SubscribeCell Phones, A Modern Tobacco (or Asbestos) Story?
Written on February 5, 2010 at 10:52 am, by lucas
Here is an interesting article from GQ about cell phones. It explores the history of scientific research exploring links between electromagnetic radiation and our health.
http://www.gq.com/cars-gear/gear-and-gadgets/201002/warning-cell-phone-radiation
Spring Closing (springhome.com will remain open)
Written on February 2, 2010 at 4:01 pm, by lucas
For what might be obvious reasons, I am very sorry to announce that we have to close Spring. The state of our economy is not kind to retailers, especially small businesses. We used a lot of resources to get through this recession, and in doing so we stretched ourselves to survive – and survive we almost did! But, we can no longer operate in this economic climate. It was a good run while it lasted, and I am very proud of what Spring was able to accomplish. I started on this adventure five years ago, as an inspired father without retail experience. With the remarkable commitment and efficiency of Wendi Goad, we were able to turn an innovative, fresh retail concept into a viable business, and in doing so be a part of the blossoming green economy.
But this idea would have been just an idea without you, our customer. Thank you for your business, for your confidence, patience, and loyalty. Spring would have been very short lived without your early adoption. The commitment you have for making the world healthier and more sustainable continues to inspire me. We all share a motivation to resolve the problems before us, and not just sit idly by waiting for someone else to fix them. We are drivers of this new economy, and are making sustainability viable and mainstream. I am sure I can speak for Wendi, Shayna, and Victor, in saying that it has been our pleasure working with you to make positive changes – you, your families, and future generations, are healthier for it.
Please continue to visit us and shop online at springhome.com, sign up for our newsletter, read our blog, check us out on facebook, we are still here!
Thank you.
A Wake Up Story
Written on February 2, 2010 at 3:40 pm, by lucas
Here is an incredible video introducing a worthy movement. Brought to you by one of my favorite organizations, Healthy Child Healthy World. I encourage you to take a moment to watch and sign up. It is as scary as it is motivating. This is very much the spirit with which I started Spring, to give people the tools and information to protect their families.
Taking out the trash
Written on January 26, 2010 at 2:17 pm, by lucas
An interesting book, called Nudge by Richard Thaler and Carl Sustein, examines ways to “nudge” people into making good decisions. It is a fascinating read, one that I won’t attempt to rewrite. But the question comes up: How do you nudge people to make better decisions about the environment; or in the case of recycling, how do you achieve better participation? Compare the proposed recycling program in London, with the program, or rather ordinance, implemented in San Francisco. One proposes to pay its citizens to recycle, while San Francisco’s mandates its citizens to recycle and additionally pay for a collection service. Both are well intentioned programs, but the problem with the mandatory solution is we are forced to pay for a service but do not get to share in the upside of our sold recycling. There is demand for recycled raw materials: compost is considered by many to be “black gold”, implying its tremendous value, and materials like aluminum and plastic have inherent value. But we are forced to pay for a recycling and composting service that commoditizes our raw materials, that we pay them to have, by selling them on the open market. In other words, we receive no money from the recycling process; instead we pay for the recycling process while the recycler earns two streams of revenue. This is akin to a scenario in which you discover an oil well in your back yard, and the city tells you that you must pay a company to pick up the oil, which they will sell, but you will receive none of the proceeds. Regardless of the funny economics of the San Francisco program, there is the fundamental error in how it motivates people. No one likes to be told they have to do something, even if it is for the betterment of our world. Instead, getting paid or compensated for recycling and composting is a recipe for greater participation. It is a better nudge and increases the likelihood of success – as defined by reducing land fill.
In a similar vein, the authors have another nudge for improving the chances that people make the right decision on which bin to use in tossing out their refuse. Because everything we toss is really called trash, by changing the word trash to something descriptive about where the trash goes or how it behaves, like “non-recyclable”, will improve the chance that an individual will toss in the right bin. The California Academy of Sciences has executed this brilliantly by calling trash “landfill”. It works because it makes you think.
So hopefully more green policies and programs will use wiser nudges to get people involved and not feel so burdened. After all, we all want a healthier, greener world.
BPA ’some concern’
Written on January 21, 2010 at 10:18 am, by lucas
Finally, BPA is given a warning about its potential dangers; albeit, a very weak warning.
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/01/21/opinion/21thur2.html
The Spring Fund
Written on December 15, 2009 at 2:00 pm, by lucas
I want to introduce our latest effort, The Spring Fund. We will donate 5% of proceeds from Spring to this charitable effort focused on children’s health. Read more… http://www.springhome.com/the-spring-fund
Endocrine Disruption
Written on December 10, 2009 at 5:30 pm, by lucas
Another great article from Nicholas Kristof, who is continually putting out great writing about toxins and our health. He brings up a great point about the healthcare debate, “What if breast cancer in the United States has less to do with insurance or mammograms and more to do with contaminants in our water or air — or in certain plastic containers in our kitchens? What if the surge in asthma and childhood leukemia reflect, in part, the poisons we impose upon ourselves?” We can debate how we treat disease and who pays for all we want, and it is an important debate, but we must also look at prevention. In this article he explains how breast cancer is potentially caused by an exposure to endocrine disrupting chemicals like BPA or pthalates, which interact with our bodies like estrogen. Avoiding these chemicals, or better yet regulating them and demanding full disclosure by manufacturers, is the surest way to avoid the harmful consequences.
Safe Drinking Water
Written on December 8, 2009 at 9:21 am, by lucas
Here is a great article from the New York Times, that reveals 20% of our Nation’s drinking water supply is in direct violation of the Safe Drinking Water Act. In their analysis, the likes of arsenic, tetrachloroehylene, and bacteria were found in drinking water supplies. The national solution to this is better enforcement and clearer regulation. Individually, we should not turn to bottled water (adds to landfill, expends energy to transport, and is less regulated than tap water), instead we should all filter our water. Filtration is more effective, more cost efficient, and more sustainable
EWG’s new groundbreaking and alarming study
Written on December 2, 2009 at 11:23 am, by lucas
Environmental Working Group has released a disturbing new report which identifies up to 232 different toxic chemicals in the umbilical cord blood of just 10 babies. Of this wide array of chemicals, they identified 21 chemicals that have never been detected in newborns. The report is a culmination of a study by EWG’s Senior Scientist, Dr. Anila Jacob MD, MPS, that engaged 4 laboratories in 3 countries to study the cord blood of minority newborns. Here is an excerpt:
“The contaminants found in these children are from unintended exposures to some of the most problematic consumer products and commercial chemicals ever put on the market. Their presence in fetal cord blood represents a signifcant failure on the part of Congress and government agencies charged with protecting human health.”
“Scientist know far too little about the health threats posed by exposure to toxic chemicals in the womb. There is broad agreement, however, that the dangers are greater when exposure occurs before birth. Just how much dangerous is not known.”
“Brominated flame retardants, PCBs, the Teflon chemical PFOA and the Scotchguard chemical PFOS, BPA, lead, mercury, perchlorate, dioxins, and furans are all considered either likely human carcinogens, serious neurotoxins or well-established hormone disruptors, according to government health authorities. Many are strongly linked to more than one of these effects.”
It is hard to think about this report when looking at my four month old daughter, or even her big siblings. No matter how hard my wife and I tried to ensure their environments, from womb to bedroom, are healthy and safe, we are faced with the reality that their sanctuaries have been tainted by chemicals and toxins found in our air, water, food, and consumer products. This report, as most of EWG’s work does, presents solid evidence that our every action really does have consequences.
Eco Confusion
Written on November 23, 2009 at 10:16 pm, by lucas
This podcast from WNYC was one of the better overviews of eco-labels I have come across. The massive amount of information about health and sustainability, coupled with the vast array of eco-labels, is quite overwhelming and turns many away. Personally, it is a sad reality that we need labels in the first place. We need them because a consumer can no longer walk into a marketplace and obtain clear information about products’ sourcing, materials, ingredients, transportation, etc. Gone are the days when economies were local and the manufacturer was nearby, at least accessible, or the retailer had firsthand knowledge of the manufacturing process. This is not all bad, as our modern economy offers tremendous benefits. But it is now incumbent upon businesses to correct this disconnect in the flow of information, and so many companies are (Whole Foods, Patagonia, even Wal Mart). We are doing this at Spring, giving you the chance to purchase anything without worry, or a needing a degree in organic chemistry. It is our goal to earn the customers trust, by working transparently and having high standards, to become a brand that functions like a label. What is important to accept is that no label is perfect, though most are well intentioned; and even more disappointing is that many will take advantage of and confuse people to greenwash a product or service. How to avoid this? Use eco-labels as a starting point, and then ask questions. Where is it from? What is it made out of? If your questions cannot be answered, or if marketing slogans are being presented instead of information, they don’t deserve your business.