Eco, Green, Organic, Healthy: What’s the Difference?
Posted on July 14, 2011 by Ali Wing
Of course you want your baby’s nursery to be as healthy as possible — but where do you start? Everyone’s jumping on the bandwagon these days and labeling their products “green,” “organic,” “eco-friendly” and “healthy.”
The problem is, there’s a lot of confusion about what’s what, and the terms tend to get used interchangeably. Our customers tell me all the time that with so many terms and standards, it’s easy to get confused — and I agree!
So, to kick things off: eco-friendly and green are both labels that relate to our environment. Loosely interpreted, it’s about treading more lightly on our planet and realizing that our children and our children’s children will have to live here, too. Because of that, what is eco-friendly goes far beyond the makeup of the actual product and includes the environmental impact of the entire supply chain.
Organic, on the other hand, relates more to the product process, and it varies in meaning depending on the product category. Organic fruits and vegetables are grown without pesticides or the use of chemicals. Organic clothing is made with fibers that are grown without chemicals. Unfortunately, “organic” has become a shorthand for “more natural” or “fewer chemicals.” Unless a garment is labeled “certified 100% organic,” there’s a chance that it was grown organically but still treated with chemicals somewhere along the way.
Healthy refers to products that are healthy for your baby. Sometimes that means organic, but it also includes other aspects, such as cleaning products made from plant-based ingredients instead of chemicals, or plastics without toxins such as BPA or phthalates.
Of course, there is some correlation between these categories. Most things that are green are arguably healthier, and if it’s organic then it’s usually more eco-friendly than something that’s not organic. Where it gets tricky, though, is if you buy from an organic clothing line that’s made in China and shipped to Des Moines, the green factor goes down significantly because of the fuel used to get it there.
We all want to raise healthier children who will live better and longer and have a healthier planet, as well. But understanding that there are sometimes tradeoffs, the key is deciding what’s most important to you and looking for products that meet as many of your standards as possible.
So what do you look for? Here’s a quick list of qualifiers that let you know a product is eco-friendly, organic, or healthy.
Eco-Friendly/Green
- Sustainably harvested wood and other materials
- Made using recycled materials, and maybe even recyclable itself
- Multi-stage or multi-use products that do more for a longer period of time
- Certified organic fabrics, with no chemicals used during the entire production process, to cut down on the chemicals in our environment
- Biodegradable ingredients in cleaning supplies
- Made in the USA, or, even better, locally, to cut down on shipping pollutants
Organic
- The key here is to differentiate between “made from” organic materials vs. “all” organic
- Often times while the material used is organic, the dyes used to create patterns or colors – or in non-textiles provide other features like scents – are not necessarily organic or even natural
- It’s true vegetable dyes are natural, but there is a growing list of natural and organic dyes and printing processes today
- Looking for certifications that clarify and differentiate among the materials (surface and at times stuffing) as well as dyes is what the discerning eye is looking for
- While there are a growing number of certifying bodies approving “organic” standards in varied product categories, the certification we’re most excited to find is GOTs – which is quickly becoming what most consider the highest standards
- Without a doubt, the most commonly used “organic” claim involves cotton
Healthy
- Natural fibers like pure-grow wool, hemp, and certified organic cotton
- Bedding and fabrics that are Oeko-Tex and IVN compliant
- Certified organic fabrics are also keep chemicals away from baby’s skin
- Mild bath products that are fragrance free and hypoallergenic
- Cleaning products that are non-toxic and free from chemicals, ammonia, and fragrances
- Plastics and surface-wife items that are free from phthalates and PVC
- Bottles and feeding items that are free from BPA (Bisphenol-A)
- Simple wooden toys (what could be more natural than wood?)
- Fabric toys that can be washed to reduce allergens
- Non-toxic paints and finishes with low or no VOCs (volatile organic compounds)
A final thought: sometimes the most eco-friendly choice isn’t what you buy, but what you don’t buy. Look for items that do more and last longer; the fewer disposable items you buy, the fewer things will go into the landfill. Instead of an inexpensive option that will need to be replaced, invest in a higher quality option that will last. And look for multi-stage products that won’t be outgrown in a year.
We also like a less-is-more approach to create a healthy environment. When you’re bathing an infant, some warm water and a washcloth goes a long way. Don’t over-clean your house to the point where the chemicals outweigh the sparkling shine. And what could be simpler than opening up a window and letting in some fresh air?
The main thing to remember? Don’t let it stress you out. Remember: even when there are trade-offs, in one way or the other, you’re creating a better world for your baby.
About the Author
Ali Wing is more than just the founder of giggle — she’s an advocate for today’s new parents. By offering smarter solutions, providing information and building a parenting community, Ali has made giggle a resource destination. In addition to smarter products, giggle offers customized services to help make it easier to become a new parent, such as giggle personal shoppers and giggle’s ultimate baby registry, offering parents a robust set of tools such as gear guides, starter checklists and a baby gear dictionary.
