Here I sit in beautiful Southern California, land of the hybrid cars, cloth bags for groceries and recycled water bottles. So I knew it was only a matter of time before the collective consciousness started turning its attention towards the bedroom and people sought to become more environmentally friendly while being REALLY friendly with themselves.
No, I’m not talking about recycling condoms. Get your mind out of the gutter. I think I just threw up a little in my mouth just thinking it. I’m talking about sex toys and other sexcessories that are not only good for you down under but good for the whole planet.
Now I know some of you will think, “Fantastic! Where do I sign up?” But so many others will think, Oh brother, how lame can you get?”
Hey, I get it. I’m not saying environmentally aware sex toys are for everyone. Some people could care less about the so-called GREEN products and think those who do are a bunch of tree huggin’, sprout-eating humpers. That may be true. And that’s cool. You go enjoy your Hummers (The four wheel kind) and aerosol spray while leaving all the lights on. I’m not here to judge.
But for the growing number of people out there who are becoming more and more concerned with the stuff we eat / wear / inhale / stick in our private places, ask yourself this:
Why play green?
In one word: Phthalates.
What the hell are Phthalates, you ask? I wondered the same thing. Am I eating them, breathing them, wearing them?
If you answered, D) All of the above, you’d be pretty spot on.
Phthalates (pronounced FAY-lates) are these oil-derived chemicals that have been used in paints, in hair sprays, perfumes and plenty of other products. They are also used to soften plastics such as dildos, vibrators and ahem, butt plugs. And not just the grown-up toys, as children’s toys have used this chemical as well.
These phthalates have been found to allegedly pose a risk to human health and the environment. How much, no one knows for sure because there’s no human testing to see what, if any, is the permanent damage. But scientists have found that phthalates get absorbed into our bodies. So Europe banned the chemical from children’s toys permanently.
Plus GREENPEACE, (yes, THE Greenpeace) issued a TOXIC SEX TOY WARNING … (I swear I can’t make this stuff up. How hilarious and tragic is that at the same time?)
The organization warned NOT to shove the “Spectra Gel Anal Plug” or the “Crystal Jelly Double Dong” where the sun does not shine, if you get my drift.
So I figure, if it’s a health risk to the kiddies, then it could be a health risk to my kitty.
And THAT is no bueno.
So what are frisky men and women to do?
Have no fear. Sex toy manufacturers and retailers to the rescue!
Companies like the Sweden based Lelo and Lodon based CoCo de Mer make all their sex toys with glass, jade or medical-grade silicone, making their darlings toxin-free. Other mega retailers like San Francisco based Good Vibrations are phasing out their products with phthalates and suggest using a condom over your favorite “friends” if you have any concerns.
Because apparently, a lot of you DO have concerns.
Cleo, the owner who runs the online women’s sensuality store, Cleosboutique.com, has noticed a change in what her clients want.
“Women are very conscious of their bodies, and with almost all aspects, want to know what’s in all the products they use, from makeup to sexual stimulants. It was important that we supply products that our customers feel are safe, which is why we keep a variety of eco-friendly toys on the website.”
I guess we’re entering an era of Even Safer Sex. Safe sex with yourself.
But the good news is if ever I need a reason to play with toys, I can always remind myself, “I’m doin’ it for the polar bears.”
Sex Toy Materials
What’s my toy made of, anyway?
There are several basic types of materials found in sex toys:
- Silicone
- VixSkin Silicone
- Silicone/Rubber Mixes
- Elastomer
- Jelly Rubber and Phthalates
- Soft Vinyl
- Hard Materials (hard plastics, acrylics, Lucite, glass, metal, ceramic)
- TPR (Thermo plastic rubber)
- TPE (Thermo plastic elastomer)
Silicone
Silicone is a popular sex toy material for many good reasons: it’s non-porous, hygienic, pliable, and comes in many vivid colors. It warms to the body and retains heat. It is also extremely durable. Because silicone can withstand high temperatures, you can boil silicone toys (as long as there is no vibrator unit inside) for 5-10 minutes or put them in your dishwasher to disinfect them. They also clean well with soap and water.
Silicone toys vary in their density — some are very soft (like Mistress) while others are more rigid, but they are all pliable. The variation depends on how much silicone is poured into the mold. Silicone also carries vibration like a dream. You’ll find that silicone items are often more expensive that sex toys made of other materials. Not only is the material more expensive than plastics or rubbers, but silicone toy makers are often small businesses that don’t mass produce their products on an assembly line but create them in more craftsman-like settings. You will find the higher price worthwhile because of the longer life span of silicone and its ability to be disinfected for use with more than one partner.
I have environmental allergies. What sex toys are safe for me to use?
Silicone is hypoallergenic. We recommend silicone toys to anyone who is concerned about having a reaction to rubber and vinyl materials or scents or for people who know they do not want to use condoms on their sex toys.
VixSkin Silicone
Handcrafted by popular silicone dildo manufacturer Vixen Creations, VixSkin is nothing less than a major innovation in sex toy design. These toys boast the superior hygienic qualities of silicone while retaining the realistic look and feel of real skin. Because they are made of 100% silicone, VixSkin dildos are easy to clean, unlike more porous materials which can harbor bacteria. VixSkin toys are backed by a lifetime warranty from Vixen Creations.
Elastomer
Elastomer is being used in sex toys as a soft material that is phthalate-free. It is porous, unlike silicone, and cannot be disinfected. People who are concerned about avoiding contact with rubber softeners might choose elastomer toys as good soft alternatives.
Elastomed is a non-porous synthetic blend, which is a safer form of rubber. The Smart Balls Teneo toys are made of silicone and elastomed.
Silicone/Rubber Mixes
Silicone is such a popular sex toy material that manufacturers of less-expensive sex toy options have realized that it can increase their sales to have the packaging say that the toy is silicone. By law, it only has to have 10% of a material to be called that material (just like with 10% fruit juices).
Because we want our customers to make informed decisions, we hope that you will check before buying something labeled silicone. You should be able to trust that the product is truly capable of being disinfected.
Jelly Rubber
People who prefer soft materials over hard or who want to limit their sex toy spending might go for jelly rubber over other materials. These toys have a shorter lifespan than those made of silicone or vinyl. We strongly recommend using a condom on them every time. This creates a barrier between you and the toy that will greatly reduce your contact with its ingredients.
Soft Vinyl
Vinyl materials have a more solid feeling than jelly rubbers and are less porous, but we still suggest condom use because vinyl is somewhat porous. Vinyl toys are midway between jelly rubber and silicone in most ways, and can be an alternative to jelly rubber without being as expensive as silicone.
Hard Materials
Hard Plastic, Lucite, Acrylic, Glass, Metal & Ceramic
Hard plastic, acrylic, glass, metal, and pure latex toys are phthalate-free and have firm, smooth textures. Some may be a cheaper alternative to silicone toys. Hard plastics are significantly less porous than rubber toys and can be used without condoms if only used by one person.
Babeland carries toys made of all different kinds of hard plastic. Basically all these plastics are common, safe materials which require the same care.
ABS plastic is a mix between elastomer, rubber, and hard plastic which is durable and recyclable. See below for other types.
We try to carry Pyrex and laboratory-quality glass that will not shatter if dropped. Examine your toy before each use. If you notice a crack in your glass toy, stop using it—you wouldn’t want to risk having it break during use. Lucite and acrylic are shatter-free and harder to break, but it is possible to crack them. You can boil glass, but do not boil plastic, acrylic or Lucite toys.
Aluminum
Tantus Alumina is made of 100% aeronautic grade aluminum and designed to play anatomically with your bodies pleasure zones. Aluminum is a lighter metal than stainless steel, it doesn’t feel so heavy. Each toy is anodized, which not only adds to the beauty, but increases corrosion resistance and wear resistance. Aluminum is the most abundant metal in the Earth’s crust, and makes up about 8% by weight of the Earth’s solid surface, so it is recyclable and safe.
TPR Plastic: Thermoplastic Rubber
This light-weight, flexible material is what Babeland chose for its new and improved Nubby G vibrator and the Babeland Odyssey Tickler. It’s phthalate-free, easily washed, supple, and pliable to the touch.
TPE Plastic
Sources:
http://www.alternet.org
http://www.babeland.com
