or the Certified Vegan Logo. You can rest assured that no bunnies (or monkeys or cats for that matter) were harmed in the making of these non-animal-tested products.

Related health issues

Although the chemicals found in shaving creams have largely been ignored by the FDA, studies have found higher levels of parabens in tumors from human breast tissue.[27] However, because the potential damage to the endocrine system has yet to be proven, the controversy surrounding the toxicity of parabens is still being debated.[28] While diethanolamine is infrequently used in skin care products because it is a known carcinogen, the more commonly used chemicals TEA and MEA are often contaminated with DEA. Lauryl/laureth sulfates are common skin irritants that can dry out the skin and hair with longterm use.[29]

Glossary

• BHA (butylated hydroxyanisole): A chemical preservative used in cosmetics and certain foods to prevent fats and oils from becoming rancid.
• parabens: This family of synthetic preservatives (which includes methyl-, ethyl-, propyl-, and butyl-parabens) can possibly disrupt the endocrine system.[30]
• triclosan: An antibacterial agent. Effects may range from skin and eye irritation to the formation of dioxin and chloroform in the right circumstances, both probable carcinogens.[30]

External links

• Mindful Mama - Eco-Shave
• Righteous (re)Style - Eco-neurosis: Shaving or Waxing?
• Eco-chick - Beards Are the New Hotness
• Restroom Critic - Cancer in Your Bathroom?
• Grist - Ask Umbra: Stubble Trouble
• ChicagoTribune.com - Extending life of razor blades leaves users dry
• Shaving Stuff A shave-centric weblog for men and women
• Environmental Working Group - Skin Deep Cosmetic Safety Database Before you lather up, check out where your favorite cream ranks on the hazard scale.