The arrival of a child offers the opportunity to start a more environmentally friendly consumption cycle! But a responsible consumption method is also better for your baby's health...
We share our best tips so that you, as an environmentally conscious parent, can stay true to your values. 👇
1. A healthy and ecological nursery
A nursery, lovingly designed by the parents, can contain products that are harmful to health!
Industrial furniture made of laminated, melamine-coated wood or particle board can release volatile organic compounds (VOCs), which cause indoor pollution, and some of them can even be carcinogenic. For a healthy nursery, we recommend using used furniture or non-industrial alternatives.
The choice of color also plays an important role! Opt for eco-friendly paints with an environmental label to minimize the impact on the environment while ensuring quality. The "Blue Angel" label is a reference: it confirms that the product is low-emission, low-pollutant and harmless to health in the residential environment.
And what about cuddly toys? Often dozens of them accumulate, but quality counts more than quantity. A conscious decision for cuddly toys that are, for example, made in Germany, will bring your child just as much joy and protect the environment. Here are a few examples:
Kallisto from Allgäu: The company focuses on child-friendly design, natural, high-quality materials and offers a wide range of vegan plush toys made of cotton. Some plush toys are made of mohair wool.
Nanchen Natur from Kassel: Known for high-quality organic dolls made from organically grown materials, which are handmade. The dolls are filled with Bioland sheep's wool.
Pat & Patty from the Eifel: They produce high-quality organic toys and organic products for children. The products are environmentally friendly and sustainable and range from plush toys to clothing to lavender pillows.
Efie from Wuppertal: Specializing in the production of high-quality eco-plush toys by hand, all materials used bear the strict GOTS label. Production takes place entirely in Germany.
2. Clothing and baby equipment
Sustainability also plays a crucial role in baby equipment: strollers, car seats, changing tables, baby bouncers, high chairs, baby carriers... These items have a limited lifespan, cause a high environmental impact and often end up in the closet, in the basement or in the trash, although they deserve a second chance.
Buying used goods is a sensible alternative, especially for equipment that was originally produced ethically and environmentally friendly - in Germany and with sustainable materials. In this article, we discuss the different environmentally friendly options for strollers and explain the differences to you so that you can make an informed decision.
Our friends from Little Vintage Collective beautifully summarized it in this Instagram post :Second Hand has many advantages for everyone!
3. Baby food
In the world of baby jars and formula milk, it can sometimes be difficult to keep track. If we can give you some environmentally friendly and healthy advice, it's first of all that you prepare your child's meals yourself, preferably with organic products and without pesticides, as soon as they start introducing solid food (from 4-6 months).
Packaging is just as important as the contents. For your baby's health, use BPA and phthalate-free dishes and prefer healthy materials such as stainless steel or glass. If you don't have time to cook, you can use organic glass jars (and thus recyclable packaging).
As for milk, we recommend choosing an organic certified brand without pesticides from the pharmacy. In addition, you should oppose the consumption of plastic bottles and ask your local council whether the water in your community is suitable for babies. Although it is potable, tap water can contain too many nitrates or pesticides for an infant. In older houses, some pipes may still be made of lead, which makes the use of bottled water (or boiled water) necessary.
PS: Excess milk can be frozen and later processed into a puree. If you are looking for more information on the topic of infant formula, we recommend this article from Ökotest.de
4. Hygiene products
Just as important as nutrition, products that come into contact with your baby's skin have an impact on the environment and their health.
Less is more! There's no point in having a bathroom full of products. The essentials can be counted on one hand: A vegetable oil for skin care, a cleansing oil for the diaper area, and a soap-free washing gel for bathing - that's all you need. Of course, check the ingredients and choose products without fragrances, dyes, alcohol, essential oils, and phenoxyethanol - preferably organic quality. The DIY principle is a great way to reduce your ecological footprint (there are many recipes online)!
Another option for the bathroom is disposable diapers! To significantly reduce your ecological footprint, we can only recommend reusable diapers. They are environmentally friendly, cost-effective, and healthy - there are no excuses not to use them. The cloth diaper expert Leen from Fratzhosen.de has made a great comparison between cloth and disposable diapers here. Among other things, it is found that by using cloth diapers, you can save up to 1000€! Here is the link to the article.
Another environmentally conscious tip: Say goodbye to wet wipes! These not only harm the environment but also contain allergenic molecules and endocrine disruptors. If you're a DIY fan, you can also make reusable wipes from organic/eco materials. With a little cleansing oil, they are a perfect alternative to wet wipes.
CONCLUSION
The arrival of your baby opens the door to a sustainable journey that focuses on both your child's health and our environment. We hope that our tips will accompany you as an environmentally conscious family and help you stay true to your values.
We hope that our tips will accompany you as an environmentally conscious family and help you stay true to your values. By creating a healthy and ecological nursery, choosing sustainable baby equipment, preparing environmentally friendly baby food, and using conscious hygiene products, you are creating a journey that benefits both your child and our planet. Have fun!
Would you like to know how you can equip yourself sustainably? We have summarized the 5 most important aspects for you in this checklist.