When you think of toxins what comes to mind? Probably some crazy concoction of chemicals made in a laboratory that smell funny and that you probably want to avoid, right? You most likely don’t think of the sofa you’re sitting on, the sweater you’re wearing, or the rug you walk across each day. Well, we regret to inform you: Unless you’re already super mindful about every single product you purchase and bring into your home (kudos to you!), most of the items we own are made up of a crazy concoction of chemicals and contain toxins. Toxins that directly affect your health, your family’s health, and the health of the planet.
Some toxins are pretty easy to spot. Like the collection of spray bottles under the sink that are supposed to help us make our homes “clean”. Or maybe the cans of nasty smelling fuels, paint strippers or fertilizers out in the shed. These types of things are pretty obvious to exercise caution about, but it’s the hidden ones that can be tricky and that we want to talk about.
In order to bring some of these sneaky toxins to light, We’ve chosen March to be Materials Month here at PLC. Join us on Instagram, where all throughout the month we’ll be highlighting a different common household material. We’ll lay out the good and the bad, how its made, the impact on human health and the environment and its common uses. The goal here is to educate ourselves (us included) on what exactly we are purchasing and bringing into our homes so that we as consumers and dwellers on this one and only earth can make the most informed decisions possible.
How did this come about, you ask? Lauren, being an interior designer, with a strong interest in health and wellness as well as sustainability, has always looked at design as more than just putting together things that look pretty. The rise in concern about global warming, plastics in the ocean, and cancer causing chemicals like phthalates made famous by the documentary “Stink”, have pushed us to dive into this issue even deeper. When dealing with many design clients who want their home to look good but they want it quick and cheap, the thing that often comes to mind is “but do you realize what that means in terms of materials? That the cute but "cheap" Polyester rug is actually just plastic? Not to mention probably doused in stain guards and flame retardants.” This comes as a surprise to most. And don’t get us wrong, we’ve been guilty of the quick and cheap solutions in the past too. But now that we're aware, we have slowly started making changes to our own home and have been more pleasantly surprised than we would have thought! Do you know how much nicer those organic cotton towels feel? Or how luxurious linen bedding is? Or how much more plush that wool rug feels? Yes, these items may be pricier, and a little more time consuming to find, but how much is your well-being worth to you? Also, these things can be done over time. Or purchased second hand (yay Facebook Marketplace!). And to know that those materials not only feel and look better, they are actually healthier to have around and much friendlier to our environment. We’ve become a bit obsessed and its beginning to travel into all areas of our life- no new swimsuits for our vacation unless it's made from recycled content/biodegradable/secondhand, etc… The struggle is real to find attractive, sustainable, and healthy clothing, home decor, and cosmetics! But that will be another post…
Okay, so you’re ready to follow along? Awesome! We’ll be posting daily on Instagram about a different material. Be sure to follow us ---> here to stay up to date on daily posts! At the end of the month, our blog and website will be updated with a full list and definition of each material covered. Our intention is for this library to serve as a resource for our community to make informed decisions about products they buy or choose for home decor projects or any other use for that matter. We intend to continue to grow this library even after Materials Month has passed. Also, make sure to subscribe. It’ll be the best way to make sure you don’t miss a beat!
A necessary disclaimer here is that we are not trained experts (yet), medical professionals, or scientists. Our mission is to make your homes and our world a better place to live and the materials we choose can have a big impact. We am doing the necessary research to adequately educate ourselves on these topics and we are passing our research along to you. Looking forward to going on this journey together. :)
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