Ecological sexuality: protect the planet and your health

The environmental movement, defender of the environment and committed to the health of the human being in balance with natural ecosystems, every day has more followers who recognize the importance of caring for the planet and not aggravating the environmental crisis that devastates it, as well as the need to take care of themselves as part of that balance, with a healthy diet, regular exercise, relaxation techniques and greater contact with nature. 

Environmentalism and its principles have also changed the way of living our sexuality, for this reason, some companies manufacture their products to be respectful with the environment and with human health: erotic toys that are recharged with sunlight or through a USB, non-polluting menstrual protectors, both in the manufacturing process and in the materials used, including the end of their useful life as waste, biocompatible vibrators and free of toxic substances for the body, lubricating gels not tested on animals ... a whole world that aims to preserve this in which we live. 

How can you join the movement?

Avoid batteries

Batteries contain toxic elements; Although they are recyclable, not all countries have recycling plants and storage after use does not guarantee neutralization; is it guaranteed by procedures such as incineration, which releases toxic substances in the form of gas into the atmosphere. If they are not recycled, their degree of contamination is very high: a single button cell with mercury is capable of contaminating 600,000 liters of water ... and the organism of fish and bivalves (mollusks) cannot eliminate it, so it will be transmitted to the human being as the next link in the food chain. 

Other types of batteries are also polluting and harmful: for example, a lithium battery pollutes 175,000 liters of water and rechargeable batteries use cadmium, also dangerous for the environment and human beings since it affects the kidneys, bone, and respiratory system and it also causes cancer.

Although recycling batteries is an eco-friendly option (as long as they are actually recycled and not stored), not buying products that need them is a better option. On the market, there are sex toys and pelvic floor exercisers that work with rechargeable batteries by USB, and others that work with solar energy without affecting their functionality.

Avoid PVC and other toxic products

Many sex toys contain polyvinyl chloride or PVC, a plastic whose components are derived from sodium chloride and petroleum and include chlorine, hydrogen, and carbon. Although the industry denies toxic effects on health and the environment, numerous organizations including Greenpeace denounce the opposite.

The production of PVC requires stabilizers, plasticizers, biocides, flame retardants, heavy materials (lead, barium, tin and Zinc among others), phthalates, and other dangerous organic compounds that are released during their use and when they are discarded; And although this type of plastic is recyclable, plants do not recycle certain objects made with this material, such as vibrators or dildos.

Some manufacturers also use Bisphenol, ABS, Phthalates (also known in the industry as DOP or DEHP) and Plastisol (a product resulting from the combination of PVC and Phthalates) despite being substances considered toxic, carcinogenic, and mutagenic by the European Union.

Some organizations report having also found stabilizers of Zinc, Lead, Tin, Barium, or Cadmium (Toxic Heavy Metals) that are absorbed by the blood of the person who uses these products.

The problem is that although we check the materials from which they are made, avoiding at all costs those that indicate that they contain Phthalate, Bisphenol A, PVC, and ABS, sometimes information is omitted, and/or harmful substances are masked using acronyms or terms in the misleading labels.

Therefore, the most ecological and healthy choice is to buy sex toys and pelvic exercisers that are made with medical-grade silicone, that is, silicone approved by the FDA (Food and Drug Administration or Food and Drug Administration of the United States) because they are biocompatible, that is, safe for the human body. 

Regarding the environmental impact of its manufacture and subsequent degradation, unlike plastic, medical-grade silicone does not give off toxic gases when incinerated and, if it ends up in nature, it would decompose over the years into harmless particles for the environment.