Today we are going to talk about two elements commonly created or used as part of creating supplies you find in your kitchen: chlorine and dioxin. Most people know that paper, in its natural state, is light brown in color. In order for it to be that bright white we are used to seeing, it has to be bleached. When paper is bleached at a paper mill, the waste left over is sent into our lakes and rivers. I think many people think that this sort of dumping must surely be illegal, or something that hasn’t happened in a few decades. NOPE! It’s still happening now, and it is terrible for the environment.
Aside from the negative impact to the environment, it also has a negative impact on people. Check out the image below to learn more about what chlorine has been linked to:
Wowzers. That’s pretty rough, people. I didn’t realize all of this until I started doing research for this post, and I’m pretty freaked out by it.
Next, let’s move on to dioxin. According to my source, “The term ‘dioxin’ describes a group of highly toxic chemicals which are produced by several industrial processes that use or burn products containing chlorine, including incinerators and “kraft” paper mills. Dioxins are among the most potent toxic chemicals known.” The effects on humans are very serious, with compelling scientific evidence linking dioxins to cancers, and disruptions in hormonal, reproductive and immune systems.
So what does this have to do with products you may find in your kitchen? Well, your parchment paper, your coffee filters and your baking cups have all been bleached! That had never even occurred to me until recently. And I didn’t know that I had any alternatives to buying the bleached products. But now I know that I do!
The company is called If YouCare, and they offer an awesome line of products for those of us who want to ditch the chlorine and not contribute to the creation of dioxin with our purchase choices. The company offers the following products:
• Parchment Paper
• Baking Paper in sheets
• Baking Cups (various sizes)
• coffee filters (in a variety of sizes/shapes)
• 100% recyclable aluminum foil
• cooking twine
• unbleached cheesecloth
• 100% biomass firelighters (so cool!)
We received samples of all their products and have been thoroughly enjoying using them. I’m so excited to know that I can make a different choice. I do wish that their website had a place where I could look up my closest retailer, though (or where I could purchase online). So far, I haven’t found these products in my local store, so I’m not exactly sure how to get more when I run out! UPDATE: I have now learned that these products are available at all Whole Foods stores, and you can search for a retailer near you online! http://ifyoucare.com/store
Win it!: Right now I have a chance for you to win a set of the baking products (baking cups, parchment paper roll, parchment paper sheets) along with a t-shirt from the company. You are going to love these!
Be sure to enter my other current giveaways, found on the sidebar of my page.
Disclosure: I received complimentary products for review purposes. The opinions expressed here are strictly my own.
I like the recyclable aluminum foil. We go through that alot in my house and I would love to use a more green product.
the baking cups
I too would like to try them all, but if I had to pick one I would say coffee filters. Thanks!
i want to try the baking paper in sheets! thanks clallen at ntin dot net
The only product of theirs that I can find in stores is the Baking Cups – I LOVE them!!! I’d like to try the coffee filters – we drink a LOT of coffee!
I’d like to try IF YOU CARE® Coffee Filters
the aluminum foil!
I’m torn between the baking cups and the alum foil
baking cups
the Aluminum Foil
I would love to try thier cupcake baking cups
I’d love to try the Aluminum Foil
I am most excited to try the baking cups.
Id like to try the sponge cloths.
khyde19@yahoo.com
The recycled trash bags sound like a great idea!
I’d like to try out the aluminum foil!
kappasighacksaw(at)live(dot)com
I like the baking cups.
I would love to try the baking cups, thanks
I’m excited to try the Coffee Filters!
I’m most excited about their cupcake cups!
Baking cups!
Definitely the Baking Paper in Sheets, since I love to bake! 🙂
I would like to try the ir recycled trash bags
I would love to try the aluminum foil.
I want to try the sponge clothes because they can be washed in a machine and reused!
I would love to try the baking cups!
i want to try the coffee filters
I love their baking cups! I’d love to try their parchment paper! I can’t find it around here!
e-mail: lucky02130 (at) gmail (dot) com
I would love to try the baking cups because I love to bake 🙂
i am excited to try the coffee filters 🙂
ericka082 at gmail dot com
i’d love to try the parchment paper
Coffee filters.
frugalmommieof2 at gmail.com
I’D LIKE TO TRY THE PARCHMENT PAPER..
parchmant paper
Baking Cups
I’d like their recycled trash bags or aluminum foil.
I am most excited to try their Paper Sack and Sandwich Bags.
laura dot hopelessromnatic dot emerson at gmail dot com
I’d like to try their Baking Cups!
I want to try the Cheesecloths!
I would love to try the recycled aluminum foil! jessicapeeling@yahoo.com
I would really like to try the parchment paper!
I’m excited to try the compostable trash bags.
I am most excited about the baking cups. I love making muffins!
I’m excited about the baking cups.
Paper baking sheets and muffin liners!!! Two things I use almost everyday!
I would like to try the parchment paper
I’d like to try the baking cups
The coffee filters!
I am excited about all of it but would really like the 100% recycled aluminum foil
I’d like to try the baking cups. cribcouture@yahoo.com
Baking cups!
I am interested in the coffee filters
carolkfoster at comcast dot net
I would love to try the cheesecloth out.
I am interested in the fire starters
I like baking muffins, so I would like to try the muffin cups.
100% Unbleached Large Baking Cups for me:)
the coffee filters because i would use them everyday!
marygardner49 at aol dot com
Would love to try their Cheesecloth.
I would like to try the heavy duty aluminum foil
stanleybilly(at)bellsouth(dot)net
the coffee filters is the one i want to try
i’m really interested in the parchment paper!
I would love to try the Golden Silicone 100% Unbleached Parchment Paper and Baking Paper sheets.
I am most excited to try the aluminum foil
the twine
Totally excited about the coffee filters! We go through so many!
I have coffee daily. Usually twice a day I make a pot. So I go through a lot of filters. I’d like to give theirs a try, and know that I’m not making such an impact on the environment!
coriwestphal at msn dot com
Baking Cups would be my first choice
What I am most excited to try is the 100% Unbleached Large Baking Cups! sandrayola@msn.com
Had no idea about the dioxin issue (thank you for explaining). Would love to try the baking cups.
I’m excited to try the coffee filters. We make a lot of coffee!
I’m excited by the coffee filters. Thanks for the giveaway.
I would love to try the recycled aluminum foil.
Like to try the aluminum foil thanks
Definitely would love to try the coffee filters.
I am most excited to try their new aluminum foil!
Would love to try the baking cups!
I’d like to try the coffee filters
Would love to try the 100% recycled aluminum foil!
I would love the Parchment Paper!
coffee filters!I use these everyday
I would love to try the baking cups!!
I’d love to try the baking cups! Have been looking for products like these!
I want to try the baking cups
Glad to see these products exist. Thanks for the info
I like their 100% Unbleached Large Baking Cups
I’d love to try the baking cups
I would love to try the coffee basket filters
I would love to try the coffee filters.