Green Your Sex Life

Urban Fox's sexy eco-lingerie

Green sex sounds kind of nasty, but the truth is that every aspect of our lives could use a little eco-massaging. Our sex life is no exception – from condoms to lubricants to toys – everything we use has a carbon footprint and an environmental impact. We took a look at some of the most popular accoutrements of an active sex life to find out how we can reduce our sexual carbon footprint and still keep a red-hot love life alive.

Candles

There are a lot of environmental problems lurking in this mood enhancer. The majority of mainstream paraffin candles are made from a by-product of oil refining. When the candle is lit, it emits toxic fumes that are the equivalent of a diesel exhaust explains The Green Book.

Eco-lovers are divided on what is the best option for candle use. Some greenies advocate for beeswax, but the vegans and animal rights’ activists point out that the beehives are disrupted or damaged to get the wax. Soy is another possible solution, although it is important to ensure soy candles are not made from genetically modified ingredients. Babeland Massage Candles are a sexy soy option. While burning the candle, the wax melts to form a silky massage oil. Well, the massage oil brings us to the next important aspect of an active, green sex life…

Vegetarians and vegans also might not be aware that condoms and dental dams may contain milk protein casein.

Condoms

Although condoms are an absolute necessity for preventing unwanted sexually transmitted diseases and children, they have a steep eco-footprint – they don’t decompose after use. The millions of condoms used each day end up floating in rivers, oceans and in our landfills. What can a careful, but sexually active environmentalist do?

Well, they can stop flushing them down the toilet for starters. Each time we flush the typical toilet, it uses an estimated 20 liters per flush. Low flow toilets still use about 5-6 liters a flush. If you are having sex twice a day for 365 days – you will waste more than 4,380 liters of water (if you use a low flow toilet) when you flush your condoms down the toilet.

Vegetarians and vegans also might not be aware that condoms and dental dams may contain milk protein casein. Thankfully there are some great green options, although they can be a bit harder to find. Biodegradable vegan condoms and dental dam suggestions are available at www.vegancondoms.com - Glyde and Condomi seem to be the two greenest choices.

Glass dildoes

Lights Out

We are not advocating for the missionary position here or any sort of shame-based sex, but do consider turning off the lights to save electricity. Unless you just met your lover, chances are you know what they look like and have seen all their bits before. If you are tired of your lover, the dark makes it easier to imagine it is someone else.

However, if you do like to do it with the lights on – make sure you are using CFLs. Climatecrisis.net reports that CFLs use 60% less energy than a regular bulb. Switching to CFLs will save about 300 pounds of carbon dioxide a year.

Lingerie

You can still look a touch naughty and be green. With all the hot eco-lingerie on the market it is very easy to get your lover’s blood boiling without using pesticide-intensive, genetically modified cotton or all those nasty synthetics – instead eco-lovers are choosing sumptuous and sustainable fabrics like soy, bamboo, hemp and organic cotton. They look great, feel fabulous and don’t cost the earth. Try Stella McCartney’s Sexy & Saucy line, GreenKnickers, Enamore, Hanky Panky or Urban Fox Lingerie. Sexy eco-lingerie from GreenKnickers

Lizzie Cook, co-founder of the fabulous Urban Fox believes bamboo eco-lingerie is a better choice for the planet because it is sustainable, durable, hyperallergenic, biodegradable and doesn’t lose its shape. But is it scratchy? “We get asked that a lot. One touch of our bamboo/cotton fabric will let you know that it's one of the softest fabrics you've ever felt. It's actually been likened to cashmere,” explains Cook. “What better fabric to have as the closest layer to your skin?”

Lubricant

Many lubes are made from petroleum – a non-renewable resource. If you are going to have the lubricant in your private parts, you want it to be as organic as possible. Yes Pure Intimacy offers some organic options for having a smooth and sustainable sex life – their Yes water based lubricant is 100% organic, safe with sex toys and won’t stain the sheets. Firefly Organics, Sensua Organics, Fresh Land and Love Me Naturally all offer organic or natural personal lubricants. Always check to make sure they are safe to use with condoms.

Each pound of non-organic cotton harvested uses an estimated 1/3 of a pound of chemical fertilizers and pesticides.

Sheets

Nothing feels sexier against bare skin than organic cotton, silky and sustainable bamboo, or 300 thread count soy sheets. Sweatshop free, organic hemp is also proving to be popular with eco-lovers. Eco-bedsheets have certainly gone mainstream with everyone from Target, Macy’s, Bed, Bath & Beyond, and WalMart carrying at least one version of sustainable sheets.

Buying organic, low-impact bedding means less pesticide and resources go into making your sheets. Take cotton for example – it is the most widely grown and chemically intensive crop on earth. Each pound of non-organic cotton harvested uses an estimated 1/3 of a pound of chemical fertilizers and pesticides. If you think of that in terms of clothing, it takes between 1/4 to 1/3 of a pound of fertilizer and chemicals to produce 1 cotton T-shirt or 3 pairs of cotton boxer shorts. We are not sure exactly how many equivalent T-shirts or cotton boxer shorts are in a set of sheets or a duvet cover, but you get the idea that it is bad for your health and the planet to use non-organic cotton.

Just as you would pay attention to the ingredients in your food and products, you can pay attention to the materials in your sex toys.
—Pamela Doan, Babeland

Vibrators & Dildos

“There are several ways we suggest "going green" when it comes to sex toys including using re-chargeable vibrators instead of battery operated models,” explains Allison Goldstein, Marketing Coordinator for Good Vibrations.

Good Vibrations doesn’t sell any products containing phthalates –those nasty devils everyone is now furiously trying to eliminate after studies are showing some serious effects from long term exposure. Greenpeace International’s Eco Sex Guide explains “the production of PVC creates and releases one of the most toxic chemicals - dioxin. You don’t want to be sucking on that stuff”.

Sustainable wood toy from Babeland “Just as you would pay attention to the ingredients in your food and products, you can pay attention to the materials in your sex toys,” emphasizes Pamela Doan, from Babeland Adult Sex Toys. Eco-options include choosing toys that will last a lifetime and are made from porcelain, glass, silicone, metal or wood. It doesn’t get much greener than a sex toy made from a tree (gives new meaning to the phrase – treehugger). Always check the wood comes from a sustainably managed tree farm.

By the by, we are definitely not suggesting giving up love toys. In fact, women who report masturbating score higher on self-esteem index than women who do not report masturbating. Women who masturbate have a more positive body image and less sexual anxiety (Hurlbert & Whittaker, 1991).

Watersports

Bubble baths are passé. It is no longer sexy to waste water. Steamy shower sex is the hot new eco-watersport. However, if you are planning on having a marathon session (lucky you!), it might be wise to turn off the shower for a spell. Or consider putting a bucket in the bottom of the shower. After lovemaking, recycle the water for thirsty household or outdoor plants.

Greenpeace International’s Eco Sex Guide explains that water is just too precious to waste: “More than one billion people do not have access to clean water, it is a luxury, and should definitely be shared with a friend”.