Green – Go! Safe ingredient

Yellow – Proceed with caution! Safe in moderation

Red – Stop! Unsafe to use

Aloe Vera – a short-stemmed succulent plant commonly cultivated for medicinal and cosmetic use around the world. It is believed that it contains moisturizing and soothing properties effective for dry skin and many skin conditions such as eczema.

Bamboo – Bamboo, a woody evergreen plant, is the fastest growing woody plant in the world and can grown without the use of fertilizers and pesticides making it highly sustainable. Furthermore, it needs no replanting and re-grows naturally. It has been gaining popularity as a renewable, sustainable resource and in recent years, bamboo fibres have been used in clothing, artisan products, fuel, furniture and dishes. It is naturally anti-microbial and anti-fungal, making it an ideal product for dishware and clothing.

Bisphenol-A (BPA) – commonly abbreviated as (BPA) is a synthetic chemical compound used in a wide range of consumer products. BPA is primarily used to make polycarbonate plastic food and beverage containers, plastic food wrap, and epoxy resins that are used to line metal cans for food, such as cans of soup. Polycarbonate plastic food and beverage containers that contain BPA will be labelled recycling symbol #7. Most recently the Government of Canada classified BPA as a hormone disruptor and began banning its use in baby products. Studies have linked even low-dose BPA exposure with side effects such as: changes to genital the tract; increase prostate weight; decline in testosterone; breast cells predisposed to cancer; prostate cells more sensitive to hormones and cancer; and hyperactivity.

Castile Soap - refers to soap made exclusively from vegetable or olive oil (as opposed to animal fat. Many believe these qualities

mean that it is safer than soaps made from animal fat or synthetic ingredients.

Chlorine - is a powerful oxidant used in bleach and disinfectants. As a common disinfectant, chlorine is often used in swimming pools to keep them clean and sanitary. Unfortunately many industrial processes (such as productsion of PVS (vinyl) results in leaching of modified chlorine compunds into our atmosphere and water supply, persisting in the environment, accumulating in human and animal tissue, and resulting in toxicity. Research suggests that effects over time include reproductive and developmental impairment, hormonal disruptions, genetic mutations, cancer, birth defects, immune suppression, neurological and behavioural toxicity, and damage to the liver, kidneys, skin.

Formaldehyde - is commonly known for its use as an embalming preservative. However, it can also be found in furniture, paint, carpet cleaners, pressed fabrics and even clothing. Manufacturers use formaldehyde to make a garment or fabrics stain resistant, fix colour to it or to preserve it better when shipped long distances. Formaldehyde can also be emmitted into the air from wood-burning stoves, fireplaces and cigarrette smoke. It is known to be toxic, allergenic and carcinogenic in high levels of exposure (thousands of ppb or higher). learn more - Health Canada

Glycerin - is a chemical compound also commonly called glycerin or glycerine. It is known for its effective moisturizing qualities. A by-product of the soap making process, commercial manufacturers often remove the glycerin for use in their more profitable lotions and creams. However, many handcrafted soaps retain this hard-to-come-by ingredient.

Hemp – Industrial hemp has many uses, including paper, textiles, biodegradable plastics, health food, and fuel. It is one of the fastest growing plants known to man and one of the earliest domesticated plants we know of. Hemp is highly sustainable as it requires no pesticides or herbicides for growth and produces oxygen. Over the last few years hemp has gained increasing popularity and hemp fibres are now used in papermaking, fabrics, cosmetics and many household items.

Lead - Lead is a metal that has many industrial uses and can be found naturally in our environment. It is often emitted into the air from motor vehicles and industrial sources, can enter our water from old plumbing and is in old paint found on our walls. Short-term explosure can lead to symptoms such as vomiting, diarrhea, convulsions, coma or even death, and long-term exposure can be just as concerining, leading to intellectual, behavioral and developmental delays and interriptopns for children. Please visit Health Canada at http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/hl-vs/iyh-vsv/environ/lead-plomb-eng.php for information on how to determine if your home has lead and how to protect your family.

Mineral Oil - Mineral oil or liquid petroleum is a by-product in the distillation of petroleum to produce gasoline and other petroleum based products from crude oil. A common ingredient in creams, lotions, Vaseline and many baby care products, manufacturers like it for its long shelf-life and cheap cost. However, long-term use of products with this ingredient can result in clogged pores, increased dehydration (skin no longer producses its own natural oil) and the inability of the skin from releasing toxins. This is especially concerining for babies and young children who need to regularly dispose of toxins and wastes from their body through their skin.

Oilve Oil – is best known for cooking. However, homeopathic and naturopathic remedies often site this oil for its soothing and moisturizing capabilities. Although more expensive (and possibly more difficult to come by), extra virgin olive oil can be a highly effective substitute to mineral oil.

Organic Cotton - Organic cotton is cotton that is grown without pesticides from plants which are not genetically modified. Though organic cotton has less environmental impact than conventional cotton, it costs more to produce, and can be more difficult to find. For more information on the cultivation of organic cotton, please visit http://www.sustainablecotton.org/

Parabens – are a group of preservatives commonly used in the cosmetics industry. They are used primarily for their bacteriocidal and fungicidal properties and can be found in shampoos, commercial moisturizers, shaving gels, personal lubricants, topical/parenteral pharmaceuticals, spray tanning solution and toothpaste. However, very early research is suggesting that they may play a role in some cancers.

Phthalates - are frequently used in soft plastic fishing lures, nail polish, adhesives, caulk, paint pigments, and toys made of so-called "jelly rubber” and even in a variety of household applications (shower curtains, adhesives, perfume), modern pop-culture electronics and medical applications such as catheters. Concern with these compiunds stems from recent studies of rodents suffering liver and testes damage from high doses of phthalates. Unfortunately the majority of studies on human impact remain inconclusive.

Polyethersulfone (PES) Plastic - a type of plastic which is highly durable and free of Bisphenol-A (BPA). It is resistent to very high temperatures and will not leach nor absorb chemicals, therefore being ideal for repeated sterilizations and contact with liquids. View our baby bottles and training cups made of PES plastic.

Repreve (as used in our Kohlrebaby sleep sacks) – a recycled fabric created by UNIFI Inc. Repreve is a 100% recycled micofleece made from both post-consumer and post-industrial material. It can be dyed at the spun fibre stage. Its uses range from home furnishings through to automotive upholstery. Learn more at http://www.repreve.com/Default.aspx. By diverting products from the waste stream and recycling them for other uses, repreve is highly sustainable by using less resources and energy to produce.

Shea Butter - Shea butter or Shea nut butter is a slightly yellowish or ivory-colored natural fat extracted from fruit of the shea tree by crushing and boiling. Shea butter is widely used in cosmetics as a moisturizer and an emollient. It is marketed as being effective in treating the following conditions: fading scars, eczema, burns, rashes, acne, severely dry skin, blemishes, dark spots, skin discolorations, chapped lips, stretchmarks, wrinkles, and in lessening the irritation of psoriasis. Shea butter also provides natural ultraviolet sun protection, although the level of protection is extremely variable.

Sodium Chloride – also known as common salt or table salt. It is used primarily as a binding agent in skin-care products and occasionally as an abrasive in scrub products, or a thickening agent in shampoo. In these products and especially in baby products, salt can cause drying, itching and even hair loss.

Sodium Laureth Sulphate or (Sodium Lauryl Sulfate)- is a synthetic chemical found in many body and hair care products such as toothpaste, shampoo, dish soap, liquid hand soap, bubble bath and even some nutritional supplements. It has gained a lot of bad publicity recently as it is believed to built up in the brain, heart, liver and lungs resulting in possible damage to these organs over time and strain on the immune system [Journal of American College of Toxicology, (Volume 2, No. 7, 1983)].

Talc – also referred to as a dry lubricant, can be found in baby powders, feminine powders, blush and even condoms. It is used in baby powder to serve as an astringent powder for preventing rashes on the area covered by a diaper. Since the mid-90’s, there have been claims that the inhaled particles could damage the airways and lungs of babies and small children over time. So steps were taken by many manufacturers to produce talc-free version of their products.

Tea tree oil – has been proven to be a powerful yet natural antiviral, antibacterial, and antifungal medicine (essential oil). It is commonly used as a very effective first aid remedy against countless skin ailments, infections, cuts, scrapes, burns, insect bites and skin spots etc.