Sustainable Sex Toys: Just in Time for Valentine’s Day!
by Kyeann Sayer, Nomad on 01.30.06
For treehuggers, it can be hard to get through the day without guilty, pre-occupied micro-decisions. You might regretfully take a cab rather than the bus, or grab Styrofoam take-away instead of just sitting down and eating from a plate. In the bedroom, it can be an accomplishment to wade through all of the cultural pollutants and just enjoy ambivalence-free pleasures. So, once you’ve happily integrated one into your life, who wants to worry about a carcinogenic dildo? Or non-biodegradable paddles whose ultimate punishment will mean an eternity of landfill stink? Not sexy. We have assembled an array of toys and info for you and your partner(s) in crime! Be sure and let us know what we’ve missed.
Materials and Health
You can’t just walk into the novelty shop on the way out of town and grab the first thing that looks like it will do the job. Make sure that you pick a durable item that won’t cause long-term health damage. (If you want to learn about all of the icky stuff in toys, take a look at Emily Gertz’s recent Grist Article.) The most important thing to remember is to avoid PVC plastics and phthalates, agents added to plastics to make them squishy and jelly-like.
Since consumers aren’t receiving protection from these nasties in the form of regulation or labeling, we have to take matters into our own hands and choose items that we know are PVC- and phthalates-free. According to Good Vibrations’ sexologist Carol Queen, Ph.D., the most durable and safe materials for toys are silicone, annealed glass, metal, and Lucite. No matter what you like to do, or what your allergies, you should be able to find helpers made from at least one of these substances.
Materials and Biodegradability
Of course, the bummer with silicone and Lucite is that neither decomposes. This is a problem with latex condoms as well: agents are added to the natural rubber to make them generally 97% effective but 100% non-biodegradable. However, both silicone and latex are recyclable. Maybe some day adult stores will offer silicone recycling for over-the-hill toys? And safe disposal for the electronic parts? Latex gloves are recycled as medical waste. Perhaps we’ll find a system for recycling the millions of condoms that otherwise end up in landfills each day? I smell a thesis topic! (More info about condom choices is available here .)
Glass Goodies
Of all of the non-harmful options, glass toys seem like a great solution, since their production is relatively nontoxic, they clean easily (use non-abrasive cleaners, of course) and are thoroughly recyclable. They can be pricey, however, and you can’t carelessly toss one off the bed. You should not use them if they have been dropped, or knocked against anything hard (in the inanimate object sense of the word). According to Carol:
This can result in fractures you can't see, even in the pyrexed (aka annealed) glass toys, which are the only kind we would recommend using. The annealing process hardens the glass and makes it more resistant to changes in temperature, but one it is cracked, changes in temperature (like room temperature to inside-the-body warm) may make cracks worsen into breaks. They still make really sexy paperweights, though!
He, he. You can find a variety of glass items at Babeland and Good Vibrations. Of course, with all such toys read the instructions well so you know how to clean, store and use them safely.
Paddles
High end, fashion-based erotica business Coco de Mer strives to "put some class and ethics into erotica." The Covent Garden and online stores offer safe and medical grade plastics. If it's your thing, you can "spank your way to a better world" with the fair trade, sustainable paddle (shown above).
We can't forget our own “Weird Eco-Habits” winner was John Unger’s Burning Rubber tire remnant paddles.
Harnesses
Lots of harnesses are made from leather or nylon, neither of which are good eco-choices. How happy we were to discover In Her Tube recycled tire rubber harnesses. Thanks to Bust’s Girl Wide Web for the referral.
Solar Vibration
Everyone's post-apocalyptic favorite: 69 Love Toys' sun-fueled vibrator.
Carrots and Zucchini?
Some very good friends of mine have made use of carrots. Now, I am no sexologist, but if it's organic and clean, what harm could a grocery implement do? Benefits: custom picked by you, biodegradable, and a convenient post-bliss snack?
Lube and Massage Oils
You don't want petroleum derivatives all over you or your parts. Try:
Sensua Organics Lube
Earth Botanicals Organic Massage Oil
Living Nature Massage Oil
Druide Sensual Massage Cream
Enjoy! ::
dont forget about hemp lube
..and while not nearly as um, full-on as InHerTube, theRoad Rash Rubber slaves, have some really Hot ex-tire pants, skirts and collars.... way sexy in a mad max recycled wear kinda way...
Well I guess Treehugger has decided to be hipster rather than useful. Posting about sex toys has next to nothing to do with the environment and is done merely to appear hip and with it. I guess I won't be recommending this site to teacher friends.
Ever heard of "jumping the shark?" Well you just did.
Thanks Kyeann for the link to my paddles. In fact, I'm having a Valentine's Day sale right now so it's a perfect time to try my tread. The sale page is here:
http://www.tirepaddle.com/2006/01/blowout_sale_fr.html
"now i can't show it to my kids" "now i cant show it to my pastor" "now i can't show it to my teacher friends" Waaaa Waaa Waaaa
(fishing for excuses anyone??)
Hey JD, here's an idea, why not show the site to your techer friends and let them decide what is appropriate or not... no really, because um, kids see a heck of a lot more sex on the ol I'net (or desparate TV in the city) than they do at TH....
And as for not having useful posts (like say DIY wind turbines, eco-condos and/or republicans into green energy); Kyeann's post was 1 of 16 yesterday and 1 or 34 in the 48 hours that you posted this complaint. Seriouswly maybe you dont want peopel talking about sex but i got a news flash for you: republicans have sex, trendy people, untrendy people, democrats, bus drivers, horticulturalists, painters, gee, um just about anyone who's ever had a kid.... So, really, it is something that people do, and to tell THers what non-toxic alternatives are out there is what this is about. You don't like it, it's very east to click to the next story, I'm sure there are other posts here at Treehugger you can enjoy!
and in a worse case scenario, there are other websites you might like....
Jonathan D -- If it helps, sometimes sex toys are used solo, which means fewer people, which is environmentally friendly -- esp. if it means fewer N. Americans.
But for Kyeanne -- Did you know that the sex toy biz is booming for a christian UK store? Not sure if any of their wares are earth-friendly too --
yeah this is cool.. I ve been reading about this for months on this other blog called greenerside.typepad.com. Its about time treehugger mentions it. I even went to good vibrations and started asking about it. I met this crazy looking woman who told me she owned a company that made silicone dildos that are non porous and phalate free. She also told me that it is her life mission to educate people on the dangers of phalates. The folks at good vibrations are very aware of this health issue.. By the way, the first post on this is simply wrong. this post is green related because of the chemicals that go into making conventional dildos simply are bad for the environment, as I learned from this other blog I mentioned earlier and that crazy lady at good vibrations.. Now I put silicone in my partners ass and so should you.
right me
I agree silicone is the best material to use for sex toys.But in my opinon nothing beats the real thing!
Chritian sex toy store??? I have to check that out!
Can someone tell me where to get a magic wand?
Would try typing in sex toys on Google and pulling up the top three websites and send them an email. Or go to Froogle but ask here about where to get a wand come on really. And the spammer who signed his named sex toys whats up with that. Anyways loved the article ended up going out and buying some lube after reading the bit you had about them.
What? You ended going out and buying lube from your own store???? sextoysparty??
I like both glass sex toys and silicone, which are both non-toxic and can be sterilized. Some of the glass dildos they come up with these days are works of art.
There are quite a few Rechargeable vibrators available today.
"Posting about sex toys has next to nothing to do with the environment and is done merely to appear hip and with it."
Oh for crying out loud. Information about how to have healthier and more environmentally sensitive sex is quite useful. Seriously, if you're scared to drink water out of toxin-shedding bottles, why are you putting the same types of toxins in other mucus membrane regions of your body? If you don't like disposing of batteries and broken down "equipment" in landfills so soon after their manufacture burped all sorts of pollutants into the environment, then sustainable technology has a place in your sex life. But where do we find the alternatives? Apparently here.
As a teacher, I understand the other teacher's frustration. We have to cover our asses (no pun intended!) when it comes to what websites our students view. Technically, any teacher should report this site as having sexual content on it. I agree, as a teacher, that it's a HUGE bummer bc we cannot allow the students to use this site anymore until that aspect is removed.
HOWEVER!!! I take several meds that make me usually unable to reach orgasm. A vibrator REALLY helps, and I had no idea about phalates, so now I know.
I'm uptight about this stuff when it comes to my job, but otherwise, as the Beasty Boys say, "they say her name's Lucy, but they just call her Loose!"
Hello,
I find this forum to be informative and fun. ;-)
Does anyone have information they could share about a healthier and safer birth control pill? It's been many years since I've used this method of protection.
After reading/hearing many stories about the short and long-term side effects of mainstream market brands, my primary concern is the potential health impact.
Thanks ~
since the subject was broached, i make glass sex toys and would like to give everyone a little info concerning them.
First, there are good ones and cheap ones. If you so anything under $40 you're most likely buying designs produced in china that can be bought for $5 if you are a wholesaler. if you look you'll notice how many peole are selling the exact same designs.
second, every piece of raw glass that begins the process has minute scratches and nicks on the outer surface which can be areas that harbor bacteria. we go thru the extra steps to remove these, think an inexpensive piece receives the same attention.
third, when you hear about the properties of glass they are all true. completely non-porous (if the scratches are removed), hypollergenic, and incredibly strong. being non porous means you can clean them completely and have them sterilized. plastics and silicones can never truly be non porous. eever had one look brand new after a few years of use. i doubt it. the discoloration is bacteria in the pores. this will never happen with a welll made glaass toy. it will still be perfect in 10,000 years.
fourth, when color is added it is not true borosilicate glass, there are minerals to create the color. When the color is added the overall properties of the glass changes slightly and you also increase teh chances of introducing a bubble into the glass where the color and clear are bonded. this should worry you about its use but it creates weak spots that can lead to fracture if hit the right way. we have no problem using colored pieces, they just have a tendancy to not be as durable over time.
finally, simple glass on glass contact shoudl be avoided. surprisingly simple contact can leave a mar on the glass. always store multiple toys in protective pouches away from each other.
basically, if you want to safely share your toys with your lover these are the safest toys around as long as they come from a reputable artist. don't settle for foreign imports. simply clean them properly, even stick them in the dishwasher. they can even be heated in warm water or chilled in ice water to makes those nights really fun.
have a pleasure filled day everyone;-)
peace and carrots,
j.
glassman@passionglass.com
Personally, I think the fuss about exposure to phthalates is exaggerated a little.
Glass or silicone might be better, but I wouldn't loose sleep over using a cheaper sex toy now and then either.
Hygiene might be the best reason to use silicone or glass, since jelly rubber is porous, and absorbs some bodily fluids.
Passion Glass rocks, thanks Justin! Love Me Naturally ( www.LoveMeNaturally.com) is thrilled to carry Justin's like of Passion Glass toys. We've researched our options long and hard, they were the best fit for our all natural company. There are so many chemicals around out there be sure they're not brought into your bedroom too!
Glass dildos are great. I love them. Hypoallergenic, they can be sterlized, as well as recyled. Plus, these glass wonders are beautiful and put a smile on your face.
Well, I really doubt there is such a huge harm to use some sex toys materials. If one can afford only jelly sex toy he or she can use condom at least to protect from some harm. As for latex condoms which are non-biodegradable- who will stop using them after all? Condoms remain one of the most effective protection methods against STD's and pregnancy.
just to dispel some myths and correct a few major wrong things in this one statement from "Carol".
She says:
"This can result in fractures you can't see, even in the pyrexed (aka annealed) glass toys, which are the only kind we would recommend using. The annealing process hardens the glass and makes it more resistant to changes in temperature, but one it is cracked, changes in temperature (like room temperature to inside-the-body warm) may make cracks worsen into breaks. They still make really sexy paperweights, though!"
Ok, there is firstly no such thing as "pyrexed" glass toys. there are "pyrex" glass toys however! I'll explain in a second.
Secondly, "pyrexed" (which does not exist in the first place) is NOT the same as annealing!
Thirdly, annealing does not "harden" glass. What it does do is take out the stress introduced when working the glass in a hot flame. When you heat glass up in one area and the rest of the glass is cooler, it introduces stress on a molecular level. this stress will eventually break the glass, unless it is all heated up to the same temperature to even everything out again and then taken down at a gradual rate. THAT is what annealing does!
now back to this fictional "pyrexed". PYREX is a brand of glass manufactured by corning in the U.S. It is also known as "borosilicate" glass. Glass is usually designated by the flux used and hence you get borosilicate glass, sodaglass, leadglass and so on. Borosilicate glass was developed early in the 20th century by Otto Schott in germany for laboratory use. In germany, Schott manufacturing calls their brand of borosilicate DURAN. Borosilicate has a very low expansion rate and is therefore very very resistant to thermal shock (hence laboratory and cookware).
DO however make sure that your toys are made from Borosilicate glass as opposed to cheap soda-glass. Soda glass is what your coke bottles and such are made of and often is still somewhat unstable even after being annealed. Also DO not use your toy after dropping on hard ground.
hope that helps dispelling some of the wrong things repeated in this article ...
Just wanted to let you know that the largest selections of Glass Sex Toys on the net is at http://www.xxxglass.com
XXX Glass Sex Toys
They make all of their own toys out of high quality pyrex glass by hand and have hundreds of styles to choose from.
So check them out!
Thanks,
Jenny
XXX Glass Sex Toys
"have a pleasure filled day everyone;-)" - you sick pathetic people! Perhaps you say, "How much can I abuse my body to satisfy my self-obsessed craving for pleasure?" Gee, tough choice, my sex toys or the environment. Wake up people!
i was wondering what people might feel about this since i haven't seen it been done before but possibly a cool idea. a vibrator that runs on a renewable source of electricty (piezoelctric energy to be specific) therefore, eliminating the need for batteries! if it could be done - the creation of a "green" vibrator also made with safe materials would there be a market for it?
EarthChange,
Maybe you would let your children look at whatever they want on the internet or tv. But some of us monitor what our children are exposed to. Children are affected by things differently than adults, it's kind of obvious.