The way forward to Natural Beauty

How often do we forget the impact personal bath and beauty products have on the environment, like soaps, makeup, candles, shampoos, etc?

Some Stats (source)

On average, an adult uses about 9 cosmetic & personal hygiene products a day, exposing themselves to about 126 chemicals daily.
Women on average use about 12 personal care products a day with 1 in 4 using more than 15

Many of these products that we’re putting on our face and bodies actually have harmful chemicals that are not only damaging to the environment but also to ourselves. About a third of all cosmetic and personal hygiene products contains one or more ingredients classified as suspected or known carcinogens. And don’t forget, your skin is the biggest organ in your body and absorbs about 60% of everything you put on it. More from the environmental side, let’s not forget the packaging from each of these which is usually plastic or tons of cardboard.

So what is out there that is better for both you and the environment?

The people from Essência do Mundo have been working for a number of years now with environmentally friendly soaps, bath and beauty products which are excellent for those with a sensitive skin and environmental conscience. Found and based in the UK as a family business, Essential Care has been running its operations since 2003 with many years of non-animal testing behind them. Each beauty and personal care product has been approved by the Soil Association which guarantees the maximum possible organic ingredients have been used, the products are bio-degradable and free of chemical toxins, fragrances and artificial colors among others. And even better, all their products are packaged in recycled or recyclable materials so they are surely representing a more sustainable business. So what else needs to be known?

They sell anything from organic cosmetics, organic personal care products, organic candles to organic oils, diapers and cotton! These goodies can be bought online or at stores specialising in organic and natural products (contact apoio@essenciadomundo.com to find the store nearest to you). They were also kind enough to send some products for our successful Eco-Bingo at the Fair along with leaflets and samples, which people were almost fighting for. I don’t blame them. Everyone has a right to treat their body with natural products which don’t contain all these unnecessary toxins which other cosmetics companies seem to be obsessed with.

25 August 2008 · Filed Under Bio-Products, Eco-LifeStyle

Comment

Quinta dos Lopes - Organic Producer from Algarve

Wine is certainly one of the most loved beverages in the world. It can be drunk with or without food and comes in many shapes and colours (red, white, sweet…). Combined with food it results in a “Wine and Dine” experience that continues to be one of the top relaxation methods for many. How about making all this enjoyment of food and drinks even more enjoyable? Today there is an eco-friendly option to many things and this includes food and wine. A great example of this is Quinta dos Lopes in Lagos, Algarve, which is an organic vineyard that also grows fruit and vegetable.

Quinta Dos Lopes

Sr Lopes’ products range from organic tomatoes, carrots, apples and pears to organic wines. The range includes:

two red wines
one white wine
one sweet; and
one dry wine.

Hence there is enough to choose from. And best of all, they are all organic.

Now why should we choose organic wine?
Firstly, organic wine is made from organic grapes and they follow very strict criteria on how they are grown and don’t add flavours to their products.

Secondly, since no pesticides or chemicals are sprayed on the produce, they are much healthier and often have brighter flavours. They provide you with the same benefits any ordinary wine would do but without the extra sulfites and chemicals hence more natural and better for your body.

Thirdly: “Organic wine is produced by farmers who emphasize the use of renewable resources and the conservation of soil and water to enhance environmental quality for future generations” (USDA).

The same benefits that go with organic wine go with all other organic produce as well. Less chemicals means more natural which means better for you. There are a lot of organic produce out there these days and it is important for people to understand why they should choose organic. Mercearia Bio in Portimão sells only organic products online and delivers them straight to your door. Can organic get any easier?

13 August 2008 · Filed Under Eco-LifeStyle, Eco-Products, Responsible Agriculture

Comment

Quinta da Fornalha

Have you ever thought about the consequences of your holidays abroad? Ok, everyone needs a holiday and it is always best to go elsewhere to get some real relaxation. So how about feeling less guilty about your carbon emissions by going to an eco-hotel? Sustainable tourism is becoming more and more popular, even in the Algarve, as people want to enjoy their holidays to the fullest without damaging the environment.

(photo credit: jimpg2)

An appropriate definition follows:

“Sustainable Tourism in its purest sense, is an industry committed to making a low impact on the natural environment and local culture, while helping to generate income and employment for locals” (source).

Quinta da Fornalha is a perfect example of sustainable tourism located in the natural reserves of Sapal in East Algarve. This family business in the council of Castro Marim cherishes the Algarvian culture by its organic agriculture, accommodation for guests in refurbished traditional country houses and informative tours exploring the local fauna and flora. For about 100 years they have been producing organic milk products such as half-fat milk, half-fat yogurt and yogurt cheese with their “holsteinfrisiarr” animals. They are also established with other organic produces such as figo and olives and also in the near future in oranges. Last but not least, they also produce organic salt.

Alongside their delicious organic agriculture business, they run a sustainable tourism centre which allows guests to be accommodated in refurbished traditional farm houses. They can provide their guests which different types of activities such as visiting the agricultural sites, exploring Castro Marim’s cultural history and also seasonally guests can try collecting and drying aromatic herbs or collecting salt. Future plans also include a restaurant, an