What "green" or "organic" companies do you avoid? - Page 2

[prana]

Clorox "green works". Horizon. Kraft "organic".

Stick with as local as possible. Go for organic companies that have been around for a while and have a commitment to quality products and environmental sustainability.

Live simply.:

[bright_eyes]

Originally Posted by xekomaya

yep the are, I avoid them too.. but I do love their honey o's :-x Also Tom's b/c of their SLS, except DH loves their deodorant and thats the most natural one he'll use. Also Method - which is sad since its so available, but they don't really disclose their ingredients, & have some questionable things including fragrance.

What's wrong with SLS? What is it? Is that the only thing that makes tom's bad?

[barose]

Toms
Burts Bees
Jason
Horizon
Most things that claim to be UDSA certified though I do make exceptions when I dont have a choice (ie traveling with limited options)

There are also a few other companies, but cant think of them right now.

[moderngal]

Why Seeds of Change?

We avoid Horizon. I really like a lot of the Burt's Bees products, but I am cutting back on them now that Clorox has bought them. Same with Tom's of Maine (Colgate has them.) I also avoid the organic versions of more mainstream brands like Kraft, Heinz, etc...

We're also trying to buy more local brands- even ones that aren't necessarily organic. At my favorite local farmstand, they have a "chemical free" sign out for a lot of products we buy. The farms are too small to be able to afford the certified organic label, but their products are essentially organic.

Go for organic companies that have been around for a while and have a commitment to quality products and environmental sustainability.

:

[Snow~Pea]

Yah, um ... Clorox "green works". Isn't that an oxymoron?

[MrsMike]

Wow, this is so sad. I really need to dig around and get recs for good local companies around here. We're trying to buy more locally. I'm sad about Tom's of Maine. My dad has used their products for years. We use their toothpaste and I was using their deodorant until I realized it was making my pits smell like my husbands butt. I didn't know they were bought out buy Colgate.

[jadekat]

What about Seventh Generation? I was thinking about switching to their TP (family cloth is not an option for us).

[MrsMike]

Originally Posted by jadekat

What about Seventh Generation? I was thinking about switching to their TP (family cloth is not an option for us).

My big gripe with them is their packaging. Their detergents and cleaners come in thick plastic bottles and their maxi pads come in plastic packing. I'm sure there are other options out there. I don't think they're an evil company, though. Their TP only comes in 2-ply so that may be a problem if you or your septic system prefer 1-ply.

[alysmommy2004]

I mainly avoid Horizon. We don't consume too many food products from big corps b/c we buy a lot of local produce and meat. Being GF we're limited on what prepackaged items we can eat. I'm sooo bummed about Burt's Bees though, for us they are local. Fortunately I have found a natural soap company even closer, and they have a year round booth at our farmer's market.

[olliepop]

From Tom's Website...

What's wrong with SLS? What is it? Is that the only thing that makes tom's bad?

I got the following from the Tom's website:
What is it?
Sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS) is a foaming agent naturally derived from coconut and/or palm kernel oil. SLS has a long history of safe use in a variety of consumer personal care products.
What does it do?
We use SLS in our toothpaste to properly disperse the ingredients and ensure easy rinsing.
What are the alternatives?
SLS is not the only foaming or dispersal agent available, but we believe it is the best choice due to its long history of safe use, its lack of odor or taste, and its low level of concentration in our products.
For those of our consumers who prefer to use a toothpaste without SLS, we also offer a line of SLS-free toothpastes which use glycyrrhizin, derived from licorice root, to foam and disperse ingredients:

They also said:

What are the risks?
We are well aware of the widespread Internet rumors regarding SLS and its use in shampoos, toothpaste, and other products. At Tom's we are concerned about the safety and efficacy of our products, so we take these rumors seriously. Specifically, we have heard claims that SLS is linked to cancer, cataracts, liver or kidney damage, and other maladies. These widespread rumors have been investigated by respected publications such as The Washington Post and The Berkeley Wellness Newsletter, both of which have called them a "sham" and a "hoax." The American Cancer Society has also created an information page debunking the claims. So rampant are these rumors that they are even addressed on the Urban Legends website, which provides additional reputable sources of information about SLS research.
We, too, have researched these claims extensively and have found them to be completely unsubstantiated. As formulated for cosmetic use, SLS has not been found to cause cancer in any recognized scientific research studies. When used in our toothpaste, SLS has limited contact with the gums and is then rinsed out.

[Kiddoson]

Originally Posted by kewb

I avoid Horizen. I no longer buy Burts Bees or Toms of Maine.

why toms of maine? they rate ok @ www.cosmeticdatabase.com
And I got a sample that had a flyer with the owners on it... Tom and Kate..? is this a lie?

[babblingbrook]

Originally Posted by barose

Jason

I'm curious about this one!

[anne1140]

Why Horizon? This is the only organic dairy that I've been able to find in my town.

I understand what you guys are saying, and if you do have the options to buy locally, that's awesome. I don't, however. I live in a small town with a K-mart, Kroger, Marsh, and Aldi, and that's it. I don't really have many options. I think that buying Horizon, Tom's, and Burt's Bees is probably better than buying the regular stuff, especially since at least it doesn't have as many of the chemicals in it.

BTW: I will be looking out for a farmer's market this summer, but from what I've heard, our town doesn't have that, either.

[janasmama]

You're right, I wouldn't worry about it too much. If we are too worried about buying from corporate companies most of would be left making our own clothes and farming during the summer and canning everything for winter eating.

It's just so hard....and food isn't the only thing...there are so many other things we buy that come from corporate companies. I do my best but I'm also staying home with my children. I feel that is more important right now than fighting a corporate battle with money we don't have.

[JamSamMom]

[QUOTE=janasmama;11247706]You're right, I wouldn't worry about it too much. If we are too worried about buying from corporate companies most of would be left making our own clothes and farming during the summer and canning everything for winter eating.

It's just so hard....and food isn't the only thing...there are so many other things we buy that come from corporate companies. I do my best but I'm also staying home with my children. I feel that is more important right now than fighting a corporate battle with money we don't have.[/QUOTe

You are right...I try my best but horizon is the only organic milk I can buy now. I also use burts bees and jason products. Crest is the only toothpaste my husband will use. However I am making a lot of my own products like natural deodorant, face wash, body lotion and shampoo and conditioner. I got the ingredients from the natural body care section at mothering! It is fun to experiment and make my own and it saves money! I appreciate the info. and will search for alternatives to the corporate products as we are moving to south carolina in june.

[Mamato3wild ponnie]

Any one try Shaklee products...i've been looking into buying thier Get Clean kit...i havent come upon any bad rep for them...any one hear anything?

[janasmama]

I personally haven't but I'm always iffy about MLM anyway. I've asked for their ingredients and the lady didn't know and they don't post anything on their site that I have been able to find.

You could probably check out the WAH reviews at the bottom of the forum selections. I think I'm going to go do that now.

[Green Phoenix]

Originally Posted by janasmama

barbara's Bakery (found in most health food stores) isn't really that great. I can't name them off hand but they put some crappy ingredients in their food.

I actually buy/look for Barbara's Bakery because they have very limited ingredients and not a lot of "crap", IMO -- if you are going to buy processed food, that is. The Puffins cereal contains:

Yellow Corn Flour, Corn Bran Flour, Unsulphured Molasses, Oat Flour, Expeller Pressed High Oleic Oil (Canola and/or Sunflower), Salt, Baking Soda, Natural Vitamn E (Mixed Tocopherols [Soy] Added To Maintain Freshness), Vitamin C.


Pretty good for a processed cereal! I am not huge on the flour or the salt -- and it is not organic, but other than that, it seems pretty good. I am an avid label reader, so I am curious as to what you avoid in their products?

[PGNPORTLAND]

I'm sad about the Seeds of Change thing. I just "discovered" them and I really like their rice mixes and salad dressings.

I'd like to know about Jason too....

Is California baby still safe?

[Meems]

this is so depressing. i live in a tiny community w/ no big chains, except food lion, but i usually shop at our local market. our market has organic produce that i buy for DD but it comes from PA. (~350 miles from here!)... i feel like i'd rather support organic company's than the regular ones, but oh man, why is everything so corrupt?! i guess i could ask our market to sell some other brand of org milk, etc...