Caters to MCS. This indicates that the linked website is accustomed to serving those with multiple chemical sensitivities. If you have MCS, you will find understanding of your condition here, and products to meet your needs. If you haven't got MCS, check out these sites for some of the purest products available.
More information on how each of these ratings apply to different products can be found on the product pages themselves.
Please keep in mind that these ratings are very, very general. Don't take them too literally. They are meant to be loose guidelines, not absolute descriptions. They are based on information I was able to obtain from the websites themselves or from phone calls or emails with the website business.
Debra's List
Debra Lynn Dadd
Debra's Bookstore
MCS Recovery
Sweet Savvy
Gold Star. These products and businesses that really inspire me. They are on the leading edge, usually for multiple reasons, and go far beyond the ordinary in their health and/or environmental benefits.
Earthwise. These products are best for the environment. They are made from renewable natural resources grown organically, harvested in a sustainable way, or made of recycled or reclaimed materials. They can be disposed of safely, being biodegradable for composting or recyclable. Some are manufactured using renewable energy or help us save resources when we use them. Earthwise products include organically grown food and fibers, recycled paper, products made from sustainably harvested wood, energy-efficient products, and others (Note: Sometimes earthwise products that have environmental benefits are not the best for health. Some recycled plastics, for example, may cause symptoms for those sensitive to virgin plastics.)
Natural. I use the word natural with reluctance, because most natural products are not in their natural state, but it is the best term since products with this rating are those that we commonly refer to as "natural"--natural foods, natural fibers, natural cosmetics. The primary components of these products are natural and renewable, but they are not taken in a sustainable or nonpolluting way that maintains continuous supply or fertility of the local ecosystem ("natural" foods, for example, are grown with toxic pesticides and fertilizers). While they are generally considered safe for human use, their manufacture is somewhat less than sustainable for the environment. Often these products are called natural because they do not contain petrochemical ingredients such as artificial colors and preservatives.
Nontoxic. Recognizing that we don't yet live in the best of all possible worlds, there will be times when there is no earthwise or natural product available. The next best choice is a product that is made from nonrenewable petrochemicals, but contains little or no toxic chemicals in the final product. Even these have some environmental benefit, being less toxic in manufacture and disposal than their more toxic counterparts.
Fairtrade. Fairtrade products are the result of programs designed to address economic inequalities and workplace conditions in Third World countries. Through fairtrade programs, producers receive a guaranteed living wage for their goods, and the security of long-term trading contracts, minimum health and safety conditions are guaranteed, and producers, their workplace, and the environment are not exploited. Lack of this symbol is not intended to indicate a business does not have fairtrade practices; it is used only when the providers are certified by an established fairtrade program, or when a business makes a point of ensuring fair wages in an industry where workers are routinely underpaid.
