Buy This, Not That – Sponges

Buy This, Not That is a quick, simple, common sense guide to help you choose healthier, greener products on your next shopping trip.

Buy This….. Cellulose Sponges. These plain sponges don’t contain any added ingredients or make claims of being “anti-bacterial” or “resists odors.” Try Whole Foods’ 365 brand of cellulose sponges. Plain cellulose sponges can be found in grocery stores and home improvement stores such as Home Depot.

Not That….Sponges containing triclosan. Most dishwashing sponges on the market today claim they are anti-bacterial and resist odors. This usually means they contain triclosan, a powerful anti-bacterial that was originally developed for hospital settings. Triclosan has been linked to a variety of health problems, such as endocrine disruption. Overuse of the chemical means it’s accumulating in our waterways and polluting the water, with negative health effects for marine life.