How to Go Green: Sex

Jacob Gordon
HTGG
February 14, 2007

[by Jacob Gordon]

Editor's Note: This how to go green guide contains mature content that might be unsuitable for younger readers.

Whether you're single and playing the field, settled down with that special someone, or someplace in between, most of us consider good, satisfying, sexy sex an important part of this complete breakfast.

It might not be the first thing we think of while working towards a sustainable and graceful life on this fragile planet, but there's a lot we can do to make our sex lives greener. In the process of greening the ecological footprint of our love making, we might also open up some new doors to deeper pleasure, satisfaction, and romantic connection.

Read on to learn how to make your sex life greener.

Top Green Sex TipsFurther Reading on Green Sex
Green Sex: By the NumbersGreen Sex Quiz
Where To Get Green Sex Toys and ProductsHow to Go Green: Index
Green Sex: From the ArchivesGreen Sex: Getting Techie
6 Super Green Vibrators and Dildos 
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Top Green Sex Tips

  1. Employ green sex toysAccording to the Durex Global Sex Survey, 43% of Americans have used a vibrator. Dildos, vibrators, anal beads, cock rings, and the rest of the happy sex toy family can be thrilling and fulfilling, either alone or with a partner, but many store-bought sex toys contain, among other things, chemicals called phthalates, a substance used to soften hard plastics like PVC and provide that jelly feeling. There is quite a bit of concern about the toxicity and health risks of phthalates (in 2004, the EU banned a range of phthalates from children's toys), especially in sex toys that are used in warm, moist places. One suspicious warning sign is the disclaimer you'll find on most sex toy packages stating that the device within is for "novelty purposes only." TreeHugger suggests playing it safe. Look for toys made from glass, metal, silicone, hard plastics, or elastomers. Putting a condom over a suspicious dildo is also a good move. If your sex toy of choice is a power tool, buy a rechargeable one or use your own rechargeable batteries. Rechargeable vibrating toys include the Aphrodite Wand, the Acuvibe, the Lily and Iris from Lelo, and toys from Fun Factory. Check out TreeHugger TV's How to Buy a Green Sex Toy for more.
  2. Lube upWhether you feel you need lube or not, a little extra slipperyness can add something extra to any roll in the hay. As you would with any other personal care product, go as natural as possible and try to avoid petroleum products, artificial scents, flavors, and colors. There are even organic lubes to be found. For more info on what to look out for, see How to Green Women's Personal Care--advice also suitable for men).
  3. Use condomsFor safer, baby-free sex, nothing beats a latex condom. Vegans looking for a latex option (though derived from trees, most latex has a milk enzyme added) can check out Glyde condoms. The jury is still out as to whether latex condoms are biodegradable and what effects additives and lubricants have on biodegradability. According to most sources, lambskin condoms are biodegradable but are only effective against pregnancy, not STDs. Polyurethane condoms are essentially plastic and not biodegradable. Used condoms are best sent to the landfill. Flushing condoms down the toilet is definitely no good as this clogs pipes, treatment plants, and rivers. So let's face it, reduce, reuse, recycle just doesn't apply when it comes to the rubbers.
  4. Give (and receive) sexy giftsGetting a stylish and useful gift is always a turn on. Organic massage oils, fair trade chocolate, or a bottle of biodynamic red wine are hot options. For Valentine's, you can even get an all fair trade goodie bag for your lovie. Of course, romance and good sex know no price, and a poem from the heart, a massage, some hot role playing, or a home-cooked dinner for two can be the hottest gifts of all.
  5. Have green, sexy fun

    Sexy play can be green and efficient as well. As seen on TreeHugger TV, showering together can save water (if things get steamier, we suggest taking it to the bedroom and not leaving the shower running). In the winter time, some nice warm loving before bed can get the bedroom toasty, meaning the thermostat can be lower (see How to Green Your Heating, for more). A nice bike ride for two is a fossil-fuel-free way to get the blood flowing and can also be quite stimulating, especially for the ladies. And of course the classic candle-lit dinner is a delicious way to set the mood and save on energy bills.

  6. Put some bamboo in bedIf you've never experience bamboo bed sheets, you're missing out. Bamboo fabric is silky and slippery (but not so slippery you'll slide out of bed), wicks moisture, has natural antimicrobial properties, comes from a rapidly renewable resource, and is super sexy.
  7. Mention the unmentionables: eco-undiesSlinky, slippery, sexy. These are all good things when it comes to some sassy skivvies for the bedroom. Organic cotton, hemp silk, bamboo, and other renewable fibers make ultra-sexy lingerie and underwear. When browsing around, go for quality, not novelty. Buying a bedroom outfit that will be used only a couple times isn't a great buy. Face it, unless you're famous, nobody on Ebay is gonna buy those crotchless panties, even if you just wore them once. We suggest shelling out the extra bucks for something classy, sexy, and sustainable that can be donned when the mood is right for years to come. For something on the exotic end, check out Enamore and g=9.8. For sensible and simple, look at Buenostyle and American Apparel. For something in between, try GreenKnickers.
  8. Taste sweeter juice?There are some very strong rumors going around that vegetarians have the best tasting love juices (though some items from the vegetable kingdom you may want to avoid, like asparagus and garlic). If you aren't already a veggie-lover and there's a romantic occasion/hot date in your future, give the veggie or vegan diet a try. Even if it does nothing for your flavor, you may score points for being a good steward of the planet. The meat industry is immensely resource intensive and accounts for 70% of the water pollution in the US. Reducing your meat consumption is one of the greenest things you can do. Plus, many triathletes and other super-people swear by a vegan diet for prolonged endurance (always a good thing). For a very funny but totally explicit investigation of the food/body fluid connection, read Hank Hyena's essay at Salon.com.
  9. Turn on natural aphrodisiacsSince days of yore, lovers have turned to natural herbs and special foods to find stimulation, endurance, and sexual health. While we can't vouch for any of these, and all supplements should be taken with caution and/or professional advise, it is rumored that herbs like ginseng, kava kava root, damiana leaves, kelp, tribulus, ginko biloba, rhodiola rosea, and of course horny goat weed can help stoke the flames of passion--even more so if certified organic. A host of foods are also used to stimulate the sexual senses, and of course organic wine and Champaign are trusted aphrodisiacs as well.
  10. Meet that special green loverNothing's quite worse than meeting some really promising guy or girl and then realizing that he or she is an Escalade-driving, non-recycling, Earth messer-upper. What are you going to do? Try to reform them? Sleep with them anyway and try to ignore their unconscious ways? Forget it. Go for the green lover. Farmers markets, Critical Mass, your local Green Drinks, the Whole Foods checkout isle can be great places to meet people. A host of match-making sites (see the Further Reading section for direct links) can also be great venues for finding that special tree hugger to hug.
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Green Sex: By the Numbers

  • 60 to 100 million: Number of condoms that are improperly disposed of each year in the U.K.
  • 7/8: Ratio of sex toys tested which contained phthalates (in concentrations ranging from 24 to 51 percent), to all toys tested, in a study conducted for Greenpeace Netherlands.
  • Almost 50 percent: Number of pregnancies in the U.S. which are unplanned each year; the U.S. has one of the highest rates of unintended pregnancies of all industrialized nations.
  • 20 percent: Percentage of adults worldwide who has used a vibrator.
  • 22 percent: the percentage of people worldwide who have had sex in the garden.

Sources: Environment Agency of Britain, Greenpeace, Christian Science Monitor, 2005 Durex Global Sex SurveyBack To Top Λ

Green Sex: Getting Techie

Birth controlYour health and family-planning choices are the top priorities when it comes to birth control, but there are some notable things to consider when choosing how to go about it in a green way.

Condoms: there are some vegan and more eco-friendly condom choices on the market, and buying in bulk, as always, saves on packaging.

Birth control pills can cut out the condom waste, and are an option if you have a steady partner and you've both been tested for STDs. Be aware that there are rising concerns about the hormones from birth control pills ending up in waterways and having serious effects on wildlife, both from pills flushed down the toilet, and from women's urine.

The diaphragm is another non-disposable method of baby-prevention.

An intrauterine device, or IUD, is a method of birth control that is inserted by a doctor into a woman's uterus. The devise releases either a hormone or copper, which, oddly enough, has effective spermicidal properties. For monogamous couples not interested in any (more) kids, sterilization can be an option to consider. There are other methods as well, all of which a person should discuss with a doctor if there are doubts or questions.

The rhythm method and pull-out method are notoriously ineffective and should not be relied on, no matter how green they might seem. Of course the biggest ecological impact resulting from sex is a baby. Human population is arguably the most threatening force on Earth, and with human population expected to reach 8.3 billion by 2030, reproducing is perhaps the largest impact any of us have.

Phthalates are esters of phthalic acid which are commonly used to soften plastics, often in sex toys, as we mentioned in the Green Sex: By the Numbers section. Unfortunately, high doses of phthalates in your system have been shown to change hormone levels and cause birth defects, according to the U.S. Center for Disease Control. They're bad enough that California will ban the use of phthalates in toys and baby products as of 2009. Long story short: they're worth avoiding, in baby bottles, sex toys, and everything else.

Post-sex peeUrinary tract infections are not uncommon for women, and after sex is a vulnerable time for women's delicate little tubes. To avoid urinary tract infections and the not-so-friendly antibiotics that are often prescribed, women should pee after sex if they can. Another good reason to stay hydrated.

Personal lawn careSome people definitely do go for the wild and untamed look, but many modern tree huggers do one thing or another to keep their body hair in check, especially when it comes to intimate moments. Shaving and waxing can do the trick, but especially waxing can be resource intensive and also expensive in the long run. Laser and electrolysis hair removal, after a number of treatments, can be more or less permanent, which might be greener over time. The Preserve razor from Recycline has replaceable heads and an ergonomic handle made from recycled plastic (mostly Stonyfield Farms yogurt cups). But don't stop there. The Razor Saver is a $12 device that resharpens dulled blade cartridges.

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Where To Get Green Sex Toys and Products

Looking for that special product to bring back (or forth) the magic? We've compiled a list of company sites. Note: Planet Green is not responsible for the material on these sites.VIDEO: G Word visits an "Earth Erotics" party to check out some unique products.

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Green Sex: From the Archives

Dig deeper into these articles on Sex from the TreeHugger and Planet Green archives.

As with most things, good sex is a combination of the right attitude, the right information, and the right technology.

TreeHugger TV takes a good, hard look at How to Buy a Green Sex Toy.

For the low-down on some good green lubes to slicken up your sex life, follow TH TV on a trip to Babeland.

Sexy, stylish, and sustainable, these are the ecosexuals, and there are now enough of them to constitute a sizable marketing demographic, not to mention a slew of online dating services.

TreeHugger's Kyeann Sayer rounds up some of the best sustainable sex toys.

For off-grid excitement, check out the solar vibrator.

Need some green romantic inspiration? TH's 50 Ways to Please Your Lover is bound to help you score big.

Put some Kiwi on your cooch with Sylk personal lubricant from Australia. It's slippery, sexy, and paraben-free.

TreeHugger rounds up a selection of fine organic Champagnes.

TreeHugger takes a look at some sumptuous options for bamboo sheets and their amazing anti-microbial properties.

We never could have guessed that tree scraps could make for such sexy lingerie, but g=9.8 did it.

Enamore silk and hemp lingerie is the epitome of sexy eco-luxury.

GreenKnickers makes unique fair trade and organic underoos hailing from the U.K.

Butta makes a line of bamboo undies and Ts for women and men.

Buenostyle offers organic undies that deliver the message.

Peau Ethique has a luscious line of organic lingerie, PJs, and socks.

Screw the mile-high club. Trains are classic, sexy, and eco-friendly.

The EcoBabes calendar is a sexy month-by-month of some of the hottest world-changing women.

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Further Reading on Green Sex

Learn more about green sex from these other sources.Green and veggie dating sites:Miscellaneous green sex readingMore information from Discovery Health

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