Love is in the air, especially during the spring and summer months, and Greenpeace has a guide for all who are concerned about the environment: The Greenpeace Guide to Environmentally-Friendly Sex.
According to “Getting it on for the good of the planet,” there are 10 ways to have fun while being eco-friendly.
One way is to “turn off the lights” or to engage in sexual activity during the day.
Make sure that fruit is genetically engineered-free. “There have not been enough studies on genetically engineered foods to know the effects on our diets will be, let alone the affects of using it for more intimate activities,” states the guide.
Switch from oysters and other shellfish aphrodisiacs to guarana and caju. “Our oceans are being destroyed at an unprecedented rate-we need to stop plundering for pleasure.”
Do the deed on a naturally fertilized lawn. “Would you really want to set your bare bottom on weed killer?” asks Greenpeace.
However, polyvinyl chloride not only affects the planet, it affects health, and adult stores are really taking this problem seriously.
“The mainstream porn industry is full of toxins,” says Matie Fricker, co-owner of Self-Serve, an adult store in Albuquerque, New Mexico. “There has been no regulations, so a lot of people are selling things that are unhealthy.”
According to the guide, PVC production releases a toxic chemical, dioxin, which is one of the most toxic chemicals.
“The sad part is I say 98 percent of customers aren’t aware,” said Fricker, “people tend to believe that if someone sells them something, it would be safe.”
Not only does Self-Serve spend time educating their customers about safe products, there is also the Coalition Against Toxic Toys (includes children’s toys and pet toys) that are in the process of informing the public about what is safe and what is not safe.
According to Fricker, Adam & Eve no longer sells products containing phthalates.
“I recommend that people buy toys that are silicone, glass, metal, or plastic because they are non-porous materials and are safe to use,” said Fricker.
Although silicone is non-biodegradable, according to treehugger.com, it is recyclable as well as latex condoms.
However, according to Fricker, some products may say that they are silicone, but they contain 10 percent silicone.
“It’s a buyer beware world out there these days,” said Fricker.
Do not use petroleum jelly or other fossil fuel based lubricants, said Greenpeace, “Esso’s (the international name for Exxon) screwing the planet, but you don’t have to.”
Adult stores also consider lubricants a serious subject.
“A lot of the lubes that people use are unhealthy,” said Fricker, “specifically anything with a numbing agent is very unsafe for people to use.”
According to Fricker, numbing agents do not allow pain to tell you that something is wrong, as “pain is an indicator to your body.”
Also, according to Fricker, a lot of lubricants contain glycerin, which is a sugar that can cause yeast infections for women. “It also gets sticky.”
According to Fricker, organic or all-natural lubricants such as fruit seed extract and hemp seed oil are safe. “We try to carry things that are healthy.”
Another piece of information from Greenpeace is that water is a luxury and it “should definitely be shared with a friend.”
Even though it is not listed on the guide, treehugger.com takes a step further by advising people to use a “solar vibrator,” a toy available from 69 Love Toys.
The Greenpeace guide also advises that people should stick with sustainable harvested timber when using paddles, and know the boundaries when in engaging in sexual role-playing games, and “make love, not war.”